Antlers as a chewing stick - the right way to use them
As with all other chew toys, it is always important to keep an eye on your furry friend when he is playing with or chewing on it.
But you should pay particular attention to these points:
- Size of the antler piece
You can prevent injuries or accidents while your dog is chewing by giving them appropriately sized pieces. Make sure to choose larger antler pieces that won't fit completely in your dog's mouth. This is especially important for strong chewers, as it prevents them from swallowing the antler too deeply and reduces the risk of choking.
- Chewing behavior
When chewing antlers correctly, your dog holds the piece with its front paws and nibbles on it alternately with its front and back teeth. If your dog tries to chew the antlers only with its back teeth and attempts to bite them apart, you should remove them. While this behavior is normal, it can lead to dental injuries. In this case, you should remove the antlers and perhaps get a larger piece.
- max. 3 cm per day
Antler pieces last a long time and provide continuous chewing fun, but some dogs are particularly ambitious and strong chewers. If your dog exhibits this behavior, you should make sure that they only chew off a maximum of 2-3 cm of the antler piece per day. Even if your dog is having a lot of fun and doesn't want to let go of the antler piece, you must remove it, as otherwise the saliva production and intestines will be overloaded, and in the worst case, this can lead to an intestinal blockage. Dogs should never eat an entire antler piece in a day. We generally recommend a continuous chewing session of 15 minutes. Afterwards, a break with plenty of fresh water should always be provided.
- Edges and size
Over time, your dog will gnaw on the antler piece, and it will get shorter and shorter. Remember that any chew toy must be large enough so that it cannot be swallowed. When an antler piece becomes small enough to pose a choking hazard, it's time for your dog to get a new one.
A suitable one Antler piece You can purchase items for your dog at Wildfang.
