Antlers as a chew - the correct handling

As with any other chew toy, it is always important to keep an eye on your furry friend when he is playing with or chewing on it.

But you should especially pay attention to these points:

• Size of the antler piece

You can prevent injuries or accidents while chewing by giving your dog pieces that fit. Make sure you choose larger pieces of antler that don't fit completely into your dog's mouth. This prevents swallowing and reduces the risk of choking, especially for heavy chewers.

• Chewing behavior

When chewing an antler properly, your dog will hold the piece with their front paws and nibble on it alternately with their front and back teeth. If your dog tries to chew the antler with only their back teeth and tries to bite it, you should remove the antler. While this behavior is normal, it can lead to dental injuries. In this case, you should remove the antler and, if necessary, obtain 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 heavy chewers. If your dog exhibits this behavior, you should definitely ensure that he nibbles off a maximum of 2-3 cm of the antler piece per day. Even if your dog has a lot of fun and doesn't want to let go of the antler piece, you must remove it, as otherwise the saliva flow and the intestines will be overloaded, and in the worst case, it can lead to intestinal obstruction. Dogs should never eat a piece of antler a day. We generally recommend chewing for 15 minutes without interruption. Afterward, there should always be a break combined with plenty of fresh water.

• Edges and size

Over time, your dog will chew on the antler, which will become shorter and shorter. Remember that any chew toy should be large enough to prevent it from being swallowed. When a piece of antler becomes small enough to be a choking hazard, it's time for your dog to get a new one.

A suitable piece of antler for your dog you can buy at Wildfang.