Hank broke off a piece of a nylabone, swallowed it and puked it up a few days later.

 

I'm a little surprised by the rawhide bit.

Not because I think that rawhide is unsafe. My dogs aren't allowed to chew them when I'm not around, but it's about the only thing I give them to chew on. Unlike various plastic type bones like nylabone, your dog is not chewing off and swallowing sharp and hard pieces that can't be digested.

But I can show you the paperwork from my Jacks' breeder and the breeder before him... rawhide was on the list of items that we were not to give to the puppies because of the choke hazard. The breeder recommended nylabones and kongs and even sent us home with one of each in the puppy package.

 

Comet's breeder asked that we never give bully sticks and rawhide because of the risks of obstruction.

Nylabones were definitely on the approved list. However, Comet was such a power chewer by six months that the "regular" strength ones weren't really safe. We had to upgrade to "durable," and we haven't had any problems. The "durable" ones hold up to some very intense chewing for a year or two before they have to be retired.

 

I have always heard the complete opposite. Nylabones can be safe if you get the bone that matches your dog. Enzo is an aggressive chewer and I know he's an aggressive chewer, so we only get super durable ones made for dogs that chew like Enzo. With rawhides, I get nervous because of the choking hazard, as well as the fact that the pieces swell up in their stomach. I've heard that it can cause bloat. I'm not sure if this is true, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I've also heard horrible things about what rawhides are preserved with.

 

Oh, also wanted to add, antlers are the way to go. =) Enzo has 2 and they've held up for MONTHS so far...and I'm sure they'll be around even longer.

 

It is so confusing! He said the usa rawhides have no preservatives, and, therefore breakdown better than any imported, that use formaldehyde. He also said no tennis balls until 3 months, because the puppy could get the ball stuck in his mouth and suffocate. I was pretty thrown by the rawhide, though, and the nylabones!

 

Never any tennis balls. Very bad on the teeth and suffocation hazard.

 

My vet says no rawhide, no way. No matter where it's made, it does NOT break down. It rehydrates itself and causes nasty intestinal blockages. He has told me that it's the second most common surgery in dogs, second only to spay/neuter. I board 2 dogs here at the pet hotel who have had surgeries due to rawhide blockages. Why take the chance?
As for the nylabones, as long as you get one that's suitable for your dog's age and chewing style they're great options. They make some very durable ones, as others have said, as well as some that won't hold up to even a gentle chew.

 

In my house durable Nylabones are the only way to go. Dory has them stashed in every room of the house. I don't like rawhide. It does come apart too easily.

 

Yeah, I think I will skip the rawhide. I am going to try the antlers, and maybe bullys. What do you guys think about Bullys? I know Cesar the dog whisperer likes them....

 

I guess it depends on who you ask.

We don't give rawhide anymore because I've heard too many horror stories and would rather be safe than sorry.

That said, we used to give our dogs American-made rawhide bones all the time. For years and years, our dogs would get new bones basically every week (because they never lasted much longer than that.) Never had a problem. Never had a dog choke on the pieces and not one of them ever had a blockage.
Who knows, maybe we were just lucky.

 

The rawhide that Dick was referring to was pressed rawhide not that loosely rolled rawhide (don't know how else to describe it), and when Flora was a puppy she chewed it no problem.

And not to sound like a jerk, but don't take everything he says as gospel. His spiel about pet insurance convinced my NOT to get pet insurance, and wow, did I regret that when I was dropping 2k on Flora's knee surgery. And yes, I know I am my own person and I make my own decisions, but when someone you trust tells you something is a waste of money and time, it's logical to agree. :

Get pet insurance!! ::

 

The rawhide that Dick was referring to was pressed rawhide not that loosely rolled rawhide (don't know how else to describe it , and when Flora was a puppy she chewed it no problem.

Right, and I remember buying the pressed rawhide for Chester, having to reach down his throat and pull it out, which was scary. So, it surprised me that he recommended it, and not the nylabone.

 

That said, we used to give our dogs American-made rawhide bones all the time. For years and years, our dogs would get new bones basically every week (because they never lasted much longer than that.) Never had a problem. Never had a dog choke on the pieces and not one of them ever had a blockage.

Same here.

The reason why I would be careful about the brand of rawhide I buy is because I freak out about my dog eating something that had formaldehyde on it! Also some places may treat the rawhide in other chemicals (to clean it). That's too many toxins going into your dog's mouth.

If your dog gets bones regularly, he's more likely to be a casual and slow chewer and won't chomp big pieces down in one sitting. And they will chew on the pieces they do eat.

That said, if your dog is eating a bone in one sitting - then I probably would go and look for something that is more durable or something that is more edible (easily broken down by body).

I can't think of the brandname atm because I haven't bought these in a while, but you can pick them up at the petstore or places like Target. They are big and have a "knuckle end". Not greenies, but I think they are made from veggies and other edible products (I'll have to google later). We used to get these as a special treat for our previous dogs, though Jacks has never had one.

These bones would last about half an hour with our guys - if that. But it was good for calming down chewing angst.

ETA - Booda bones!

But there are plenty of other brands out there too.

 

Is there anyplace online to buy the antlers cheap? They were SO expensive at my local pet food store.

 

The biggest one's at White Dog Bone are $13.99. Not sure how that compares.

 

He said the pieces of nylabone can break off and cut the internal organs (nylabone has a few lawsuits because of this issue). I was really surprised he recommends rawhide at all. Any comments?

My youngest had emergency surgery right before his first birthday because they thought he had a blockage. Instead of a blockage, they found two tiny pieces of nylabone embedded in the wall of his stomach. Very scary experience and one I don't care to repeat. I had never heard of it happening, but I've heard a few similar stories since.

I won't give rawhide or hoofs or nylabone or greenies or countless other things to the dogs at this point -- just not worth the risk.

 

What kind of nylabone were they?

 

"I won't give rawhide or hoofs or nylabone or greenies or countless other things to the dogs at this point -- just not worth the risk."

I feel the same way! We don't give them anything like that. Better safe than sorry.

 

So, what do you give them to chew?

 

I hate Nylabones, but we do have one of the big white ones, kind of odd looking thing, not the standard bone looking types. Maggie will go for it from time to time. Never got a rawhide and never will. We are bully stick fans. They are really good for aggressive chewers. I swear bully sticks have saved my house from destruction! Kongs are good with frozen yummies inside(banana, yogurt and such). Those antlers are really expensive. Had one, but it really didn't last long before it got jagged.

 

Where do you buy your bully sticks from? anywhere on the web or just the pet store?

 

We have about 7 nylabones around the house. All of them are the big knuckle ended ones as Willow is a strong chewer. Never had an issue with them.

I don't feed rawhide as I don't see the need having heard so many bad things about it. Why take the risk?

 

Only 1 is a chewer and he gets a Kong with treats inside from time to time. The others have no interest in chewing anything.

 

No dog I have ever had liked Nylabones but we bought one for Sasha. It should be OK while he is little, right? He's going to be almost 8 weeks when we get him on Sunday. We got him a Kong too and we have antler and sterile bones but those are for later when he's older. They have to play and chew on something!!!!

 

We got Enzo the puppy Nylabone when we first brought him home and he wouldn't touch it. Someone suggested to us that we "season it", so we let my fiance's mom's very small dog chew on it for a few minutes to roughen it up and then he loved it. I've heard that you can get the same turnout by doing something with a screwdriver/hammer/chisel sort of deal, but I'm not the best with tools. lol

 

Diesel never touched nylabones until we got Willow and she liked them. Now he likes to chew on them after she has finished!

 

Thanks Sam.. if he doesn't like it I'll have Dan "work" on it. : )

 

I used to give my dogs rawhide, but there were too many times that Annabel would get a piece stuck in her throat and she'd walk around trying to gag it up and I'd have to stick my hand down her throat and pull it out.

My dogs love nylabones. There's usually a warning before a dog can get a large chunk off - it will start to wear thin in that area. That's when I take them away.

 

We had that Galileo one... my dogs wouldn't touch it .. gave it to my daughter's dogs.

 

Did you get Sasha a hard one or a flexi one?

 

No rawhide for my dogs, because of the obstruction concern, but also because my sweet, loving dogs turn into demons from hell if they have a rawhide chew - to me and the other dogs.

I give mine sterilized bones that are hollow and come prefilled with flavored filling. They lick the filling out and then will continue to chew on the bones for months. They have lasted up to six months before the ends get chipped and I throw them away.

Like these.

http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-8133036t400.jpg

 

For Heaven's Sale. Dory even has a type of Nylabone in my sig picture.