Dog needs to chew. If not rawhide then what?

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#1
My 6 month old Shih Tzu is 5.5 lbs and she LOVES to chew. She cannot get enough to chew.

The vet said no rawhide for digestion reasons. I've tried the Nylabone and Nylabone edibles. The Nylabones she just gives up on. I don't know if they lack or run out of flavor but she ignores them. The Nylabone edibles she can break down and consume in minutes.

I would like to give her a bone of some sort that will keep her interest. Can I give her Pig Ears to chew on? Are there other safe alternatives? I don't want anything that is going to mess with her digestion because that is sensitive enough. I just want something she can safely chew on that is tasty and I don't have to worry about her tearing into it.

She has a Kong that we stuff with treats or one of those long bones designed for the Kong. She can break that down in minutes and is looking for more. I'm not interested in filling her belly just keeping her teeth occupied.

Suggestions?

Pig Ears?
A visit to a butcher shop? If so what are safe bones for chewing?

Thanks for your time.
 
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#2
Wrigley loves bully sticks--they are fully digestible and he loves the flavor (thus they don't last long)--I give honey lamb ears as she is allergic to beef, pork and chicken and they last her quite a while.

Yes you can definitely give raw bones to dogs. You want them large enough to not be swallowed whole. They especially love them with some marrow left in them!
 

Dekka

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#3
My guys love pigs ears and bully sticks.. I do give them rawhide.. but they dont' swallow pieces whole.

I also give them lots of raw bones, they get turkey necks, chicken backs etc.. but those are chews and meals all in one :D ( I feed raw)
 
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#5
So are pigs ears okay?

My first dog loved them but I had heard they were not good for dogs and had not given them to any of my current dogs but it sure would be nice to let them have something to chew.
Is there a certain kind you are supposed to look for?
 

Dekka

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#6
A few things with pigs ears.. they tend to be fatty, so if you have a tiny dog who tends to gain weight then adjust meals accordingly.

And then all the people who worry about bactiera.. but bacteria are everwhere.
 
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A few things with pigs ears.. they tend to be fatty, so if you have a tiny dog who tends to gain weight then adjust meals accordingly.

And then all the people who worry about bactiera.. but bacteria are everwhere.
good to know, thanks.
 
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#8
I also give them lots of raw bones, they get turkey necks, chicken backs etc.. but those are chews and meals all in one :D ( I feed raw)
Raw?? So I can go to a butcher shop and just get raw bones for her? I don't have to worry about things like salmonella or anything like that?

What are good and bad bones to get?
 

Dekka

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#9
I worry about salmonella for 'me' but not for the dogs. Salmonella is everywhere.

Salmonella bacteria is found wherever animals live. The bacteria can withstand hot and cold weather, rain and drought. Animals consume salmonella from the soil or contaminated processed feed.
Its used as a scare tactic by dog food companies and their ilk.

If you are introducing raw bones for the first time pick something fairly big. So if you have a small or med sized dog I would pic a large turkey neck or pork neck.
 

Romy

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#10
You can freeze raw turkey necks to give them more lasting power as chewies also. We gave them to Strider as teething toys, and he also chews then with his molars so they keep his back teeth really clean unlike other bones.
 

Romy

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#11
Raw?? So I can go to a butcher shop and just get raw bones for her? I don't have to worry about things like salmonella or anything like that?
My husband was worried about this, and then I pointed out that these are animals that eat poop. lol.
 

Kama

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#13
I am gonna second or third the bully sticks. My guy absolutely loves them. I tried giving him raw bones, but he won't have anything to do with them. He just licks them and then ignores them. But, he can go at the bully stick till I take it away from him. From what I have read about bully sticks they are the safest and healthiest alternative to raw bones. Don't give Greenies or Nylabones or rawhide or anything like that. Either they are not digestible enough or they can splinter and becoming choking hazards or in the digestive tract. I would definitely recommend bully sticks, just remember to remove it before it gets too small and the dog tries to swallow it.
 

Bailey08

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#14
Bailey gets beef ears (less fatty than pig) or bully sticks. He looovves them both (he gets "bored" with any other treats, but never these two).
 

mrose_s

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#15
I've never worried about problems with raw. My entire life we've fed mostly raw food to all our dogs (i'm almost 19 now) and the only problem I can remember form all that time was when Mac got gastritis last year. Which was easily fixed, we just stopped buying meat from that particular supermarket chain (meat we had brough previous had messed with my mum aswell)
We have fed off meat int eh past aswell, Buster has a sensitive stomach so I won't feed him anything that smells bad unless I want to be picking it up off the floor and wiping up stomach fluid a few minutes later.

Our lot love soup bones, not hugley meaty but good for an hour or 2 of good chewing. Also marrow bones, turkey necks, chicken frames etc etc.
 

ihartgonzo

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#16
Raw bones are EXCELLENT for getting all of the chewiness out of your pup. :)

Raw knuckle bones were a life-saver for me, during Fozzie's teething phase. Make sure they are the knuckle bones, as in the knee of the cow, not the tiny round femur bones full of marrow. And make sure they are covered in cartilege/tissue, and you throw it away once your dog gets to the boney center. It should take several hours of chewing before then, though. And you can just toss it in the freezer in between chewing sessions.

Besides that, as was mentioned, bully sticks, cow tendons, deer antlers (I just got into these), lamb ears (way less fattening and easier to digest), etc, are great chewies, too.
 
B

bjdobson

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#17
I also feed raw.

Raw bones are awesome.

Mine will go chew on old ones just to pass time at times. Titan is a brand new pup and he's not yet chewed anything he shouldn't and is learning not to even THINK about it! LOL
 
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#18
My dog is chewing on a raw pork hock right now, leftover from her breakfast. I feed raw also, but some dogs really need to chew. Marrow bones from the butcher are good, but too much marrow is tough on a little guys stomach, so I would freeze it for your little guy. Bully sticks, and bullwrinkles, and flossies (dried beef tendons) will keep your little guy busy, but have to count as part of the meal too.

Even ice cubes are fun for a dog to chew on, as is a frozen knotted washcloth. You can also soak a rope toy in homemade chicken broth and they will chew on it for hours.
Watch out for any pet store product that has been smoked or bleached. Rawhide swells when wet, that's why it hurts their bellies. Pig's ears are very high calorie, and may give your dog the runs, same as too much marrow. Some dogs like to chew on carrots.
 
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bjdobson

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#19
Marrow bones from the butcher are good, but too much marrow is tough on a little guys stomach, so I would freeze it for your little guy. Some dogs like to chew on carrots.
I remove the marrow most of the time. I freeze them then pop the center out. That leaves a bit for them for flavor then they're happy to just chew on the bone.

Mine LOOOVE raw carrots!!!!!!
 

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