Antlers are natural products, and if they have been prepared properly, they should not contain anything nasty that can be toxic to your dog or make them sick. However,
chewing antlers can still make your dog unwell
.
Are antlers digestible for dogs?
These small pieces are completely safe for dogs to eat and are
completely digestible
. They even pack their own nutritional punch. Antlers are a healthy and stimulating treat for your dog to sink their teeth into.
Why are antlers not good for dogs?
Antlers are hard enough to withstand the force of another deer’s antlers in battle, which means
they’re definitely hard enough to break your dog’s teeth
. Like bones, antlers can break and splinter. These splinters can get lodged in your dog’s mouth, throat, or intestines.
Can a dog eat too much antler?
Finally,
you should limit your dog to chewing no more than 1⁄2 to 1 inch of the antler per day
. Because the antlers contain rich protein, large amounts ingested all at once can cause a upset stomach.
How long should you let your dog chew on an antler?
Gnawing at the antler helps to remove plaque off your dog’s teeth and therefore keep them clean and white. It is shown that if a dog chews on an antler for
thirty minutes per day
it can reduce the plaque on their teeth by 70%.
Can I give my puppy deer antlers?
Deer antlers are good treats for puppies
, especially when they are teething to relieve the discomfort of their adult teeth coming through. They must be provided with caution though, as puppies are more at risk of swallowing objects.
Do antlers give dogs diarrhea?
Do not give puppies any kind of antlers to chew on. (
The high protein content can cause stomach upset and diarrhea
.) And finally, if you do decide to give your dog an antler chew (or any other chew as well), always supervise them to keep them safe! No chew product is 100% safe and healthy for every dog.
Can elk antlers make dog sick?
Can Antlers Make Dogs Sick? Antlers are natural products, and if they have been prepared properly, they should not contain anything nasty that can be toxic to your dog or make them sick. However,
chewing antlers can still make your dog unwell
.
What is the best thing for a dog to chew on?
Offer your dog some edible things to chew, like
bully sticks, pig ears, rawhide bones, pig skin rolls or other natural chews
. Dogs can sometimes choke on edible chews, especially if they bite off and swallow large hunks.
How do you clean antlers for a dog chew?
The best and easiest way to sterilize deer antlers is by
blanching them
. Blanching requires placing the chunk of antler in boiling water for one to two minutes and then immediately immersing it in cold water. Boiling antler chunks will sterilize them, but because antler is essentially bone, you risk becoming brittle.
What type of antler is best for dogs?
Whole elk antlers
are a good choice for dogs that like to chew but are not heavy duty all day chewers. Upon request we can provide elk antler chews from the base of the antler (denser and longer lasting) or from the upper part of the antler (softer and easier to chew).
Are deer antlers too hard for dogs?
Like any chew, antlers can pose certain risk for dogs. While a safer and more humane chew than rawhide, there are still some things to keep in mind when buying your dog an antler chew.
Antlers are very hard
, and this can mean that if your dog chews too aggressively, they can chip a tooth or hurt their gums.
What age can dogs have antlers?
Although many split antlers are suggested to be softer and more suitable for puppies, they are still a risk. So, it wouldn’t be advisable to give a puppy any antler chew until their adult teeth have come through entirely and their bones are more mature. Therefore, a minimum age of
eight to ten months
would be sensible.
Are antlers porous?
2) Deer antlers are typically harder than elk antlers.
Elk antlers are more “porous”
, while deer are very dense.
How do you soften deer antlers for dogs?
As a quick summary, one of the most common ways to soften a deer antler for your dog is to
soak the antlers in water for 1 or 2 days
, depending on how aggressive your dog chews. The longer that you soak the deer antler, the softer it will get.
Why do dogs like elk antlers?
They contain a good amount of lean protein, calcium, and a spackling of other beneficial nutrients
. The physical act of chewing on an antler helps to clean their teeth. Best of all, no deer are harmed as antlers are shed naturally each season.
