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.
How do they prepare deer antlers for dogs?
Once harvested, the antlers are cut down to size and the sharp points are removed or sanded down. They are then blanched to sanitise them
. (Bone products should never be fully boiled as it can make them brittle). That’s all the processing which is done, so they are truly natural products!
How do you sterilize deer antlers?
After giving them a good scrub,
fill a large pot with water and a pinch of salt, bring it to a boil, and submerge the antlers. Allow them to boil for 30 minutes to remove any bacteria
. Once your antlers are clean, allow them to air dry in the sun for a day.
Can you soak antlers in broth for dogs?
If your dogs grow bored with their antlers,
heat up some beef broth. Remove the broth from heat and put your antlers in to soak for a few hours
. Let the antlers dry and give them back to your dogs. They will greet them like they’re brand new!
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%.
Are deer antlers too hard for dogs?
Firstly,
antlers are so hard they can crack or fracture your dog’s teeth
. Not only are broken teeth painful, but they can also become infected. Therefore, if a tooth has become damaged and the pulp cavity exposed, it must either be extracted or a tooth canal performed.
Will antlers break my dog’s teeth?
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.
Are fresh deer antlers safe for dogs?
However, be careful about picking up any old antler found in the woods for your pet.
Wild-shed antlers, or antlers that animals in the deer family lose naturally with age and seasons, can be dangerous for your dog
.
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.
Are naturally shed antlers safe for dogs?
Health benefits: North American deer and elk antlers last a long time, rarely split or chip and are non-allergic (great news for dogs with allergies). Antlers are also known to improve a dog’s coat. Sustainable and humane:
Deer and elk shed their antlers in a natural process with no harm to the animal
.
How do you clean shed antlers?
Step 1: Cleaning the Shed Antlers
If the antlers aren’t too dirty, you can do this simply by
rubbing them with a cloth
. However, if the antlers are very dirty, then you’ll want to soak them in soapy water for a few minutes (Dawn dish soap works well). Then take a soft-bristled brush and gently scrub away the debris.
How do you prepare deer antlers?
Bring a large pot of water to boil. Place the antlers in and boil for at least 10 minutes to kill any bacteria. Remove the antlers from the boiling water. Use a solution of half water and half bleach to scrub the antlers and skull base lightly to remove any dirt and deodorize the skull.
How do you soften a dog’s antlers?
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.
How do I get my dog to chew antlers?
If your dog is not attracted to the antler chew right away, or if it’s completely new to them,
coax them to taste it and get it in their mouth, or smear it with a little peanut butter or something else they like
. Once your dog gets a taste and knows it’s meant for chewing on, they will fall in love with it.
How do you soften a dog’s bone?
You can
wrap them in a damp rag or paper towel and warm them on low heat in the microwave
. You can also just try wrapping them in a hot rag or towel and then test whether they’re ready by bending them and checking how hot it is to the to…more.
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.
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).
