Bully Sticks For German Shepherd

Potential Dangers Of Popular Dog Chews

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Dogs have an innate desire and need to chew. It is their way to search out the world that surrounds them.

Chewing helps dogs accomplish several things. For puppies that are teething, like for babies, chewing helps relieve pain. Older dogs may chew to keep their jaws strong and their teeth clean. Some dogs chew for the simple fun of it.

But chewing can also be a way for dogs to work through and relieve anxiety, frustration, or boredom. Unfortunately, theyre not always great at picking the best things to chew on. This is where you come in.

As with everything else, it can sometimes feel like there are as many types of chews and chew toys as there are dogs to chew them. Based on experience, good or bad, everyone has a personal pick for their dog.

With anything in our dogs world and ours, for that matter there is always something potentially dangerous about everything.

My entire life and throughout my career as a veterinarian, I was always taught to share both my good and bad experiences as well as my knowledge. Being aware of these potential dangers and risks can empower others to make choices that best suit their dog and their lifestyle.

Thats not to say that every dog will have a problem with these chews, but many dogs can have a problem.

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Greenies Original Large Dog Natural Dental Treats

Greenies Natural Dental Treats are one of the best dental treats for German Shepherds, and if they were somewhat bigger, theyd look like a toothbrush the Hulk would use due to their crazy green color! They have a chewy texture and are made with nutritional and easily digestible ingredients.

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Greenies are formulated to meet the nutritional standards set by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles. However, this is not a mandatory requirement for treats and snacks supplementary to your German Shepherds diet. Nevertheless, its good to know they are a healthy treat.

These dental chews are vet-approved and score very high on Amazon, where you can find thousands of positive reviews from happy dog owners. They are not suitable for puppies under 6 months old.

Top Features:

• The unique texture cleans down to the gum line to fight plaque and tartar.
• Freshens bad dog breath.
• Made with natural ingredients plus vitamins and minerals.
• Grain-free option and weight management option.
• Greenies Aging Care for senior dogs 50% softer texture.
• Flavors include original, blueberry, and fresh.

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They Provide Mental Stimulation

Most people dont realize it, but chewing can actually be very stimulating to dogs. Not only does it relieve their anxieties, but also keep their mind busy.

Chewing on a long-lasting bully stick helps them focus, figure out the best ways to devour it, and temper their excitement in order to enjoy their special treat.

Bully Sticks For Dogs: Everything You Need To Know

Everything you need to know about Bully sticks!

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Like most dog owners, you are always looking for new and exciting toys to keep your furry friend entertained. Well, bully sticks may just be the perfect toy!

This blog post will discuss what bully sticks are, why they make great chew toys for dogs, and how to choose the right bully stick for your pet. Well also answer some common questions about bully sticks, such as Are bully sticks safe for dogs?

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Best Bully Sticks Thick Bully Sticks

The Thick Bully Sticks by Best Bully Sticks comes in 6-inch and 12-inch variants to suit dogs of all breeds and ages. These are 30% to 50% thicker than your average bully stick, so they tend to last much longer. Plus, theyre made without any harmful chemicals, preservatives, or additives.

These Thick Bully Sticks are 100% natural and expertly processed to preserve the animals mouthwatering meaty flavor, guarantee a safe and non-splintering chew, and eliminate the risk of bacteria contamination. In fact, every product by Best Bully Sticks is manually inspected to ensure safety and quality.

Are Bully Sticks Safe For Puppy

Bully sticks are safe for the most part. There is a need for caution when they become small enough for your dog to swallow the last bit whole. You should never allow your pet to chew on a bully stick unless you or someone responsible is there to supervise.

Once the stick becomes small enough to possibly choke on, it is time to take it away from your pet and replace the belly stick with a new one. If your dog does happen to swallow the last piece, make sure he isnt choking. It will digest if it makes it to his stomach, but if it gets stuck he will need immediate attention from a vet.

Natural treats also come with a risk of bacteria. Dogs are able to tolerate bacteria better than humans, but make sure you know how your particular brand is processed to eliminate contamination. Always wash your hands after handling the bully stick. Another thing to consider is that you should limit the amount of time a puppy chew to ten minutes or less a session so he doesnt damage newly-formed teeth.

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What If My Dog Doesnt Like Bully Sticks

Dogs are normally attracted to bully sticks, but just like people, they all have likes and dislikes. If you want to help your puppy with his instinct to chew and he doesnt like bully sticks, there are alternative chews you can try.

Deer antlers help with tooth cleansing and the urge to chew. Your dog wont be able to eat them, so you dont have to worry about that aspect. Ostrich tendons are another option. These last about as long as a bully stick and are not harmful. Yakers are another snack that is high in fat content but dogs love to chew them. They are made from compressed milk of the yak and are completely natural.

Bully Sticks Are Good For All Dogs

Not only are bully sticks healthy treats, but more importantly, dogs love them! Dogs of any breed, age, or size can enjoy chewing on a bully stick. Theyre even perfect for puppies, as long as your puppy can chew hard food/treats on his own. Bully sticks provide the same high protein and dental health benefits for puppies as they do for adult dogs.

Moreover, bully sticks are diverse and perfect for whatever preferences your dog has. You can find a bully stick that caters to your dog. The sticks have different thicknesses, sizes, and shapes. Is your dog an aggressive, intense chewer? Try a braided bully stick. Do they take a long time to chew? Straight sticks are a great choice. Need to challenge your dog? Shaped bullys, like bully rings, provide a puzzle for your dog as he chews.

Bully sticks are long lasting, in more than one way. They can last a long time while your dog is chewing them, and they also stay fresh for up to three years.

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Are Bully Sticks Safe

Bully sticks are some of the safest chews you can give to aggressive chewers. As with any other treat or toy, these are best used with supervision.

Take them away when theyve become too small to swallow. Also, be mindful of how much and how often you give your dog access to bully sticks since these are rich in proteins and calories that could contribute to unwanted weight gain.

Hills Prescription Diet Hypoallergenic Dog Treats 12 Oz

• A single, highly digestible carbohydrate source helps avoid common food allergens.
• Help manage associated inflammation, and nourish the skin and coat.
• Help maintain a healthy immune system and the skin barrier function.

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Product Details

Dogs with skin conditions and food sensitivities love treats just as much as any other dog, and thats why theres Hills Prescription Diet Hypo-Treats Dog Treats. The nutritionists and veterinarians at Hills developed these tasty, crunchy biscuits especially for dogs enjoying a z/d, d/d, i/d or Derm Defense prescription diet.

The hydrolyzed chicken liver protein helps alleviate adverse reactions to food, while omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, including EPA, help nourish the skin and coat. Added vitamins, minerals and antioxidants help further support healthy skin barrier function.

Key Benefits Allows dogs suffering from skin conditions and food sensitivities to enjoy a delicious crunchy treat. Hydrolyzed chicken liver protein helps alleviate adverse reactions to food omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, including EPA, help nourish the skin and coat.

Added vitamins, minerals and antioxidants help further support healthy skin barrier function. Made in the USA and developed especially for adult dogs enjoying a z/d, d/d, i/d or Derm Defense prescription diet.

Crunchy biscuits help maintain good dental hygiene between brushings by scraping plaque and tartar from his teeth as he chews.

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Nylabones Or Nylon Chew Toys

Like many of the other chews, weve discussed already, hard plastic and hard nylon chew toys like Nylabone® can be too hard for your dogs teeth. These toys have little to no give, and as a result, they have led to many tooth fractures.

If you can’t indent the toy with your fingernail, then it’s too hard for your dog’s teeth.

Making matters worse, a reasonably good chewer can rip off pieces of plastic from a Nylabone and swallow them, leading to a likely digestive obstruction or, at the very least, diarrhea . When pieces of these break off and sit in the stomach, the body keeps trying to break them down. This alone can lead to pancreatitis.

You may have read reports that Nylabones are toxic and can cause seizures. There doesnt appear to be much merit to these claims. The real danger, as Ive already mentioned, is damage to your dogs teeth or digestive system.

Best Bully Sticks For German Shepherds And Large Breed Dogs

The best bully sticks for German Shepherds and aggressive chewers are those that can withstand a significant bite force and yet are perfectly digestible when swallowed. They also need to be processed properly to eliminate the risk of bacterial contamination.

In order to choose a good bully stick for your dog, you should first understand what it is, the numerous benefits it offers, and the best brands recommended for aggressive chewers like yours.

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Best Calming Treats For German Shepherds

German Shepherds are a very affectionate breed and are prone to suffering from separation anxiety, and like other dogs, they may also suffer from other forms of stress. Examples of these could be being exposed to loud noises such as thunder or fireworks, car journeys, or even trips to the vet.

In situations like these, you may wish to try calming treats as an alternative to prescribed medication. Calming treats are a natural way to help eliminate your GSDs fear and anxiety. They contain natural ingredients such as herbs, vitamins, melatonin, tryptophan, or hemp oil.

These are the best calming treats for German Shepherds:

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When Should I Give My Dog A Treat

There is an old saying that says if you reward a dog for nothing, you are teaching them nothing. In general, this statement is true.

The purpose of a treat is to reward your dog when they have been good. Pleasing their master brings rewards, and it is good for dogs to know that.

Also, many treats are high in fat, and should not be given too often for health reasons.

The short answer is: Give your dog a treat when they earn one but dont give them more than 5 in a single day.

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Nature Gnaws Premium Bully Sticks

The Premium Bully Sticks by Nature Gnaws are excellent single-ingredient chews. Although they come in several types and sizes, the 12-inch Large Bully Sticks are best for large, powerful dogs like German Shepherds.

Apart from sourcing animal products from trusted local farmers, Nature Gnaws uses a chemical-free process to dry these tasty and long-lasting treats.

All Nature Gnaws products are tested by a food safety lab to guarantee a safe and bacteria-free treat for your pup to enjoy. Additionally, these sticks are hand-inspected to guarantee uniform sizing.

Every product that fails the size requirement but passes the companys quality standards gets donated to rescue dogs in shelters across the United States.

Himalayan Pet Supply Himalayan Dog Chew The Original

Chewy

Food Form: Sticks | Amount: 1 count | BreedSize: Large | Life Stage: Adult

• Can last a long time

• If dropped, pieces can break off easily

• Aggressive chewers might chip teeth

These hard treats are made from 100 percent yak and cows milk with a little salt and lime juice for added taste. The chews have no gluten, grain, soy, lactose, or corn. There are no artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, or additives. Dogs just chew and scrape until they can get little pieces off.

When the stick gets too small, you can soak it in water, microwave it, let it cool, and feed it to your pup as a special cheese puff treat. That way, nothing is wasted.

The treats come from the Himalayas, where they support a network of more than 10,000 farmers who handcraft them. They are certified Fair Trade by the World Fair Trade Organization. For every pound of cheese chewed, the company donates a book to a library in Nepal.

Our top choice is Natural Farm’s 6-Inch Bully Sticks, which are made from grass-fed, free-range cattle with no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. The company also has sustainable packaging and donates proceeds to help animals in need with every purchase. Another great choice is Nature Gnaws. The all-natural braided bullies are especially challenging for power chewers.

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How To Tell If An Edible Chew Or Chew Toy Is Safe For Your Dog

The chews and chew toys listed above are some of the most popular things you could give your dog to chew on, but as you can see, they can also be quite dangerous. And theyre not the only dangerous chews and chew toys for dogs. And there are new things for dogs to chew on coming out each day. It can be hard to stay on top of them all!

Hard Cheese Chews Yak Chews And Blocks

Aside from perhaps some lactose intolerance, cheese shouldnt pose too much of a problem for dogs, right? Well, when its been processed into a rock-hard block or bone, it certainly can.

Cheese blocks and cheese bones, including yak cheese treats, can be much too hard for regular chewing and can lead to broken teeth for an unfortunate dog. In my own test, the Ecokind Yak Cheese Chews did not pass the “thumbnail test” .

If you want to give your dog cheese, stick to small amounts of the real stuff like string cheese. For a less stinky option in your treat pouch, opt for the freeze-dried cheese treats, which can make for a great high-value treat during training.

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If you still want to give your dog these hard cheese chews, you can attempt to warm them in the microwave to soften them. However, the brands I tried during my testing didn’t become any softer.

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Why Give Your Puppy Bully Sticks Why Puppy Chew On A Bully Stick

Puppies love to chew and will find anything they can in order to satisfy that need. Giving your puppy a bully stick will give him an appropriate way to ven this chewing instinct. It helps clean his teeth of plaque and eases the pain of teething.

Bully sticks also help reduce hormones such as serotonin that help the dog feel good and keep him calm. This helps relieve anxiety.

These treats are normally not subject to harsh chemicals for preservation. They are easily digestible, unlike rawhide. They also wont splinter like a regular bone.

The protein is excellent for your puppys coat and muscle growth. The amino acids help promote healthy brain growth in your puppy. The action of chewing also strengthens the jaws.

Best Healthy Dog Treats For German Shepherds

This collection includes healthy dog treats and chews that are just the thing a German shepherd wants and needs! These classic, frontline-working dogs with their high energy are known for their loyalty, courage, and confidence.

Weve taken the time to look through our entire product catalog and handpick the very best treats suited for a German shepherd. From the size and shape to the caloric content, these products are ideal for all German shepherds.

Rest assured that each product is safe and manufactured with care. Treat your German shepherds to healthy dog treats they deserve.

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