Chew Chew!!

 Dogs don't just like to chew things - they HAVE to chew things.  Much like cats, who need to scratch or they will scratch something they shouldn't, dogs will chew up your things if you don't give them something to chew on.  Not only does that tick you off if they chew up your favorite shoes, but chewing on things they shouldn't can result in injury or death to your dog,  If they chew on something that can shatter they can cut their mouth or even worse their stomachs if they swallow it.  Or if they chew and swallow something that can't be digested, it can result in a blockage and they could die if not given expensive emergency surgery.

So why do dogs need to chew?  Well, for one it helps provide mental stimulation.  It helps keep them occupied and provides stress release.  A good chew item helps increase their jaw strength.  Chewing helps clean a dogs teeth which can prevent dental issues.  As I posted previously, Sisko just had surgery for overgrown gums.  Because his gums were so overgrown and sore he had pretty much stopped chewing on the bones I provided.  He is just beginning to chew again, which is so good for him and also will help the gums from getting overgrown again (fingers crossed).

So what are good chew items?  First off, NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER give your dog rawhide.  And I mean NEVER,  I can't believe stores still sell these for dogs.  They are a choking hazard and aren't easily digested.  You are literally risking your dog's life if you give him rawhide.

My favorite item to give my dogs to chew on is beef trachea.  In addition to being a long lasting chew, the trachea contains glucosamine and chondroitin which is great for your dogs joints.  They are also low in fat so even a dog that can stand to lose a few pounds can enjoy this treat.  The other great thing about them is that as the dogs chews they soften up so that there are no chunky pieces breaking off.

Booker absolutely LOVES these and we have them scattered throughout the house.

I also really like bully sticks.  Ok, they are made from bull penis which is gross to think about but they are a healthy long lasting chew.  They last longer than tracheas and are probably better for super aggressive chewers.  They also stink.  Really bad.  You can get the "odor free" kind but they are more expensive.  Speaking of cost - yup they are expensive.  But they are so good for your dogs and last a long time.

Another choice are marrow bones.  You can often buy these fresh at the grocery store and usually find them pre-packaged for sale in the meat case or you can ask the butcher.  You can also buy the prepacked ones like the ones linked to above.  Even if you can have a super aggressive chewer these will last for hours.  You do have to watch your dog to make sure he isn't biting down hard as he can crack his teeth on these hard bones.  If he does that, hard bones like these are not for him.  But my dogs like to scrape the meat off and you can just hear their teeth being cleaned as they chew and chew, scraping their teeth along the length of the bones .

I also give my dogs raw meaty bones.  My choice typically is chicken drumsticks.  While you should NEVER give your dogs a cooked bone, raw bones are perfectly safe and healthy.  I usually freeze the drumsticks and on a hot summer day give them a bone outside and let them go to town.  While dogs rarely get salmonella, don't allow them to chew these around the house especially around children who can indeed get salmonella from touching raw chicken.  They are messy - outside is the best choice. b You also can't go wrong by letting your dog have raw meat once and a while.

All of these above should be used under supervision.  That doesn't mean you have to watch them every minute, but you should be around to keep an eye on them just in case they swallow a chunk.

When I want to give my dogs something safe to keep them occupied when I leave the house, I typically fill a Kong with wet dog food and freeze it.  You can safely throw that in the crate with them so that they have something to work on while you are gone.  It doesn't provide the same level of teeth cleaning that bones do, but it does help keep them busy while you are gone.  You can really stuff the Kong with anything that they need to work at to eat out of the small holes, and freezing makes it take longer.

So give your dog something to chew on.  It is essential to their overall well being - both physically and mentally!