Bully sticks may be made from an unusual ingredient, but they make a safe treat that dogs of all ages can enjoy. By being a conscious shopper, you can even find more humane and natural versions of this chew toy, which will benefit your dog's dental health and encourage its taste for natural beef.
Bully sticks go by several names such as beef sticks, steer stix, pizzle sticks and beef pizzles, but most of them are made from the same ingredient: bull penises. Manufacturers sometimes refer to the ingredients as dried muscles or dried tendons. Although this may be the last thing you would want to feed your dog, they make excellent chew toys. Plus, they come in various lengths (4 to 30 inches in width and anywhere between 5 and 12 inches in length) and styles (standard sticks or braided sticks), which will suit your small, medium or large dog’s needs.
So are bully sticks safe for dogs to eat? With any toy, it’s important to supervise your pet to make sure he/she doesn’t choke. However, since bully sticks are made 100% beef, they are safe for your dog to digest, but make sure to purchase all natural bully sticks. With this type, you can be sure that the meat isn’t overly processed with unnatural flavors or dyes. You can go one step further and only buy bully sticks made from free range, grass fed cattle, and Bully Sticks for Dogs offers these in large supplies.
As your dog chews on its new toy, the bully stick will become increasingly smaller, and you may want to take it away from your dog to prevent any choking hazards.
Getting your dog to brush its teeth is a challenging task, but chew toys can help prevent plaque and tartar buildup, which if not addressed can lead to periodontal disease. Once the disease develops, the gum inflammation can cause discomfort, and the toxic bacteria can cause chronic conditions including kidney and liver disease as well as heart and joint problems.
In addition to these health benefits, bully sticks can last a long time since they are dried, and it helps to keep them in a sealed container. Depending on the size of your dog as well as how often he/she enjoys chewing, one bully stick can last a few hours or a few days. So if your puppy is gnawing on your furniture or if your loyal companion is stressed out during your next move, a bully stick can make the perfect stress-relieving toy.