All About Antler Dog Chews from Pet Expertise

Antler Chew Biology    Pet Expertise's Antlers    Antlers Make Great Dog Chews    Antler Chew Safety   

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Dogs have been chewing on antlers probably as long as they have both existed, but only until recently can city dogs get their teeth on them. Pet Expertise was one of the first companies to offer antler dog chews and they remain one of our biggest sellers and we get tons of wonderful feedback from happy dog owners. Here is a bit of what we have learned about them. Below we will explain about antler biology, where we get our antlers, why antlers make great chews, how to keep your dog safe with his antler chew and tips on getting the most out of your antler dog chew.

Biology of the Antler Chew

Antlers are unique to the deer family and are composed of a bone-like material which regenerates each year and branches out. They grow on the heads of more than sixty kinds of deer, including moose, reindeer, caribou, and elk. Antlers grow only on male deer, moose, and elk, who use them as weapons to fight other males for leadership of the herd or for possession of a mate. Antlers used as dog chews generally come from deer and elk. Moose antler is also available but because it is so flat it does not make for such a good dog chew.

Deer grow a new pair of antlers each year from the time they are a year old. Antlers begin as layers of cartilage that slowly mineralize into bone. In the beginning are soft and easily damaged until they completely mineralize in late summer. Antlers grow very quickly and faster than any other kind of bone, (up to one inch per day during the summer). As they get larger they begin to branch out and are covered with a thin skin of fine fur called velvet. At this time the blood that flows to the antlers stops, and then they begin to harden. When the antlers have reached their full growth, the protective velvet covering dries and the deer will rub the velvet off on trees. Finally in the winter, the antlers fall off, but with each successive year's growth, the antlers branch into more points until the deer has reached his prime.

The hardened antlers are composed of calcium, phosphorous and as much as 50 percent water. Antlers are truly amazing structures. Biologists are studying antlers in hopes of learning the secrets of fast cell growth, which may unlock cures to various forms of cancer.

About Antler Chews from Pet Expertise

Pet Expertise's antler chews come to your dog by way of either natural shedding or from deer that have been hunted by sport hunters. These are deer that live full lives in the wild and are hunted according to regulations. The animals are not hunted solely for their antler of course! We have found that dog prefer chewing antler that is fresh and not bright white and brittle.

Antlers vary in color from a grayish beige to almost white. The shape can be straight to branched, thick or thin. In the center of the antler is a softer portion that is tastier to dogs and is similar to a marrow. Some antlers are softer than others as well and you may notice that your dog chews one antler faster than another one. This variation in antler chews makes it ideal to give your dog several as they will all be like different chews to your dog.

Why Give Your Dog Antler Chews?

Antlers make excellent dog chews because they are made of a bony material and so are hard, long lasting, interesting to the dog and not smelly or staining. They are similar in hardness to a Nylabone, but tastier and healthier. Not all dogs will love chewing every antler. Older and picky dogs are generally not as interested in chewing antlers unless it happens to be a really "good" one (humans can not tell the difference!). The dogs that appreciate chewing antlers the most are young dogs and dogs that just love to chew. Chewing antlers is very good for dogs in many ways. It helps keep their teeth clean, it expends energy and keeps the dog out of trouble and out from under foot. Antler chews are also full of nutrients such as calcium.

Keep Your Dog Safe with His Antler Chew

Like any dog chew, you do need to be careful when allowing your dog to chew on an antler. The main concerns are for your dog breaking a tooth or choking on the antler chew. To prevent these things from happening, be sure to supervise your dog's antler chewing. Do not allow him to bear down forcefully with his molars on the antler chew and do not allow him to chew on a piece that is of a size he could choke on. Dogs do need to chew and since every chew has it's dangers it is important to still allow your dog to chew but to be as careful as you can. What you want to see is that the dog chews the antler and wears it down very slowly. Most antlers will last your dog weeks or months (More notes in tips below).

Why Purchase Antler Chews from Pet Expertise?

You can feel good about giving your dog an antler chew from Pet Expertise. These come from healthy free-ranging deer that live full natural lives. Antlers are free of packaging and processing. They are made in the USA. Pet Expertise guarantees that your dog will love the antler or you can send it back to us for a refund (unchewed antlers only, please!). We have the best selection of antlers, lowest prices and low shipping charges.

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Tips for Using Your Antler Dog Chews from Pet Expertise

Antlers chews make wonderful chews for dogs but just like any dog chew it is important to be careful and to supervise your dog. Here are a few tips to help your dog to enjoy the antler chew and keep him or her safe.

• Make sure your antler dog chew is large enough so that there is no possibility that your dog could choke on it. If you find that the antler chews that you have purchased are not large enough for your dog, you can return it to us for a refund.

• Check your antler chew over for any possible sharp edges. If there are any, it is easy to remove them by rubbing the sharp edge against concrete or sandpaper.

• Wash the antler chew in warm, soapy water and rinse well.

• Give the antler chew to your dog watch him while he chews it for at least the first few times.

• Make sure your dog is gnawing on the antler instead of trying to break the antler chew in half. If he is bearing down hard on the antler like this, it is best to take it away (don't forget to give him a treat for giving it up!), since chewing any hard chew this way could damage his teeth.

• Do not allow your dog to chew more than an inch of the antler per day.

• Take the the antler chew away from your dog once it gets worn down to a small enough size that your dog could swallow / choke on it.

• f your dog likes the antler so much that he guards it from you, you can teach him to drop the antler for a treat, click here for an article on teaching your dog to "drop it". If your dogs fight over their antler chews make sure to give them to them when the dogs are separated.

• If your dog isn't interested in the chewing the antler, try rubbing it with sandpaper or a nail file. If your dog still isn't interested in the antler, you could try rubbing it with a small amount of peanut butter or soaking it overnight in water in the refrigerator.