Antler Dog Chews: The Complete Guide

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It’s hard to find something for your pet to chew on which is tough, but also safe and healthy. And buying bags of bones or boxes of rawhide every month can be costly and messy. Therefore many owners are switching to antler dog chews. Here’s everything you’ll need to know about this all-natural choice!

Antler dog chews are made from the shed antlers of different types of deer and elk. They’re called shed antlers because they naturally fall off every year (without any harm to the animal) and then grow back. In the wild, wolves, coyotes, porcupines, and rabbits all chew on shed antlers both for their nutritional value and health benefits. When used for dogs, fresh antlers are collected and then cut to make them safe.

Top Benefits Of Antlers For Dogs

Dog chews made from antlers have many benefits both for pets and their owners such as:

Healthy Teeth and Gums

Chewing on antlers helps dogs to clean teeth by breaking down tartar, removing plaque buildup, and maintaining healthy gums. All of which are essential for a happy and healthy pooch.

Long-Lasting

One of the biggest benefits of antler dog chews is that they last much longer than other options. Individual chews typically last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. (Just how long they last will depend on the size of the chew, size of your dog, and what type of chewer your pet is.)

Keep Pets Occupied

Because chews do last so long, they offer a healthy and natural way for your pet to stay busy for hours at a time. This is of course ideal for aggressive chewers, teething puppies, naughty pooches, but also just the average pet.

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Tasty Marrow

The inner portion of antlers naturally contains marrow which dogs happen to find delicious. This keeps them chewing to get to the tasty treat hidden inside. 

Nutrients and Minerals

Antler dog chews are naturally packed with essential nutrients and minerals. You can expect chews to contain calcium, protein, potassium, phosphorous, iron, and zinc. Chews also contain high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin, which are vital for joint health and mobility.

No Odor And No Mess

Despite containing marrow, antler chews have virtually no smell and don’t get mushy like rawhide. They also won’t leave behind any mess, and won’t stain floors and furniture.

Organic

Because they are all-natural, antler dog chews contain no chemicals, dyes, or flavor enhancers. They’re totally organic and easy for pets to digest. Fortunately, they’re also low in calories.

Pet-Safe

Unlike bones, which have a tendency to splinter and break, the antler is slowly ground down by the dogs’ teeth. Antler dog chews are also cut and sometimes also sanded so that they don’t have any sharp edges.

Drawback Or Advantage: You Decide

With such a long list of benefits, there is of course a drawback, price. Antler dog chews definitely cost more per piece than other options. However, whether this is good or bad depends on how you look at it. Because each antler chew does last much longer than other choices, dogs need fewer of them.

So you pay more at once, but much less frequently. If you add in the endless hours that a chew will keep them occupied and the fact that pets are much less likely to chew on household items and furniture, they can be more cost-effective than other options.

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Antler Types: Deer Or Elk?

Dog antler chews come from a few different members of the deer family. They are usually collected from either elk or a handful of deer species such as whitetail, mule deer, or axis deer. Each type of antler is different. Elk antler dog chews are the largest in diameter, contain the most marrow, and are usually the most expensive.

Because they have less outer bone they aren’t as dense and are therefore softer than deer antlers. Deer antler chews on the other hand are smaller but harder. Axis antlers are the hardest of all followed by whitetail and then mule deer antlers.

Antler Cuts

Antlers are typically sold in two different cuts: whole pieces and split pieces. Whole pieces are solid cuts of antler. These are harder, last longer, and are more challenging for dogs to get to the marrow inside. Split pieces are cut so that the marrow inside is already partially exposed.

These are softer, easier on the dog’s teeth, and allow pets to get to the marrow more quickly. Split antler dog chews are usually the best choice for both older and younger dogs as their teeth are not as strong. While they are usually sold separately some retailers will sell packs of antlers that contain both types together.

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Antler Sizes and Looks

Antler chews come in various sizes. As a general rule, the larger the dog, the longer and thicker size chew you’ll want to buy. To make things simple most retailers will tell you in the product description what size dog a particular chew is best for. Another easy way to decide on the correct size chew for your pet is to take a look at the cut end of the antler.  

By doing so you’ll be able to see the marrow in the center which is surrounded by a white ring, which is actually calcium. The thicker the ring, the harder and tougher the chew is. And the more time it will take for a dog to get to the marrow. For big dogs and aggressive chewers, you should choose an antler chew with thicker rings.

For older and younger pets along with less aggressive chewers, thinner rings are better. Keep in mind that because antlers are made by Mother Nature, each one is totally unique. So chews that are the same size can be different shapes, textures, or have slightly different coloration.

Antler Grades

Antler chews come in different grades (A through C). The grade is determined mainly by age, but also by other factors as well. For example, Grade-A antler dog chews are the highest quality and also the freshest, therefore containing the most nutrients and minerals. Antlers rated lower than Grade-A may be cheaper but they are typically thinner and may be faded from the sun and weather. They may also have surface cracks and because they’re older are less nutrient and mineral-dense.

Purchasing Tips: Get The Most Antler For Your Buck

When shopping for antler chews, you’ll notice that prices at smaller pet shops and also large chain pet stores are generally expensive. The easiest way to find cheap antler dog chews that are also high-quality is by shopping online. Of course, quality is very important since your dog will be ingesting the chew.

By reading customer reviews you can’t, therefore, help to ensure that you are purchasing a high-quality product for your pet. (On sites such as Amazon antler dog chews are an incredibly popular item).

When shopping online, the smartest strategy for getting the best deals is purchasing antler dog chews wholesale. Many retailers conveniently sell chews by the pound, and the more pounds you purchase, the less you’ll pay per piece. For those who own multiple dogs, this can be a big money-saver!

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Shopping Considerations

When shopping for chews there are a few things you may want to consider. For example, it’s important to pick chews that are 100% natural and therefore chemical and preservative-free. Many people also prefer to buy only American antler dog chews, to further guarantee quality.

Most consumers choose only to purchase antlers collected from free-range animals instead of those raised on farms. That’s because free-ranging deer and elk aren’t given any hormones or antibiotics like their farm-raised cousins.

Quick Tips

Although most pets will instantly know what to do with an antler dog chew, some pets may not. An easy solution is to dip the antler in something that your pet likes to eat (many owners use chicken broth). This will get him chewing on it, and once he discovers there’s marrow inside, he’ll likely be hooked.

Dogs are individuals so you may want to try out different types of chews and cuts to see which ones your pet likes best. While some dogs prefer elk, others like deer. It depends on your pooch. When giving your dog an antler, his chewing sessions should always be supervised. Once the antler chew has become small enough that it can be swallowed, it should be thrown away.

While chews are safe for the majority of dogs, they should not be given to pets that are such aggressive chewers that try to break hard items with their back teeth instead of chewing them. These pets may injure their teeth, so for them stick with durable rubber chew toys instead.

With the info and tips, you’ve just learned you know more than enough to easily choose the right antler dog chews for your pet and find the best deals!

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