Antlers as chew toy

[Woof]

I brought a pair of shed antlers home a few years back and placed them in my front yard for looks. Nearly every dog in the neighborhood has chewed on them at one time or another and one lab. took a large portion home with him as a chew toy. His owner said he chewed the whole thing up over the course of a week.

Some of you, I presume, live in rural areas where shed antlers are not uncommon. Has anybody else experienced this? It is my understanding that the antlers do provide needed nutrients to many woodland creatures.

[SmoothCollieluver]

Ya i have seen it before. Lots of things like to chew them. But personally i would be pissed if people were letting their dogs do that to my stuff. How rude!

[Woof]

Well it would be but I was aware of it and expressed that I didn't mind. It was interesting to me that the dogs were so interested in them.

One reason I bring it up is that there is a company now that sells them as dog chews and while I do think its a natural thing I'm curiose if anyone has had similar experience or a bad experience with thier dogs chewing on them?

I am a retailer and could retail them but we are very cautious about bringing in new items like this. They don't appear to splinter.

[poketmouse]

I've been told that antlers from a deer head are fine for dogs. My only concern would be if shed antlers dry out in any way, since that would make them more likely to splinter.

[ClarkFarm]

I let my previous GSD gnaw on shed antlers before and never had any problems. Now I haven't found any for a few years but I keep looking.

Btw, the hoof trimmings from horses are a dog's favorite treat! Gather the trimmings up and use them for a dog treat. I haven't met a dog yet that hasn't chewed them up eagerly.

[Woof]

Thanks for the tip. There is alot of horse property in our area.

Dogs and horses go together like peas and carrots.