Antlers make fantastic dog chews because they are totally natural, long lasting, provide good minerals and are odourless to humans. Dogs can be quite choosy about what they like to chew on but we haven't come across a dog that doesn't like Antler Dog Chews.
From puppies to older dogs, all are fascinated by them and love to explore the different taste and texture; gnawing, playing, chewing, licking, carrying and grinding them. And they don't go off which means that dogs can leave them and come back to it, day after day, for weeks or months. Why antler treats are so good for your dog, they're 100% natural packed full of tasty minerals and nutrients,
Antler Dog Chews contain a fantastic amount of minerals: Ash, Protein, Fibre, Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Iron, Sodium and Potassium. Made of a hard bony material, harder than normal bone, that's much less likely to splinter or shatter, and that means they last and last, longer than raw hide and compacted vegetable starch chews. They're good for your dog's teeth, as it doesn't fill gaps in teeth and the chewing /gnawing, grinds down the chew slowly, helping to keep teeth clean and healthy.
They're also really good for dogs with sensitive tummies and those on a fat controlled diet. Antler is a fantastic ingredient because it contains all these beneficial minerals:
- Collagen - Good for bones, tendons, ligaments and cartilage
- Lipids - Essential for growth and development
- Glucosamine - Good for joints and tissues
- Calcium and phosphorous - Benefits bones and teeth
- Iron - Essential for healthy blood cells
- Potassium - Good for nerve and muscle function
- Magnesium - Aids in storing and releasing energy
Chewing is very good for dogs in many ways. It helps keep their teeth clean, expends energy and keeps them occupied and out of trouble, i.e. chewing the legs off your favourite chair! Chewing releases positive chemicals from the brain, which will keep your dog content as well. Wild dogs have been chewing on Antlers probably for as long as both have existed. And why antler treats are good for you too! They have very low odour to humans, but smell delicious to sensitive dog noses.
Antler Dog Chews last far longer than most other chews or treats, like rawhide, sticks made from starch, pig's ears or other compacted starch chews, which means you don't have to buy so many! You know you are giving your dog a chew that has not been boiled, processed or pumped full of additives. 100% totally natural. Our antler dog chews and treats are cut from naturally shed, year fresh, deer antlers, from healthy free ranging deer that live natural lives. All our antlers are free from chemicals, preservatives, colouring and additives of any sort, just pure and natural as nature intended. A healthy alternative to rawhide, chemically processed, rubber and manmade chews. Deer grow a new pair of Antlers each year from the time that they are a year old. Each set of antlers are naturally shed in late winter/early spring. Antlers are unique to the deer family, and are composed of a bone like material which regenerates each year. Antlers grow on more than sixty kinds of deer, including moose, reindeer, caribou and elk. Each antler grows from an attachment point on the skull called a pedicle. The Antlers begin as layers of cartilage then slowly mineralise into bone. In the beginning they are soft and easily damaged, until they completely mineralise in the late summer. Antlers grow very quickly and faster than any other type of bone, growing up to 2.5 cm per day in the summer! These truly amazing structures, are being studied by biologists in the hopes of learning the secrets of fast cell growth, which may unlock cures to various forms of cancer. As they get larger they begin to branch out and are covered with a thin skin of fine fur. At this time the blood that flows to the antlers stops, and they begin to harden. When the antlers have reached their full growth, the protective fur dries out, and the deer will rub it off on trees. Finally in the winter, the antlers will fall off. With each successive year's growth the antlers will branch into more points until the deer has reached his prime.
Variations and sizing: Antler Dog Chews are totally natural and cut from complete antlers. These will vary in colour, from greyish beige to dark brown. The shape can be straight or branched, thick or thin. In the centre of the antler is a softer portion that is tastier to dogs and is similar to marrow. Some antlers are softer than others, and you may find that your dog chews one antler faster than another.
We have suggested sizes for different breeds, but you know your dog best, some little dogs are tough chewers, and some larger dogs are more gentle. With the large range available at Antler Dog Chews, there is bound to be one that suits your dog. Safety: Like any dog chew, you need to be watchful when allowing your dog to chew on an Antler. Do not let your dog chew on an Antler that he could choke on, keep an eye on how small the antler is getting and take it away when it gets too small. When you give your dog his antler, keep a watch that your dog is gnawing on the antler and not trying to break it or bite it. If he is bearing down hard on the antler, it is best to take it away from him (remember to give him a treat for giving it up!), as chewing it too hard could damage his teeth. Every chew has it's dangers, so do watch your dog and be satisfied that he is gnawing not biting.