Why we recommend giving your dog chews

For our dogs’ ancestors, chewing was a daily activity, as it played a vital role in the consumption of their food. Larger parts of meat, sinew and bones were chewed into smaller pieces until they could be swallowed and digested.

Today, most dogs are fed with kibble, stir-up mixes or other ready-made meals which can be licked up and swallowed without any (or just very little) chewing.

What many dog owners are not aware of is the fact that, aside from shredding meat and breaking food down, chewing plays an important role for a dog’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

Dental health

Chewing significantly contributes to the oral health of dogs. Gnawing on chews like chicken necks (for smaller dogs) or beef trachea tubes (for larger dogs) helps remove plaque and tartar build-up from teeth and keeps harmful bacteria in a dog’s mouth in check.

Clean teeth not only look good, they’re also less prone to decay (cavities and caries). Eliminating bacteria in a dog’s mouth helps reduce gum inflammation which if left unchecked leads to bone loss and loose teeth (periodontitis). Clean teeth and healthy gums also reduce if not eliminate bad breath.

In addition to healthy gums and teeth, strong jaw and neck muscles also contribute to a dog’s dental health. Well-developed muscles ensure that the jaw is kept in the right position and that enough force is applied during chewing. These muscles are best trained by giving your dog chews on a regular basis (ideally several times per week).

Safe, all-natural chews are also great for teething puppies. During the weeks when puppies are losing baby teeth and their permanent teeth are breaking through the gums, most dogs have a strong urge to chew to ease their discomfort. The best dental chews for puppies are from our experience relatively large, medium-hard chews like long and thin bully sticks or pig ears. What makes them great for teething puppies is that they are large enough to not get accidentally swallowed (puppies are inexperienced chewers) and they are soft enough to not cause damage to their teeth.

Mental health

Chewing is a physical activity which dogs find positive and rewarding. The physical act of chewing in combination with the sensory experience of tasting the chew’s flavor relieves stress and has a relaxing effect on dogs. Especially long-lasting dog chews are even sometimes referred to as dog calming chews.

Joint health and mobility

Many of our dog chews are also naturally rich in glucosamine and chondroitin. These two substances, naturally present in cartilage and connective tissue, are known to support canine joint health and mobility. Giving chicken feet, pig ears or beef trachea as chews to your dog will therefore act as a natural hip and joint medicine.

How to select healthy and safe dog chews

Our single most important piece of advice when selecting dog chews? Be critical. Not every chew on the market is safe. Not every chew is healthy. Just because a chew is shaped like toothbrush doesn’t mean they are automatically the best dental chews for dogs. And, of course, a perfect chew for one dog might be the wrong choice for another. Just picture a Chihuahua and a Great Dane.

The best dog chews are the ones which are right for your dog(s). We recommend considering the below criteria when selecting chews for your dog:

• What are the chews made of? Are they made of just one single, all-natural ingredient (for example 100% meat)? Or do they contain a long list of ingredients which sound like reading from your high school chemistry textbook?
• How hard are the chews?
• Where are the chews made? Right here in America, or do they come from countries with problematic food safety issues like India or China?
• How big is your dog?
• How old is your dog?
• What physical condition is your dog in? Are there any health issues to be considered (allergies, missing teeth, etc.)?
• What is your dog’s chewing style? If your dog tries to swallow every piece of food immediately no matter the size, pick a chew that is larger than your dog’s head to be on the safe side. If your dog is a gentle and patient chewer, smaller chews might be perfectly fine.

We also recommend avoiding the following chews:

Rawhide chews

Most rawhide chews for dogs are made from highly processed leather, and often full of toxic chemicals. In addition to being toxic, these rawhide chews are also not digestible. If swallowed, they could cause life-threatening internal blockages or even death.

Also be mindful of so-called no hide dog chews or no hide dog bones. Their naming clearly tries to piggy back on the increasing awareness among dog parents that most raw-hide chews are dangerous and is aiming to suggest that no hide chews are safe and healthy dog chews. While no hide doesn’t contain rawhide, these alternatives are often made of highly processed ingredients with little to no nutritional value. Also be on the lookout for additives like artificial colors or preservatives.

Cooked or baked bones

Cooking bones at high temperatures alters their molecular structure, making them extremely hard, splintery and usually indigestible. These bones can cause chipped or broken teeth and other injuries in your dog’s mouth, throat or digestive system. Cooked poultry bones are especially likely to break into pointy shards and should never be given to a dog.

Elk antlers or load-bearing bones of large animals

Elk antlers and other load-bearing bones of large animals (such as cattle femur bones) are also extremely hard chews for a dog. They, too, might cause chipped or broken teeth.

To assess if your dog is at risk, it’s important to know their innate chewing style. A gentle chewer, which might just playfully nibble on a hard chew, is most likely not at risk at all. On the other hand, a larger dog with a more aggressive chewing style could grind down an elk antler or a femur bone over time, and is at much higher risk of breaking and consequently losing a tooth.

Dog chews made of plastic or rubber

Plastic bones for dogs and dog chew toys seem to be an ideal choice (at least on first sight). They’re relatively inexpensive, long-lasting, and not stinky. Not surprisingly they are popular among many dog owners. Because of the long list of benefits and the often-misleading marketing claims of the companies making these chews, many dog owners forget that plastic is not food. The company Benebone for example boldly advertises that their nylon chew bones for dogs contain “real bacon”, while the fine print advises that it should not be eaten.

Almost all plastic dog chews are made of plastic that contains mineral oils, chemicals or other additives which cannot be considered food-safe by any standard. In addition, there is the risk associated with the small plastic particles that a dog ingests when chewing. Recent research indicates there is a high likelihood that ingesting these micro-plastic particles might cause cancer.

Dog treats made in countries with a history of food safety issues

Many dog chews sold in the United States are made in China and India. Unfortunately, these two countries also have a questionable track record when it comes to food safety. Pet chews from China, for example, have been directly linked to thousands of pet illnesses and deaths. We therefore recommend erring on the side of caution and buying dog chews which are made in the USA from locally sourced ingredients.

How to safely feed chews to your dog

No matter the type of chew, there is always the possibility that a part of a chew could become stuck between the teeth or elsewhere in the mouth or throat of a dog. We therefore recommend always supervising a dog when giving any chews. This way you are available to help, if needed.

We also recommend removing smaller pieces of chews which might present a potential choking hazard. Alternatively, you could also hold these smaller pieces in your hand and allow your dog to continue chewing on them until they are small enough that they can be safely swallowed.