| Nancy1999 | 08-20-2009 12:37 PM |
Joey loves them, but we only have used the Merrick Brand, my son's dog came for a visit and turned his nose up at one, and I put it in a glass that had about an inch of water, and let the stick get soft on the end. The smell was more apparent, and he really went for it after that. Dogs often like the smellier ones better, but some of the smellier ones, are made without the same safety standards used by the Merrick Company. Also, some have too much moisture, and are more like a treat than a chewing stick, and the dog can ingest too much at one setting, and this could cause tummy upsets. Moist sticks can harbor bacteria that could cause illness. I also would look for a brand that wasn't imported, don't be misled by the words "free range", unless it's a US company. Cattle in most countries are "free range" and they are often starving looking for food. (I'm not kidding about this). Do not use anything that has an expiration date, if they are dried properly they don' t need an expiration date or artificial preservatives. The drying process is very important in killing off bateria, but some companies skimp on this step. The hard bully sticks are a great way to help keep you dog's teeth clean, and a great substitute for bones. The hard ones are more expensive, but one stick lasts Joey a whole week, and he really does love to chew. | 