Originally Posted by ironmike86 (Post 4121967)

How ever you feel about them. MOKI needs to chew.He doesn't like nylon,antlers nothing. They get bacteria from all the crap they eat outside also. If you feed raw theres bacteria in there also. But I do agree with the caloric intake. But Moki takes3-5 days to eat six inches. I cut the soft parts and throw it away when it's about 1-2". So he really isn't getting all those calories but he doe always feel thicker. So I cut him off for a week or so. I never had a problem with my dogs. Then again some ppl who won't feed Bully's will feed greenies

Originally Posted by ironmike86 (Post 4121967)

How ever you feel about them. MOKI needs to chew.He doesn't like nylon,antlers nothing. They get bacteria from all the crap they eat outside also. If you feed raw theres bacteria in there also. But I do agree with the caloric intake. But Moki takes3-5 days to eat six inches. I cut the soft parts and throw it away when it's about 1-2". So he really isn't getting all those calories but he doe always feel thicker. So I cut him off for a week or so. I never had a problem with my dogs. Then again some ppl who won't feed Bully's will feed greenies

Originally Posted by ladyjane (Post 4122392)

I see that you did say *some* ... but we could also say that about anything. Bottom line, I will never give my pups bully sticks...ever. Far too many risks and I feel the same way about greenies...same risks minus the bacteris.

Originally Posted by gracielove (Post 4122369)

Bully sticks are not supposed to be treats. The article cited here was speaking as though they were a treat the dogs eat. While I think some manufacturers make these things with the hope that dogs will gobble them down that is not the purpose. Although I have seen some companies selling little 4" sticks as treats. That is just wrong. People should buy sticks that are thick enough and hard enough that the dog cannot eat it like a snack. The purpose is to let the dog get in the chewing activity it needs and help clean the teeth. It has no more bacteria than anything else a dog puts in it's mouth.

My dog was a destructive chewer. She would steal anything she could put her teeth on to chew. I would not give her rawhide but I won't give her Greenies either. Once I found the Best Bully brand I had what we needed. She does not eat them. It takes weeks for her to get through one stick. She spends time chewing on the end. It satisfies her need to chew and I no longer have things destroyed by her need to chew. As cute as she is she is still a dog and I will not take away from her the doggy things she needs to be happy and healthy.

Originally Posted by ironmike86 (Post 4122654)

Theres been other bully stick threads..PPL say they give greenies but would never a Bully. My dogs are healthy and Bully don't affect them. Maybe a sensitive eater. No less safe then feeding raw. or Kibble. Look at all those recalls.

Originally Posted by MishyMish (Post 4122731)

i though they werent good for other reasons.

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88 (Post 4122858)

like?

Originally Posted by ladyjane (Post 4123184)

Obstructions for one. I don't believe that one was mentioned.

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88 (Post 4123388)

Its extremely hard to bite of big enough pieces to do that though if the bully sticks are not the very soft ones. Not that they can't do it because Callie has done many things I have thought where extremely hard lol

Originally Posted by ladyjane (Post 4123574)

You would be quite shocked if you worked in an EC. Some of the things that dogs swallow are unbelievable!!! Pieces you could not comprehend. I was not thiniking of one breaking a piece off...they can swallow them!

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88 (Post 4123597)

Callie is so picky about bites of anything having to be small and I buy the 12" ones but looking at my moms yorkie Sam I can see how that can happen heck he even scares me with dog food!

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88 (Post 4122858)

like?

Originally Posted by Nancy1999 (Post 4124234)

The article didn't say anything that I wasn't aware of, Joey and Ralphie both eat bully sticks, and I supervise them. I agree with those of you who say it’s not a snack, it’s a chewing aid, if your dog is eating a bully stick in one day it’s too soft, look for some with moisture content around 13%. Mine don’t even eat an inch a day, and they chew vigorously on them every night.



Out of 26 different kinds, only three had problems? I think that's great! Personally I wouldn't buy most kinds, I think some are made too cheaply, but according to this, most a whooping 97%, are safe. I think the article is very misleading in saying that people weren’t aware bullysticks were so high in fat, "The researchers received over 852 responses which revealed many dog owners were not aware of what the treats are made from and that it is so high in fat". The kind we use have 1% fat, this is not considered high, even lettuce has SOME fat. High in calories does not mean high in fat, the calories are coming from protein! Basically, the article is lousy science, I'd love to know who's behind it.

Everything we do has some risks, and I’ve learned that I can’t please everyone at Yorkietalk with my food choices. While there is a risk of every chewing stick causing a throat obstruction and they must ALL be used under supervision, bully sticks WILL NOT cause an intestinal obstruction because they are 100 percent digestible, and that’s what’s important to me. I throw them out when they are 3-4 inches long, and I hold them while they are chewing them. My babies really enjoy their chew time, and I don’t think it’s necessary to take this away from them. For those of you worried about bacteria, you can microwave them, which dries them out even more. I microwave just the tip in an inch of water for about 30 seconds, because Joey makes me!

Originally Posted by butterfly (Post 4126519)

What do you mean by microwaving the tip in water. Is this just to soften it up a little or Joey just likes it warm and yummy? I wonder because sometimes things are too hard to get 'started'. I know this sounds gross. Libby and Rico both get a chew. Libby waits until Rico gets it soft then steals it from him or cries right next to him until he walks away, giving it to her. Little smartie pants!

Originally Posted by Gracye (Post 4126547)

Noooo! Max loves these :( I guess that accounts for all the weight he's been gaining lately though :( I will have to take these way from him and find another stick treat for him to chew on.

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88 (Post 4126665)

Your not going to find anything safer then bully sticks in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Gracye (Post 4126675)

Yes I think I'll just limit his bully bones to 1 per week

Originally Posted by Nancy1999 (Post 4126782)

What type do you buy? Do you know the moisture content?

Originally Posted by Gracye (Post 4126790)

I'm actually not sure, I'm at work right now LOL. I'll have to check when I get home. I get them from Bosley's pet store and I know a lot of people in my puppy socialization class buy them as well. Haven't heard any bad things about them from people there.

Max doesn't seem to want to drink huge amounts of water after chewing on it though?

Originally Posted by Nancy1999 (Post 4126837)

How much does Max eat a day, more than an inch?

Originally Posted by Gracye (Post 4126848)

I think he does do more than an inch. He's a huge chewer and he never liked his kongs so to keep him from chewing on my wooden steps he has the bullies.

Originally Posted by Nancy1999 (Post 4126936)

Yeah, Joey has never liked the kongs either. Bullys are a lot safer and less expensive than steps! :D

Originally Posted by Nancy1999 (Post 4124234)

The article didn't say anything that I wasn't aware of, Joey and Ralphie both eat bully sticks, and I supervise them. I agree with those of you who say it’s not a snack, it’s a chewing aid, if your dog is eating a bully stick in one day it’s too soft, look for some with moisture content around 13%. Mine don’t even eat an inch a day, and they chew vigorously on them every night.



Out of 26 different kinds, only three had problems? I think that's great! Personally I wouldn't buy most kinds, I think some are made too cheaply, but according to this, most a whooping 97%, are safe. I think the article is very misleading in saying that people weren’t aware bullysticks were so high in fat, "The researchers received over 852 responses which revealed many dog owners were not aware of what the treats are made from and that it is so high in fat". The kind we use have 1% fat, this is not considered high, even lettuce has SOME fat. High in calories does not mean high in fat, the calories are coming from protein! Basically, the article is lousy science, I'd love to know who's behind it.

Everything we do has some risks, and I’ve learned that I can’t please everyone at Yorkietalk with my food choices. While there is a risk of every chewing stick causing a throat obstruction and they must ALL be used under supervision, bully sticks WILL NOT cause an intestinal obstruction because they are 100 percent digestible, and that’s what’s important to me. I throw them out when they are 3-4 inches long, and I hold them while they are chewing them. My babies really enjoy their chew time, and I don’t think it’s necessary to take this away from them. For those of you worried about bacteria, you can microwave them, which dries them out even more. I microwave just the tip in an inch of water for about 30 seconds, because Joey makes me!

Originally Posted by Deb1 (Post 4126961)

Nancy, I buy RedBarn Bully sticks with the moisture content of 15 percent, 1 percent fat content. I also "hold" their sticks while if is being chewed on my lap! I do not fear that she will choke on it. She does not chew much of it off but I do give it to her a couple time a day. Do you know if this is one of the safer brands of bully sticks? I am so paranoid of giving her anything that might make her ill. I lost my first yorkie to illness!