I have a question about Bullysticks?

[Susan78]

I had to bring my little Kinder in to the doctor today because Saturday she had a little diarrea. She was eating good and playful but I cut her food down and let her rest her tummy. Anyways yesterday her poops were nice and normal and everything was fine. At 4:00 am this morning she pooped in her bed and had diarrea again but she seemed to have felt good. She just turned one years old so she was playful and alert. Drinking water good but I thought let's bring her in I do not want to take any chances or have her suffer with a tummy ache. It turned out her poop showed she had camplyobacter infection so she is on amoxicillin and fortiflora. My vet said that he has seen quite a few dogs getting this from bullysticks that are from South America. He said that some may not be cured right. This infection comes from contaminated raw milk,undercooked chicken or poultry or other food conntaminated during preparation. I bought these bullysticks from bestbullysticks.com and now I am afraid to give her any. Kinder just loves these so does anyone have a suggestion on what I could give her? I wonder if a person could put these bullysticks in a microwave or oven to make sure they are cured. Hopefully I find a solution for my baby.

[alaskayorkie]

Interesting. Eddie had a bout with camplyobacter a year or so ago. It cleared up quickly on meds, btw. At the time, I was told it was likely caused by feces -- perhaps he ingested it. Hadn't heard of the bully stick possibility. I make sure my bullies were made in America. Also, recently I've been buying tracheas. The dogs love them, and they last about as long. Thanks for posting the warning.

[Susan78]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Interesting. Eddie had a bout with camplyobacter a year or so ago. It cleared up quickly on meds, btw. At the time, I was told it was likely caused by feces -- perhaps he ingested it. Hadn't heard of the bully stick possibility. I make sure my bullies were made in America. Also, recently I've been buying tracheas. The dogs love them, and they last about as long. Thanks for posting the warning.

Thanks I think I will buy in America only too. This is scary but I will have to get Kinder something different to chew on. She is going to be lost not having her bullysticks but I do not want to chance it of her getting sick. My vet said some of these things are not cured right so he said throw them out. What are these tracheas? Where do you buy these? I really appreciate you helping me with the bullystick problem.Thanks again. Susan

[107barney]

I do not feed bully sticks, and this is why. I just believe that for some dogs, the bacteria on the natural bully sticks is not tolerated. I usually only allow my dogs to chew on nylabones (the flexible ones) but I sometimes will allow other things. I just have a hard time with the risk they bring, and I don't believe the sources are clean as your vet suggested. A lot of people here like the CET dental chews, I just bought a bag, not crazy about them myself.

[Nancy1999]

I never heard about Bully Sticks until I read about them on Yorkietalk, and so many people recommended them that I did a search and read many articles on their safety. I concluded the same thing as your vet, not all bully sticks are created equal. We've had several threads here about Bully Sticks possibly connected with diarrhea or infection, and they were always a generic brand. If a bully stick has no artificial preservatives, it's imperative that they are dried property, and the moisture content has to be extremely low in order for bacteria not to rapidly reproduce. I don't recommend bully sticks that have artificial preservatives either, because they have a "shelf life" and there are reports of dogs becoming sick from bully sticks with expired expiration dates, also why use artificial preservatives, if there is an indeed safe way of naturally preserving? Drying is a very safe way of persevering meats, but it must be done, in carefully controlled circumstances.

I only buy Merrick Bully Sticks, and they are made in the United States, under carefully regulated conditions. They are more expensive than imported brands, but I believe they are so much safer, according to all the antidotal stories. I think people are misled by the words "free range cattle," and think the product might be better or more humane for the cattle, but this too is misleading, free range doesn't always mean more humane, it could just mean no fences, and no regular food, and it says nothing about the safety for our dogs. Also, a bully stick that is dried thoroughly with a low moisture content, is not only safer, but it lasts much longer than one with a higher moisture content, so in reality, a premium bully stick is really not that much more expensive. Joey's been chewing on Merrick Bully Sticks for about 4 years, and I believe they are very helpful in keeping his teeth and gums healthy. He's never had diarrhea either.

[AlicetheYorkie]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I never heard about Bully Sticks until I read about them on Yorkietalk, and so many people recommended them that I did a search and read many articles on their safety. I concluded the same thing as your vet, not all bully sticks are created equal. We've had several threads here about Bully Sticks possibly connected with diarrhea or infection, and they were always a generic brand. If a bully stick has no artificial preservatives, it's imperative that they are dried property, and the moisture content has to be extremely low in order for bacteria not to rapidly reproduce. I don't recommend bully sticks that have artificial preservatives either, because they have a "shelf life" and there are reports of dogs becoming sick from bully sticks with expired expiration dates, also why use artificial preservatives, if there is an indeed safe way of naturally preserving? Drying is a very safe way of persevering meats, but it must be done, in carefully controlled circumstances.

I only buy Merrick Bully Sticks, and they are made in the United States, under carefully regulated conditions. They are more expensive than imported brands, but I believe they are so much safer, according to all the antidotal stories. I think people are misled by the words "free range cattle," and think the product might be better or more humane for the cattle, but this too is misleading, free range doesn't always mean more humane, it could just mean no fences, and no regular food, and it says nothing about the safety for our dogs. Also, a bully stick that is dried thoroughly with a low moisture content, is not only safer, but it lasts much longer than one with a higher moisture content, so in reality, a premium bully stick is really not that much more expensive. Joey's been chewing on Merrick Bully Sticks for about 4 years, and I believe they are very helpful in keeping his teeth and gums healthy. He's never had diarrhea either.

Very informative I got a little nervous when I started reading this post, but I only use Merrick's bully sticks, so now I feel better lol. Come to think of it, the little private pet store I use only sells the Merrick ones and that lady who owns that shop knows her stuff.

[alaskayorkie]

Here's a link that shows tracheas.

Beef Trachea (Moo Tubes) - All Natural Dog Treats

[Susan78]

Thank you everyone for helping me with your great ideas. I know I am not going to give Kinder anymore bullysticks especially the ones that are imported into this country. I am going to get her some Merrick ones and I think I may get her some trachea too that are made in USA.

[viviansnickers]

Are Merrick bullies smelly? My Reesie also got the runs from bullies from bestbullysticks.com that was cured with pectin tablets and he is chewing them again with no problem but I would like to get bullies made in the USA. Wonder where AMD gets her supply. I'll ask her. Hmmmmmmmm....

Viv

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

Are Merrick bullies smelly? My Reesie also got the runs from bullies from bestbullysticks.com that was cured with pectin tablets and he is chewing them again with no problem but I would like to get bullies made in the USA. Wonder where AMD gets her supply. I'll ask her. Hmmmmmmmm....

Viv

Yeah, they remind me of when my mom cooked ham hocks, whatever they are. I've heard that they are not as smelly as certain brands, like Red Barn, some people say you can smell them across the room, but they aren't odorless either. I can only smell them when I've been holding one for Joey at bedtime. I don't like the odor, but I get use to it because Joey loves them so much!

[tjdmom]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Here's a link that shows tracheas.

Beef Trachea (Moo Tubes) - All Natural Dog Treats

You find that these last as long a bully sticks? Your dogs like them just as much? Are they smelly at all? Always looking for something new!

[tjdmom]

Mine have had no issues with bully sticks and I get them from bestbullysticks.com too. I will say that I don't leave them out for more than a day and if they get really soft and chewed, I throw them out or otherwise put them back in the fridge. I heard that bacteria can build up on them.

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by tjdmom

You find that these last as long a bully sticks? Your dogs like them just as much? Are they smelly at all? Always looking for something new!

I was surprised at how long they last. I give each about a 4-inch segment, and they'll last a couple days of steady chewing before I take them away from them because they get too small. That's about how long bullies last in my house. The smell's not nearly as bad as bullies either because it's not meat. Only downside I've noticed is they get mushy around the edges.

My Lab demolishes them pretty fast, but he goes through bullies fast too.

Of course, dogs can choke on just about any chewie, so I supervise them and take them away when they get too small.

[BaxtersMommy]

Bully Sticks are great if you know where they come from and how they are processed. My dogs got deathly sick on Merrick bullies that I got from the pet store. So, I dont give Merrick any more. I have a great supplier for my store and they are awesome. I also get lamb trachea, but they dont last long at all (for my dogs).

[AlicetheYorkie]

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

Are Merrick bullies smelly? My Reesie also got the runs from bullies from bestbullysticks.com that was cured with pectin tablets and he is chewing them again with no problem but I would like to get bullies made in the USA. Wonder where AMD gets her supply. I'll ask her. Hmmmmmmmm....

Viv

I don't think they are unless you actually pick it up and smell it. I don't notice the smell at all when the dogs are chewing them, only when I unwrap it to give to them at first. I have a really strong sence of smell too lol.