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Sterilizing edible chews? The only chews my dogs will crunch down on are Himalayan Dog Chew and bully sticks. After each chew session I pick up the chews and let them air dry before they get them again. I would like some ideas about how to clean them between chewing sessions to help eliminate the risk of salmonella and/or other food poisoning bacteria. |
I put mine in the microwave for about 30 seconds, let cool. For Bully sticks I boil an inch of water and after it starts to boil I place the tip of the stick in the boiling water and microwave for another 30 seconds. Joey likes his tips softened and I think this will lesson the chance of broken teeth. It's my understanding, these bacteria are much worse for the human, than the dog. |
Thank you for your reply, Nancy. You microwave for 30 seconds, cool, then put the bully in boiling water and microwave the bully in the water for another 30 seconds? I'll give that a try. I microwaved a bully for one minute (I kinda go into overkill with the microwave :D). The bully shrunk to less than 1/2 its size and really looked vulgar. Not just disgusting, but really truly vulgar. That one went in the trash :D. |
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Got it! |
From the Himalayan Chews FAQ's page, as long as it's kept dry, it's deemed safe for up to 4 years. Himalayan Dog Chew When mine had Bully's, I cut off the part they chewed on & stored them in the freezer in a zip lock bag. IDK if that's practical, but I always bought the long 12" ones, so they lasted awhile even tho I cut them off a few inches after every chewing frenzy session.:D |
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I really don't know if this is a viable solution - but... I, too, cutoff the chewed up end of the bully stick then put it in the freezer for a while. I keep two of them cycling through thawing and being frozen. My vet tells me that when they have been chewed on the saliva sets up a perfect medium for bacteria to grow. Guess that is why I started freezing them. |
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OMG if you all could read this thread the way that I just did. I must be getting sicker in my old age, but it tickled the heck out of me. Chewing on them, softening the tip...vulgar...oh my! :eek::D:p:):eek: And then, the Lorena Bobbit move... ROFL |
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Information about freezing to kill germs: 6 Common Myths About Freezing Foods (Page 4) | Eating Well IDPH - Food Safety Myths |
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Thought it might be because I'm a foreigner though....;) :D Sally x |
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Did a bit of research on salmonella and it seems that heat and bleach kills it. So I guess the boiling method would be the best option. Thanks all! |
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Concerning freezing, you won't kill germs, but you slow the growth, and it's not the bacteria so much as the number of bacteria that make us sick. So this could be helpful, if the item is moist. On something like a dried bully stick, I don't think it would help much, bacteria can only grow in the moisture and once the stick is dry again, bacteria can't grow. So unless a pup is immune compromised, this might be over kill. |
Be very careful if you just lay the bully in the microwave. If you microwave them for too long, they schrivel up to less than 1/2 the original length and wind up curled up vulgar looking "C" shape. The smell will bring dogs from all over the neighborhood sniffing at your doors. I think their might have been a vulture or two circling the house as well.:rolleyes::eek::D I'm going with Nancy's suggestion to microwave in boiling water as soon as they have finished chewing and then let them dry out. |
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What about baking them? |
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Microwaving or boiling the bullies just sounds ewww to me & probably stinks loll! But it probably does kill any germs on it. IDK, is the moisture ok to get on the bully? Himalayan says not to get any moisture on it...would it apply for the bullies too? |
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