WHAT SHOULD I GIVE MY DOG TO CHEW?

Dogs are impressively equipped with teeth that are reminders of their carnivorous heritage.  Recreational chewing can be an important way to keep the teeth free of plaque an tartar.  The choice of appropriate chew toys will help keep your dog occupied as he cleans his teeth.

CHEW ITEMS SHOULD BE CHOSEN CAREFULLY.  The basic rule-of-thumb is that a dog should only be allowed to chew on items which he cannot chew into pieces (unless the pieces are digestible).  Some typical chew objects are summarized below.

BONES:  An old stand-by, but one discouraged by most veterinarians.  Large chunks of bone may become lodged in the mouth or throat, but more commonly lower intestinal irritation results from the ingestion of the hundreds of tiny flakes of bone splintered off by the chewing process.  Unless a bone is large enough that your pet cannot chew anything off of it, it would be wise to avoid bones altogether.

NYLON BONES:  Those meat-scented imitations will satisfy many dogs, and they can be used safely.  Some large dogs will be able to demolish even these synthetic look-alikes, in which case they should not be used.

RAWHIDE CHEWTOYS:  A favorite with many  dogs, but caution must still be used.  Rawhide is not completely  digestible, and may irritate the stomach if a large amount is swallowed.  These toys are very good for dogs that are content to chew on them without tearing off pieces to swallow.  Rawhide has been shown to be superior to other chew toys in keeping tartar from accumulating on the teeth.

PIG EARS AND COW HOOVES:  These are similar to rawhide chews, and the same cautions apply.  They are slightly more likely to cause intestinal upset, but can be given if they do not cause any vomiting.

RUBBER TOYS: As playthings, rubber “squeaky toys” are fine for playing fetch or for the smallest pup, but chewing is likely to result in rubber foreign material in the stomach and a trip to the vet.  They probably don’t help to keep the teeth clean.

TENNIS BALLS AND STUFFED SOCKS:  As long as these household items are indestructible for your pet, they can give him hours of enjoyment, both for chewing and for playing games.  Make sure that your pet can distinguish HIS sock for YOUR socks, however.  Balls and socks are also common intestinal foreign objects, so caution and supervision should be used.

KONG TOYS are  rubber beehive-shaped chew toys  that are indestructible, and they are hollow inside.  Packing some food treats inside the Kong Toy makes the ideal entertainment for the dog that wants an interesting chew item.

GREENIES:  These digestible chew treats are shaped like a big green toothbrush, and they are great for keeping the teeth clean and the breath good.  They  have a hard, slightly rubbery consistency and a taste dogs love.  They contain chlorophyll to help the breath.  There have been cases where dogs have choked (and even died) from getting a Greenie stuck in the throat, so good sense must be used; if your dog is too enthusiastic about these treats, he may be more likely to try and swallow it whole. Greenies are safe for most dogs, however.

MILKBONES, ETC:  The edible dog treats for chewing can be given to almost any dog.   If your pet has a tendency towards overweight, you may have to decrease his regular meals slightly to allow for the calories from his “recreational eating.”

VETERINARIAN’S PICK:  For the medium sized dog, the ideal selection of toys would be a good-sized rawhide chew toy, and old tennis ball, a Kong Toy, and a Greenie several times a week.  With these, the dog can exercise his teeth, as well as play fetch and tug-o-war.