Most dogs love to chew and chewing is very important for dogs oral and mental health. It provides healthy mental stimulation, exercises the jaw muscles, helps keep teeth clean and chewing releases endorphins, which makes a dog feel happier. It also prevents behavior problems and chewing on inappropriate objects. These are just some of the good reasons why you should provide safe and healthy chews for your furry friend. 

There are some factors to consider when picking out a bone or dog chews for your dog:

AGE

- Puppies
Keep them away from hard chews until all puppy teeth have been replaced with adult teeth.
- Seniors 
Keep tabs of your dog’s dental health and switch to softer chews when your dog enters his golden years.

SIZE

Always make sure that the size of the bone is appropriate for the size of the dog and that the whole bone should not fit inside the dog’s mouth.

CHEWING POWER

If your dog likes to stick chews in the back of his mouth, don’t use harder items. But if your dog is an aggressive cheaper, steer clear of antlers and hooves, as these can be hard on the teeth especially for power chewers. And even though you will have to purchase more often, bully sticks are still a better option than a painful, costly cracked tooth!

 

Choosing the right dog chews and bones

DENTAL CHEWS
Commonly designed to promote dental health, some dental chews contains additional ingredients for other benefits. Always make sure you read the ingredients on package because although high quality dental chews can be pricey cost, it is not always a good indicator of quality. Ingredients matters more than the cute shape of the chew.

DENTAL CHEWS
Dental chews are commonly designed to promote dental health, with some containing additional ingredients for other benefits. Read the ingredients on package. Although high quality dental chews can be pricey cost is not always a good indicator of quality. There are some dental chews made primarily of cheap grains that are expensive but not digestible. Ingredients matter much more than the cute shape of the chew. 

NATURAL CHEWS
Pig, cow, and lamb ears, bully sticks, and tendons are all-natural chews. These animal parts are composed primarily of cartilage. Cartilage is a good natural source of glucosamine chondroitin. As with all dog chews, make sure you choose the right size of chew for your dog. You may think a big chew is more economical for a little dog, but unless you can control chew time and when to take away the chew, stay with a size that fits. Also, too much of any treat can spoil your dog’s appetite for dinner, and maybe even breakfast, or lead to digestive upset. 

RAWHIDE
Make sure you give them only All Natural Rawhide Bones. Satisfy your dog with a delicious and long-lasting chew. Perfect for dogs of all ages and sizes. Rawhides are a natural way to satisfy dog's chewing instincts while strengthening the muscles that support their jaws. It naturally promotes plaque plus tartar reduction. It is also ideal for active, aggressive chewers.

RAW BONES
Raw bones are part of the ancestral diet of our dogs. In the wild, coyotes, wolves, and dogs eat all of their prey: meat, bones, and organs. Bones contains the needed calcium and bone marrow is very rich in collagen and other immune-boosting nutrients. But never give a dog cooked bones! The cooking process changes the molecular structure of the bones which makes them brittle and even prone to splintering. Be sure to cut off any scrap meat clinging to a bone, even a ham bone, if you want to share it with your dog.

There are also two types of raw bones: the edible bones and the recreational bones.
The hollow, non-weight bearing bones of birds are the edible bones. They are soft and easily crushed in a meat grinder. Chicken wings and necks, turkey necks, and oxtails are also edible bones.

Marrow-filled thick bones are recreational bones that are meant to be gnawed on, not consumed. Recreational bones also include knuckle bones, femurs, and marrow bones.

The bottom line with bones and chews is that the vast majority of dogs, especially those who don’t get enough physical activity, LOVE to chew. You’ll need to find your dog appropriate chews or else they’ll find something to chew that you may not want chewed. With this in mind, choose dog chews that are appropriate for their size and style of chewing, and when possible, couple this with a chew that includes a nutritional component. And don’t forget to consider calories per chew, especially if you’re watching your dog’s weight. 

Always monitor your dog while he’s chewing regardless of the type of chew, and be sure to match the chew to the size of your dog and his chewing style. And never allow your dog to chew sticks or rocks, which will crack their teeth.