Deer antlers

[wolfsoul]

Has anyone given their dog deer antlers? It's somthing that my breeder recommended, as long as you cut off the tips. It doesn't sound very safe to use unsupervised though.

[ramanth]

I've never heard of that! Is it supposed to be good for their teeth?

I'd worry about it splintering to be honest.

[wolfsoul]

Yes, it's supposed to be good for their teeth. Apparently they don't splinter, but I've never had any experience with them so I wouldn't know. I trust the breeder, but I'd like some more opinions just incase.

[Twisterdog]

We always gave antlers to our dogs when my dad hunted. They chew on them for months. It's fine.

[pit chic]

I gave one of my dogs those big cow femers(sp?). Once she got the knuckles chewed down to the bone she started breaking off sharp chunks of bone and she was chipping her teeth. I've seen the same thing with the rescue dogs at adoptions with the cow hooves. They love those things, but when they start breaking them into sharp little pieces I have to question how safe they really are. I've had to pull some of those pieces out of their mouths, so they would swallow them if given the chance, then you may end up with some big problems. I would probably have the same worries about deer antlers. I prefer rawhides, they still clean teeth and don't splinter. But that's me.