Your dog is going to be head over paws once you give them their bully stick. It’s great for you because there is nothing better than giving them healthy dog treats — and your dog is sure to be over the moon because the taste and texture is hard to put down.
There lies the issue. Sometimes, your dog doesn’t know when to stop chewing on their bully stick. This is especially true when it comes to our long-lasting dog bones, which are meant to be savored.
Do you know when to take a bully stick away from your dog? Here’s your answer.
Why Bully Sticks Shouldn’t Be Rushed
Bully sticks are preferred over other dog treats due to being made of beef muscle — no harmful toxins, chemicals, or pesticides included, so they don’t splinter like traditional chews.Along with the dietary benefits, bully sticks promote positive dental health. Your dog can scrape plaque and tartar off their teeth on the stick’s hard surface while they chew.
That’s one of the primary reasons why your dog should savor their bully stick. On the other hand, they shouldn’t rush for the sake of their digestive health. While bully sticks are healthy for them, it’s never safe for your dog to eat too fast.
So when do you take a bully stick away from your dog?
When to Take a Bully Stick Away
Bully sticks for dogs are a great chew, as the nutrition of the highly-digestible beef muscle is excellent for their health. However, there are risks involved if your dog swallows a large chunk of a bully stick — or all of it at once.
The biggest health risk is that large chunks are choking hazards. But they can also lead to gastrointestinal issues, whether the chunk cannot be properly digested or if it simply gets lodged inside of your dog’s stomach.
The safest thing to do is to take the bully stick away from your dog when it gets to a size that can’t be safely swallowed at once. However, you know your dog and how they eat. If your dog is the type that will swallow whatever you put near them, take the treat away once it gets to a “swallowable” size. If your dog is the type that will chew and chew but doesn’t swallow their edible treats as is, they should be safe to enjoy it as it is.
But the best thing you can do is to supervise your dog when giving them their bully stick, especially for the first few times. See how they react to the first few and decide whether they’re safe chewing on it by themselves. However, you can also invest in a bully stick holder that will grip onto the bully stick, preventing your dog from swallowing it whole.
