Choose the right chew bone to ensure your dog's oral health.

Discover the "secrets" of dog chew bones. A guide to choosing safe bones that clean teeth and effectively reduce stress.

1. What are dog chew bones?

Dog chew bones (or chew sticks) are any items designed for dogs to safely and persistently chew or gnaw on.

These can be natural or artificial chew bones, toys, and can meet the oral health, nutritional, and mental stimulation needs of dogs.

Benefits of chewing bones:

• • Relieving gum and teeth pain: When puppies begin to grow and lose their teeth, chewing helps relieve pain and discomfort in their gums.

  • Teeth cleaning: Chewing on bones applies mechanical force to the teeth, helping to remove plaque, deeply clean between the teeth, and maintain healthy teeth.

  • Stress reduction: When experiencing stress or anxiety (for example, being left alone, loud noises), chewing on a bone helps dogs release energy and relax, reducing their fear.

  • Developing jaw muscles: Regular chewing and gnawing helps exercise and strengthen a dog's jaw muscles.

  • Nutritional supplement: Some types of chew bones contain vitamins, calcium, minerals, or substances that aid digestion.

2. Popular types of dog chew bones currently available.

The market for dog chew bones is very diverse. Differentiating between the types will help you make an informed choice:

2.1. Natural gnawing bones

These bones are of animal origin and are recommended by veterinary experts because of their high nutritional value.

• • Processed animal bones (beef bones, pork bones): This is a popular choice if your pet is a dog that enjoys vigorous chewing. Beef and pork bones are hard, less prone to crumbling, and provide natural minerals, making them very appealing to dogs.

However, you need to supervise closely. Absolutely do not let your dog chew on cooked bones because high temperatures will alter the bone structure, causing it to break into sharp pieces that are dangerous to your dog's stomach.

2.2. Industrial (artificial) chew bones

This is a group of products, typically cakes and toys, specially manufactured with safety and health in mind:

• • Bones made from pressed cowhide: Made from natural cowhide with appealing flavors and often chosen for their low cost and widespread availability.

  • Dental chew bones: Designed with a special shape (often with notches, grooves, or zigzags) to more effectively scrub and clean tooth surfaces. They are easily digestible because they are made from natural grain ingredients and often have appealing flavors. This is a top choice when looking for chew bones to get rid of ticks (although their primary function is oral hygiene).

  • Durable nylon/rubber chew bone: Designed to resemble a bone and sized to fit small to medium-sized dogs, stimulating their chewing instincts. While not nutritionally valuable, it's extremely durable, helps clean teeth, and keeps dogs focused on chewing without swallowing.

3. What does excessive bone chewing reveal about a pet's health?

All dogs enjoy chewing. However, be mindful that sometimes excessive chewing isn't good for their health. Here are some reasons why dogs chew more than usual:

• • Teething puppies: Just like babies, puppies go through a process of losing their baby teeth to make way for permanent teeth (usually between 3 and 6 months old). This process causes itchy and painful gums, leading them to chew on everything to relieve the discomfort.

  • Dogs are bored: Chewing is an instinctive behavior for dogs to explore their surroundings. If a dog is frustrated and not getting enough playtime or space to run around, it may vent its anger on a chew bone to satisfy its need for activity.

• • Nutritional deficiencies: In some cases, dogs may need nutritional supplements.

  • Seeking attention: Sometimes dogs learn that when they chew on something forbidden (for example, gnawing on your rags or shoes), you'll immediately get their attention. The dog will understand this behavior and repeat it intentionally.

4. Things to note about chew bones for dogs

4.1. Based on bone size and dog's chewing habits

The general rule is that the chew bone should be larger than the dog's mouth to prevent it from swallowing it immediately or choking.

• • Gentle gnawing for dogs: You can choose softer bones that are flavorful, easy to chew, and easy to digest.

  • Dogs that chew aggressively need a bone that is difficult to break down, such as a bone marrow block, or a super-durable material like rubber.

Additionally, you can choose chew bones for your pet based on age and breed. For example, chewing on bones can help puppies relieve pain when they are teething.

You should choose a specially designed chew bone for puppies that is soft, easily digestible, and free of sharp edges. The Puppy product line from Dental Chews is an ideal choice.

4.2. Ensuring the composition and origin of ingredients

If you give your dog natural bones to gnaw on, you should avoid cooked bones (chicken bones, boiled pork bones, rib bones, etc.).

The cooking process makes bones brittle and prone to breaking into sharp fragments, which can puncture the esophagus, stomach, or cause intestinal obstruction – a dangerous situation requiring emergency surgery. Only give dogs raw bones that have been specially processed.

Choose products from reputable manufacturers with clearly sourced ingredients (brown rice flour, oat flour, rice flour, sweet potatoes, carrots, beans) or high-quality protein, containing few additives and preservatives.

Natural colorants/flavorings: If the product has color or flavor, look for colorants and flavorings from natural sources (such as turmeric, vegetable extracts).

4.3. Always check and clean.

You should always check the chew bones, and increase the frequency of these checks as your dog uses them more often.

• • Check for integrity and safety: If natural bones are cracked, broken into small pieces, or too small for the dog's mouth, they should be discarded immediately to prevent the dog from swallowing them and causing intestinal damage. Similarly, if rubber bones are soft, mushy, broken, or fractured, you should also discard them to prevent the dog from swallowing them and causing indigestion.

  • Regular cleaning: For reusable artificial chew toys or natural bones, if the bone smells bad, is moldy, or has saliva and food residue on its surface, wash it thoroughly with warm water or pet-specific soap, then dry it and store it properly to prevent bacterial growth.

  • Absolute supervision: Never leave your dog alone while it's chewing on a bone, even the safest kind, because the risk of choking, gagging, or the bone breaking can happen at any time.

4.4. How can you tell if a chew bone is dangerous for your dog?

Observe your dog's behavior: Some dogs can be so aggressive that they chew voraciously, crushing bones and breaking teeth while chewing.

This causes the dog pain and bleeding gums. If the situation is too severe, the damaged tooth will have to be extracted.

When a dog suddenly loses its appetite, vomits, refuses to eat, becomes lethargic, or shows signs of discomfort when swallowing, it could be that the dog has been injured by a bone it chewed on, or that a bone has become lodged in its stomach.

You should stop giving your dog the bone and monitor its condition. If it doesn't improve, administer first aid and take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.

Inspect the chew bones: If you see bones that are crumbling or gnawed to the point of being worn down and could easily fall into your puppy's mouth and be swallowed, you must remove them immediately.

If you have any concerns about your pet's health, contact your veterinarian immediately.

5. Which chew bone is best for a dog's dental health?

There is no single perfect chew bone that meets all needs; you need to test and experiment multiple times to find the one your pet likes best.

If your primary goal is teeth cleaning, prioritize the Dental Chews, a popular choice among pet owners at Pet's Warehouse.

• • KaNoodles Chewing Bones
    

Key features: A healthy snack that provides calcium, cleans teeth, strengthens gums, and reduces bad breath.

• • DoggyMan Bow Bone
    

Key features: Super cute and stylish bow-shaped treats, fun to chew, helps remove plaque and clean teeth.

• • Pedigree DentaStix Bone-shaped Biscuits
    

Key features: Unique X-shaped design, helps reduce tartar buildup by up to 80% (scientifically proven), cleans hard-to-reach spaces between teeth, and promotes gum health.

Chew bones are a great aid for dogs, but they cannot replace comprehensive grooming.

For the healthiest teeth possible, you still need to combine dental hygiene products with a balanced diet for your dog.

You shouldn't rely too much on chew bones either. It's also a good idea to take your dog to a grooming spa for a dental check-up every 6-12 months.

Pet experts can detect problems such as gingivitis, tartar buildup, and damaged teeth early on, and recommend cleaning, dental treatment, or tooth extraction.

A proper chew bone not only solves the problem of destructive behavior, but also helps dogs clean their teeth and reduce plaque.

Choose the right size and hardness of chew stick, or get advice from Pet's Warehouse today to ensure your pet's satisfaction and happiness.