Sunday, September 7, 2014

Dog Chew Toys For Heavy Chewers

By Kerri Stout


The days are long gone when dogs were regarded as outdoor, working animals mainly kept for protection, to herd sheep or to pull sledges. The more mankind traded outdoor life for industrialization, the more our "best friends" had to adapt to fit into the small, concrete jungle. We may have taken the dog out of the wild, but we can never completely take it's wild, primitive instincts away. One of these instincts is to chew.

Dogs' bodies were perfectly equipped to digest huge amounts of raw meat, bones and other natural food when they hunted for food in nature. Modern dogs'lifestyle has, however, become as sheltered, sophisticated and urbanized as that of their keepers. Dog breeds, their food and feeding habits may have changed dramatically over the centuries, but their instinct to bite and chew has remained as strong as ever. That's why dog chew toys for heavy chewers have taken the world by storm.

This new craze to provide dogs with cute, flavored toys to chew, is more than just a fashionable gimmick. It's a blessing in disguise for frustrated dog owners who spent hundreds of dollars to replace clothes, furniture and other valuables that were destroyed by their best friend's sharp canines. In a way, these fancy toys and treats are a desperate attempt by mankind to prevent their best friend from becoming their worst enemy!

The problem lies in finding the right stuff for them to exercise their gums (other than your clothes or your child's favorite soft toys) that is also appealing, safe and satisfying for the dog. The days are long gone that dogs were fed leftovers from the dinner table, including any kind of bone. We all know some bones splinter and can cause serious obstructions in their intestines. Bone splinters can also tore a dog's stomach and cause serious (and even lethal) damage if it is swallowed.

The worldwide quest to produce the safest, most popular chews for dogs resulted in an avalanche of products that flooded the market. They are made from natural or synthetic material that is tough enough to withstand sharp teeth - at least for a while! Some of the plastic and rubber toys are really cute and wonderfully flavored, but they pose a choking threat. Many also contain harmful toxins and carcinogens.

Natural chews such as bully sticks and bones normally smell and taste better, but they pose a higher risk of bacterial contamination. Some high quality products also provide valuable nutrients. They improve dental health by exercising your dog's teeth and gums while simultaneously scraping off plaque.

Whatever chews your dog prefer, it is safest to only give it when you are around to keep an eye. Dogs will always try to swallow something and pieces of the chew may break off and block their airways. Some dental chew toys are designed extremely well to last long and to enhance canine dental health.

A good example is natural chews made from yak and cow's milk according to an old traditional recipe of the Himalayan people. These chews contain no chemicals or preservatives and can be found in North Whales, Pennsylvania. It consists of 100% natural ingredients that are both nutritional and digestible - and best of all, dogs love it!




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