Antlers? Nylabones? Rawhide? None?

[frenchiept]

Hi everyone,
I am posting here because would like to tell you the bad experience i had, and also have your suggestions as to what you give your frenchies to chew on. I have never given my 2 year old frenchie rawhide from all the horror stories ive heard. Ive always given him antlers and nylabones. Last week during his annual checkup, his vet recommended rawhide strips as theyre softer to chew on and his teeth wont wear off, which apparently, tends to happen with antlers as theyre way too hard. She also said she had never had an issue with strips. So...even though i told her my concerns, i did as she said and ignored my gut feeling. Does he not swallow the whole thing whole! And yes i was supervising him but in the span of 1 minute he swallowed it and surprisingly did not choke. However, he was coughing and gagging for 3 days after he swallowed the strip and on the 4th day, puked 16 times in the morning before i was heading to work. After rushing him to the emergency, xrays and 1000$ bill, turns out his esophagus is irritated (by what i am sure, the swallowing of the whole strip) and has pneumonia.
This experience has taught me that sometimes following every single advice from a professional backfires and i should have done what i thought was right. Hes had injections, and is on medication for the next 3 weeks. Cant wait to have my happy go lucky fatso back! Now my question for you frenchie experts is...what do you give your babies to chew on?? apparently the nylables and antlers ive been giving have been affecting one of his tooth which has started to wear off. I dont want him to have dental issues later on, and at this point i feel like its a lose-lose situation. I just wanna give him the best quality of life possible but dont know how to satisfy his chewing needs! any suggestion is much appreciated

 

[MaplesMommy]

I hope you have changed your veterinarian!
This is unacceptable; he should have known better. Rawhides are so,so dangerous. They are a big choking/blockage risk and are super,super unhealthy (they have been bleached and chemicially treated etc).

But its not your fault!

The only chew my guys get are raw bones and hooves.
If you have a heavy chewer,avoid weight bearing bones such as marrow bones, as they can shave down his teeth if he chews too hard/too often. That said i have only heard about this, but never personally see this happening. My guys get marrow bones but I only let them chew on it for 30 mins and then take it away again.

 

[Chiana]

Rawhide should be banned! Makes me really angry that actual professionals gives such advices!
I actually would have been tempted to send that bill to the veterinarian who gave such an advise with a lovely note attached to it!

So relieved to hear that your little buddy has survived and will get better soon.

We had a close call with rawhides not so long ago and our house has been cleared of those things ever since.
Now we give him reindeer antlers and occasionally marrow bones. Still searching for the safest option.
We had a slight situation with marrow bone as well. these little guys have such strong jaws that Moses got a splinter out of the marrow bone and of course gulped it before I managed to dig it out from his mouth.
Kept a close eye for couple of days, but noticed nothing alarming. Guess it found its way to stomach and melted there.

 

[frenchiept]

Thank you ladies! will definitely try the marrow bone and see how that goes...i had a schnauzer before so im not used to a little fella having such strong jaws but yet being so kind and mellow hehe so finding something that he wont tear apart is pretty tricky! will keep you posted!
Also, when i rushed to the vet, the first place i went was his own vet. however when i got there the receptionist said all vets were on vacation and will be coming back next week. So there i was, with my pup vomiting all over my car and the sidewalk while rushing to the emergency hospital. Im just glad hes ok now and back to his old playful self. I will however make sure to go see his vet next week when she's back, more importantly to tell her not to recommend that product to ANYONE!

 

[Jakeyjake]

So sorry you and your baby had to go through all of this. It amazes me that rawhide is still on the market. And I would definitely look for a new vet. I'm glad your lil guy is okay. I only give mine nylabones and sometimes a stuffed kong that's been in the freezer.

 

[2bullymama]

OMG --- I am so sorry this all has happen and hope your baby heals up quickly.

I have used Nylabones, marrow bones and antlers for 10 yrs without any issues at all... no splinters or broken teeth.

 

[mmclean]

I use antlers, nylabones, hooves, and for a softer chew option Himalayan dog chews. Radar loves them. They can be a bit messy but I don't mind.


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[Alice Kable]

We use nylabones and they have kongs--the large, hard rubber ones shaped like a snowman.

 

[cnash]

Here Bentley gets Nylabones, Kongs, occasional antlers and his new favorite Himalyan chews.
We tried Bully Sticks but I don't like the gooey mess they turn into.

 

[frenchiept]

Thank you everyone for your feedback!! its been really helpful and nice to see what other frenchie owner give their babies! at this point it has been a trial and error, and see what fits best! he is still a young dog so i definetely want to find something for him to chew on before he gets in trouble and starts chewing things he shouldnt!

i have looked into the marrow bone and will go to the shop today to see the himalayan sticks...ive never seen the latter so can you please tell me if they are really safe- keeping in mind hes a strong chewer! (he is not impressed by kongs lol)

Thanks again!!

 

[mmclean]

I find them to be the safest of all of the options. When they get small enough to swallow I stick it into the microwave for a minute and it puffs up making it an even better treat that Radar can eat. I get a pretty large stick, for 50lbs and under so it lasts longer.


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[coolcat46]

I have found that the nylabones when chewed for awhile seem to have pieces that my moolah can chew off and swallow...

As far as the vet Ive had them tell me what I feed which is a very good food, Earthborn, and holistic grain free, that I should awitch to Royal canin and Ive done research on that brand and its not that good....So yes stay with your gut feeling....

 

[Squishy Walnuts]

I find them to be the safest of all of the options. When they get small enough to swallow I stick it into the microwave for a minute and it puffs up making it an even better treat that Radar can eat. I get a pretty large stick, for 50lbs and under so it lasts longer.


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I just ordered some Himalayan chews for my dogs on Amazon. I hope they like them, they both get bored of nylabones and antlers after a while and I wanted to try something new.

 

[eeturk]

I just ordered some Himalayan chews for my dogs on Amazon. I hope they like them, they both get bored of nylabones and antlers after a while and I wanted to try something new.

H likes them in their normal state, but he LOVES them once they get "popped" in the microwave.


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[mmclean]

I can't wait to hear about their happy dance when they get them.


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[Cbrugs]

I just ordered some Himalayan chews for my dogs on Amazon. I hope they like them, they both get bored of nylabones and antlers after a while and I wanted to try something new.

H likes them in their normal state, but he LOVES them once they get "popped" in the microwave.


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Jax loves them as well. When it gets to be a little nub I usually just throw it away. I've never tried the microwave thing cause I have always been nervous too although I have no idea why.

 

[mmclean]

Jax loves them as well. When it gets to be a little nub I usually just throw it away. I've never tried the microwave thing cause I have always been nervous too although I have no idea why.

You really should try the microwave thing. It's less wasteful because they eat the entire thing that way and it is by far Radar's favorite part about the chew. When it gets small enough he knows I will puff it up for him and he starts giving it to me to do just that.


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[Tgirl]

I just ordered some Himalayan chews for my dogs on Amazon. I hope they like them, they both get bored of nylabones and antlers after a while and I wanted to try something new.

I ordered a large one for my future dog from Amazon and it came today. I can't wait to see if she likes it. How did they go over with your crew?

 

[Chiana]

Damn! Himalayan chews are not sold overseas nor they can be shipped :hissycry:
If any one of you hears or knows otherwise, please give a shout.

 

[Squishy Walnuts]

I ordered a large one for my future dog from Amazon and it came today. I can't wait to see if she likes it. How did they go over with your crew?

They went bananas! I'll definitely buy more of these chews. They last a long time.