Here4thePics wrote:

I tried not to look to closely but is that a rawhide bone?


If so be careful rawhide can block a dog's digestive track up really bad.... (Been there done that)

rileyflorence wrote:

?! Please, do look closely at everything I do. ... I'll be removing the raw hide now.

Len's correct on the rawhides. Rawhides can cause internal blockages if the dog swallows a large enough piece to prevent it from passing through the body. It's one of those things that is up to the individual to decide if they want to risk using or not. A lot of people use rawhides and never have a problem, others encounter problems right away and still others may go years without an issues and then experience a blockage one day. There is nothing wrong with giving rawhides and if you do give them I would advise closely monitoring the dog to ensure they are not swallowing large pieces and you'll probably want to throw it out once it gets to a size where the dog might stop chewing and just swallow the whole thing. Many of us use rawhides with caution, myself included.

I've grown up with dogs who've been given rawhides their whole life and I've been giving my own dogs rawhides the entire time I've had mine and neither myself or any other dog I've known personally who's had rawhides on a regular basis has ever experienced an internal blockage or problem due to a rawhide. With that in mind, I know the risk and I feel comfortable giving rawhides to my dogs. I won't ever tell someone that they should or shouldn't feed rawhides, that's a personal decision...just know the risks and decide for yourself what works best for you. Also keep in mind that even with things that are digestible there is still some risk of choking and blockage which is why I can't possibly worry about everything. Heck, my sibe couldn't pass a piece of raw chicken bone one time and it ended up having to come all the way back up the front end and we're talking raw chicken bone! I'm just saying there's risk with just about everything, swallow a big chunk of antler and you'd risk a blockage there too just to put things in perspective. Len does have a valid point and concern and I don't want to discredit or play it down in any way, just know that rawhides aren't this horrible thing that you should never use.

We almost have to use rawhides because our sibe is a MAJOR chewer and we'd be in the poor house if we had to buy more expensive chews all the time for him. We do get other more expensive stuff occasionally but rawhides are his main chew and he can easily go through several rawhides in a week which he's been getting for 4 years now under supervision and we've never had a problem. Since Appa isn't much of a chewer then you might be able to go with the more expensive chews since they will probably last a much longer amount of time with him.

Two things I've learned about bully sticks today.
1) Appa LOVES them. He's been going for about 1.5 hours now.
2) They are disgusting after he's softened and chewed it.

rileyflorence wrote:

Two things I've learned about bully sticks today.
1) Appa LOVES them. He's been going for about 1.5 hours now.
2) They are disgusting after he's softened and chewed it.

Hopefully later this evening you will not learn the 3rd thing that, in addition to those two things, we have learned:
3) They often cause gas!

Ewwww....

MelissaI wrote:

Where do you guys get the antlers?

Go hunting elk in Colorado, I understand they have plenty to share. Hell hire Ed to be your guide.