Benefits of Chewing

Ask The Meatman's 100% Natural Hickory Smoked Beef Bones provide a safe and enjoyable chewing outlet for your dog,
 which is important for your dog's mental and physical well being.

Chewing is a very natural behavior for puppies and dogs, and there are a number of benefits that chewing offers. Chewing is good for keeping tartar from building up on the teeth, (which helps prevent that dragon breath). When a dog chews on a hard object, it scrapes away the tartar that can build up and cause bad breath, staining, and periodontal disease.

To satisfy the natural desire to chew. Dogs are animals, and animals use their mouths for many things. It's natural for dogs to chew, and chewing on hard chew objects provides an appropriate outlet for your dog's desire to chew.
Chewing may provide some dogs with an enjoyable pastime, while others may chew to relieve boredom, frustration, or anxiety. If you had to choose between your new couch, your leather wallet, or a bone, which would you rather your dog have?

Puppies chew for several reasons. Puppies like to chew on something hard to relieve the discomfort in their gums as their adult teeth come in. This is called counter pressure. Chewing also helps develop strong jaws, and trains them as youngsters on the items that are acceptable to chew.

Bones are good choices for dogs to chew as long as they are not too small or too brittle. Chicken bones, for example, are small and could splinter easily, getting caught in your dog's throat or digestive system. The best bones generally come from the femur (leg bone) of a large animal, such as a cow. They are very dense so they don't splinter, yet are a manageable size for a dog to handle.

If you offer your dog a bone, and she doesn't seem to care for it, don't give up! Some pets are finicky about their chews. Maybe she doesn't like the consistency of the bone, or perhaps it's too big or too bland. Whatever her preference, keep trying until you find the right bone. Just remember those benefits listed above.

Natural treats, like pig ears and natural bones, should be given to dogs the same as any other treat. They can be given occasionally but not more than once a day. The key here is that they are treats, not food.

 


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Last Updated:  Wednesday, April 20, 2011 10:11 PM