A few people have asked about our antlers and where they come from...
All our antlers are sourced ethically, they are natural drop of Red and Fallow deer predominantly.
Deer drop, or cast, their antlers every year, then go through the process of re-growing them over several months, during this regrowth they are covered in skin to protect them, this is known as velvet. Once the antlers are finished growing the velvet is rubbed off, the the antler is described as clean. This tends to happen sooner in older deer.
I'll pop a link at the end to the British Deer Society video showing the life cycle of antlers
Photo Courtesy of H. Ditton
Where do you get your antlers?
We stock Antos Antlers, and they are from Red Deer and Fallow deer, much of which is from Scottish highland herds. The antlers have simply been cleaned (with no chemicals) and cut to various sizes/weights for dogs to chew on. Sharp points have been removed to make them safe.
We also have split antlers, which have basically been cut in half lengthways exposing the middle, softer part of the antler, which makes it more suitable for smaller or younger dogs, who may benefit from having something to chew while teething that is not your favourite pair of shoes or the skirting boards!
WHY should I choose antler for my pooch?
Antler satisfies a dog’s natural urge to chew, which is also a calming behaviour and helps to alleviate mild boredom or frustration, whilst also helping to strengthen and clean teeth. Antlers are full of calcium and minerals and long lasting, usually a 6-12month chew! They should also not splinter as they are unprocessed.
Studies show (apparently) that gnawing on an antler for 30 minutes a day can reduce the plaque on teeth by up to 70%! Looking at Bobbi's teeth I would suggest that to be a pretty accurate study.
Unlike rawhide and some non-natural chews they do not get soggy, and cannot cause obstruction as they are ground down over time rather than torn in chunks or strips and swallowed whole, raw-hide is undigestible, and so needs to be properly chewed into little pieces to pass through the system fully and without blockage or pain.
HOW should I choose an antler?
Check the antler for size, make sure that your pooch cannot easily fit all of it in their mouth, but, at the same time, can easily chew it. Once the antler is small enough that they can get it wholly in their mouth easily then it is time to take it away and get a new one!
If you have a puppy, and want them to have an antler, then a split antler is the way forward, it will give them something to chew as adult teeth come in, but as it is a bit softer will not damage young teeth.
When is antler NOT the best choice?
If your pooch is a destructive or aggressive chewer then antler may not be the best solution, as if chewed too hard it can cause dental fracture, which in itself is painful, but if the pulp of the tooth also becomes exposed it could cause infection and mean the tooth having to be removed....painful for pooch, with general anaesthetic and recovery time, and costly for you.
We do have other treats and chews that may help to disrupt destructive or stressed chewing and more still that are suitable for pups, and can also recommend some local behaviourists to help with any root causes to unwanted behaviours.
(We also suggest that if any destructive or aggressive behaviours are noticed you get your vet to check them over, negative behaviours can be the first sign of illness in our pets)
Here is the link I promised to the British Deer Society video
Photo courtesy of H. Ditton - Deer in Velvet 2012
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