Description
Antler dog chews are natural, healthy, nutritious, odourless and long lasting. These antlers are naturally shed from free ranging deer, naturally sustainable, and organic: no deer are harmed.
Chewing releases, feel-good chemicals from the brain and keeps dogs happy, busy and using up energy. Stagbars last longer than any other dog chews on the market – longer than rawhide chews or compacted vegetable starch chews. They wear down slowly with the grinding action of the dog’s teeth and saliva, into tasty morsels. Eventually, the dry marrow is exposed as a lovely treat when the outside has been worn away.
Deer antlers are won’t splinter or chip or cause blockages and they don’t contain nylon like some long lasting chews. They are not an ‘empty’ chew like rawhide and in fact, contain important minerals. Please see the information below with regards safety.
They clean the dog’s teeth, rather than bung them up like some dog chews and they’re great for dogs with sensitive tummies. Even dogs who are losing weight can enjoy Stagbars because they only contain a tiny amount of fat. Naturally, they don’t contain additives or preservatives.
Deer antlers are clean dog chews, leaving no stain or mess on the carpet and they are also very low in odour – some say they have a very faint smell of fresh soil. They are effectively ‘raw’ and so retain all their goodness and safety.
Size guide
Because it is a natural product and impossible to achieve uniformity in each size category, there are many occasions that a medium will look longer (and thinner) than a large which might be fatter and shorter. However, it is the weight that decides the category, not the length or girth.
Just like with any chew, buying the right size for your dog is important. For example, whilst a toy dog could take on an extra large Stagbar, it would serve no benefit at all and would be quite overwhelming for the dog. Likewise, a giant breed should not be given a small Stagbar. So here is a guide to buying the right size.
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- Small: +50g : Recommended for toy dogs
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- Medium: +75g : Recommended for small to medium dogs
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- Large: +150g : Recommended for medium to large dogs
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- Extra large: +225g : Recommended for giant breeds or dogs with very strong jaws
Please select the desired size from the styles on the right hand side of the page.
In the very unlikely event that your dog isn’t interested in chewing the deer antler, try rubbing it with sandpaper or a nail file. If your dog still isn’t interested in it, try smearing on a small amount of peanut butter or honey, or soaking it overnight in water in the refrigerator. Remember, deer antlers are incredibly long-lasting so you may find your dog leaves and goes back to the antler chew many times before it’s finished.
Safety
In the shop there is much discussion regarding what is appropriate and safe to give your dog as a chew. We don’t believe that there is a black and white answer to this one but thought it would be handy to provide a guide to some of the most discussed items we provide in the shop and their pros and cons to allow our customers to make a balanced and informed choice about what they give to their dogs.
With regards antler chews and roots..
To Chews : When Stagbars (Deer Antlers) were first introduced to the market they received a huge amount of positive praise: extremely long lasting and very safe as they don’t splinter or present a choking hazard like some edible chews and bones. They are also good for dogs with tummy sensitivities. There are many reports of them being good for keeping teeth plaque free too as they seem to grind the plaque off the teeth as they are gnawed on. Some of our customers opt for the more marrow dense deer antlers (with a bigger honeycomb like centre and less dense outer bone shell). Whilst these don’t tend to last as long as some of the darker denser bones they are a bit softer on the teeth and tend to be a bit more flavoursome. They proved very popular in our Edinburgh Store. Roots are a dog chew made from the tuber of the root of a tree and are similar to the Stagbar in terms of their toughness and lack of splintering.
Not to Chews: Recently Deer Antlers have featured a lot in the Veterinary Press, particular with Dental Specialists. There have been reports of an increase in the number of dental fractures being seen as a result of the use of Stagbars. Because they are extremely hard if a dog has weak teeth, is extremely aggressive with their chewing or chews on them for prolonged periods regularly this appears to be presenting an increase risk of broken teeth.
Initially we decided that we would no longer stock Deer Antlers as a result of these findings. However after running down our stocks we started getting customers requesting them again, commenting that their dogs had been using the for a long time without a problem and they would rather give the stagbars than have their dogs chew on a more dangerous household object when they were not there . Some customers asked to be allowed to make their own choice on whether to give them to their dog or not. So we have chosen to hold these in stock but make sure our customers are aware of these risks to allow them to make an informed choice.
We have attached a link to the Dental Vet article to allow you to read this in full and make your own decision as to what you feel is appropriate for your dog.
This article from a reputable holistic vet provides an argument for using these sorts of chews but with care and supervision. They argue that they see more problems as a result of chewing on inappropriate items (furniture, chewing stones or sticks) and if this can deter a dog from chewing on these things then it is arguably a better alternative:
http://holisticvetsussex.co.uk/tag/dental-chews/
For more information about choosing suitable things for your dog to chew on please see our article, To Chews or Not to Chews – Just Dogs guide to the pros & cons of chew treats & toys
