Chewing is a Natural Instinct
There is no doubt that dogs love to chew, from being in the puppy stage chewing shoes and furniture to your old senior dog. Dogs have a natural instinct to chew. Canine species chewed their prey as part of survival. Kibble today does not provide the chewing experience that dogs not only need but crave. Since chewing is an instinctual behaviour for dogs, it fights boredom, relieves anxiety, and diverts their attention away from other destructive behaviours.
Nutritional Benefits of Chewing
Chewing on bones and other animal parts provides nutritional benefits as well. Bones can be a fantastic source of minerals and other nutrients. Bones are composed of calcium phosphate, a mineral that aids your dog’s proper growth. They help a canine’s skeletal system to regenerate and adapt. This is especially important for puppies. In fact, the calcium in raw bones can be up to four times more digestible than most commonly available calcium supplements. Other chews such as duck feet and trachea are excellent sources of collagen, chondroitin, and glucosamine. These aid in keeping your dog’s joints healthy.
Oral Benefits of Chewing
Brushing your dog’s teeth can be a pain and taking them to the vet for cleanings is not only expensive but causes undue stress for your dog. Chewing stimulates saliva enzymes to help remove the plaque and tartar from their teeth to help keep them clean. When excess tartar builds up not only does it cause bad breath, but can lead to infections and expensive teeth extractions.
Plastic Dog Bones?
When you start your search for the best dog chew toy, you are sure to come across plastic toys, such as Nylabones, or other dental treats claiming to help freshen your dog’s breath. There are many warnings on what to do when your dog eats plastic, so why would I want to give them a plastic bone. You must keep a watchful eye on your dog while they chew to make sure they do not swallow any pieces.
Have you ever looked at the ingredient label on dental dog treats such as greenies and milk bone brushing chews?
Wheat flour, wheat gluten, glycerin, gelatin, oat fibre, water, lecithin, natural poultry flavour,
These treats claim to clean teeth, freshen breath, and be a healthy treat. However, I am confused about how any of those ingredients lead to a fresh and clean mouth. Any chewing can be beneficial for your dog, but why not give them a treat that not only cleans their teeth but is a much healthier alternative.
The Best Dental Dog Chew
Duck Feet. Yes, that’s it. Single Ingredient, natural, and full of nutrients.
While duck feet might be the best at cleaning your dog’s teeth, there are other treats that offer cleaning and health benefits as well, such as bully sticks, trachea, and knee caps. Like us, dog’s enjoy variety and deserve to be spoiled.