Deer Antlers for Dogs: Yay or Nay?

Few things can show your pooch you care as much as a well-deserved doggy treat and there are plenty of ways to do it.

From chew toys and raw bones to jerky, chew strips, pigs ears and rawhide bones, treats are an easy way to say ‘I love you’ to your furry friend, but if you’re looking to change it up with a little something special that your pooch hasn’t had before, you might be considering if deer antlers make a good treat idea.

While we’re sure you’ll make up your own mind about whether you want to add deer antlers to your doggo’s treat menu, we’re convinced they’ll make a great addition. Here’s why…

They’re great for keeping teeth clean

While there are plenty of dental dog treats on the market that do a good job helping to keep plaque in-check to prevent dental disease, deer antlers for dogs are like the holy grail of dental treats.

If your dog is the type that will easily destroy a new chew toy in a matter of hours, deer antlers are ideal.

They’re much harder to chew through than most dog treats and chew toys. It can even take a couple of months for a dog to work their way through a decent sized antler—now that’s a lot of chewing, and we all know how good that is for our doggo’s teeth! In fact, all that extra chewing means deer antlers can scrape away tartar build-up by a whopping 70%.

They’re rich with good stuff

Just like bones, deer antlers are jam-packed with super-nutritious ingredients like calcium and phosphorous—two ingredients which are crucial for building strong and healthy bones.

It’s particularly important that your dog receives enough calcium in their diet, as a deficiency can impact everything from digestion and nerve function, to muscular contractions (including of the heart) and blood coagulation. It can also commonly lead to rickets, a condition where the bones become extremely brittle and fragile.

While both bones and deer antlers contain calcium and phosphorous, there is one key difference between the two—deer antlers are significantly less likely to splinter compared to bones, making them the safer alternative. 

They’re 100% natural and earth-friendly

As far as animal-based dog treats go, deer antlers are one of the most eco-friendly options out there.

Rather than being commercially farmed, deer antlers are collected from the wild each year when the male deer shed their antlers as their testosterone levels drop as mating season winds up. They are dehydrated to ensure they’re free from bacteria and then cut to size to make the perfect chew treat for dogs.

They’re also odour-free and won’t leave any nasty residue behind, making them a perfect indoor treat!

On the hunt for the best deer antlers for dogs?

Deer antlers for dogs aren’t always as easy to come by as your stock-standard dog treats, but at Petzyo, we’ve made it really easy by delivering them straight to your door.

Just visit us over here to get started, or you may also like to check out our full range of super nutritious, all-natural dog food and treats.