There are roughly sixty breeds of deer in the world. The one thing they all have in common is the ability for male deer to produce antler each year. Antlers are natural grown and shed each year with no harm coming to the animal.

Antler grows at a very fast rate and is accompanied by a layer of velvet during the growth period. After the velvet has been worn off, the antler then hardens further and takes on the qualities that makes it a tasty treat for dogs.

The reason for dogs liking antler is what’s inside. These deer antlers have two layers. The outer layer is a bone like material; while the inner layer is a fibrous form of dry marrow which dogs love. Most importantly the bone and the marrow contain calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, potassium, and phosphorous as well as a very low level of fat being less than 1%.

Aside from the healthy aspects of what’s in antler, they also make for a fun treat for dogs just to chew on. Some breeds of dog which are known to like to chew find antler particularly interesting as the bone part is long wearing and helps clean their teeth. The long wearing nature also makes antler a great addition to a dogs diet without the problems of having to give your pet a new one each day. And add to that the extremely low fat content and you have an ideal treat for your pet.

Information About Types of Chew

Finally, the one thing you must remember when giving your pet antler is to manage its consumption. Some dogs will happily chew on antler all day if given the chance and this habit needs to be controlled. Be careful to choose the right size of antler for your dog and replace it once it has been chewed down. Like any treat or toy, antler can become a choking hazard if a piece becomes too small.

To aid in the selection of antler for your dog we have provided a rough guide as to which size to select. Don’t forget there are a two types of antler treats to choose from: whole and split. For dogs who are lazy chewers you might like to consider split antler as the marrow centre is easier to get at. If your dog is a voracious chewer maybe a whole piece might suit. Please ensure you get one big enough to suit your breed, size and age of dog