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Bully Sticks for Dogs

Bully Sticks for Dogs

by Bernadett Marshall in Blog

All that you need to know about this well-loved dog chew

Bully sticks (aka pizzles, pizzle sticks) are well-loved dog chews, so much so that not even the fussiest dogs can say no to these long-lasting dental chews! Many dog owners are eager to treat their woofers to these delicacies despite the strong smell they tend to have. However, others might limit it to summer treats which can be enjoyed in the garden whilst others totally avoid them due to the unique smell or simply as they know what it is! Talking of which, do you know what bully sticks are? They are nothing else but a bull’s penis! Please, don’t stop reading on though as they are the ultimate dog chews for a number of reasons.

Benefits of Bully Sticks

  • They are extremely tough chews due to the slow, air-drying process. However, not all pizzles are made the same way so always check that your chosen supplier does indeed sell air-dried pizzle sticks without any chemicals.
  • High in protein, which is essential for growth, development and bone health.
  • Easy to digest unless your dog has some intolerances to high protein treats. Highly digestible treats lower the risk of intestinal blockage.
  • Excellent dental chews keeping the jaws, gum in top condition and tartar-free.
  • Regular chewing is an essential activity for all dogs as it helps to reduce boredom, anxiety and frustration whilst keeping on top of oral hygiene.
  • As with any long lasting chews, bully sticks stimulate the release of endorphins, promoting good mental health and a happy dog. If you have a dog with phobias or separation anxiety, bully sticks could help them.
  • Prolonged peace – even the biggest chompers can get a good 20 minute chewing session out of an extra thick pizzle and for smaller dogs one stick can last hours or days, which means some well-deserved relaxation and peace for us dog-parents.

Nutritional benefits of Bully Sticks

Bully sticks are pretty nutritious. They are primarily made up of protein (around 80-90%), and are low in fat (approximately 3%) and low in cholesterol.

However, they are relatively high in calories (c. 15kcal per inch) which means a small, 6-inch bully stick is approximately 90 calories! For medium to large dogs, this is nothing to worry about but if you have a small breed, you might have to pay a closer attention to your dog’s meals on days when he/she enjoys some pizzles.

Are Bully Sticks Safe for Dogs?

The main risk associated with bully sticks for dogs are from bacterial contamination. However, this can be minimised if you source them from reputable companies. In terms of your own safety, always wash you hands after handling them.

  1. Bacterial contamination

Dogs have much stronger digestive systems (maybe they are just better trained to deal with 'dodgy' food) than humans, and can tolerate bacterial contamination to some degree. However, sometimes it can cause stomach upsets, and symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

Naturally, any product which is ‘all-natural’ will have had minimal processing, which means harmful bacteria can still remain on it. The more processed it is (for example, irradiation, baking at a high heat, or using chemicals to sanitise it), the safer it is from contamination. However, those processes take away from the fact that one of the most common reasons why people like bully sticks is that they are natural. Additionally, the more processed a treat is, the less nutrients it contains.

  1. Choking

When a pizzle stick becomes small enough to swallow whole, it becomes a hazard. If it reaches the stomach, it shouldn’t cause a problem, as they are fully digestible. However, prior to the stomach it can become lodged in the throat, which can cause serious choking incidents. Therefore, when it becomes small, take the last bit away. The best way to avoid any choking hazard is to supervise your dog at all times.

Can puppies have bully sticks?

Absolutely, as long as they are aged 12 weeks or more. They are hard, but not so hard that they will damage a puppy's teeth. Therefore they are great for your puppy to gnaw out his teething frustrations on. Please ensure that you choose the most suitable pizzles for your puppy though. They should start out with Standard pizzles before moving onto the Extra Thick or Jumbo ones.

Please bear in mind that young puppies have immature digestive systems, so introduce the pizzle stick to them slowly, starting with 5-10 minute chewing session (then take it away) and slowly letting your puppy enjoy it for longer periods.

What to watch out for

  • Some bully sticks are baked or smoked, which can reduce the nutrients and in some cases means the use of chemicals. The best bully sticks are air-dried slowly at a low temperature to preserve all nutrients.
  • Some pizzles might have gone through a ’chemical bath’ to kill any potential harmful bacteria.
  • If your dog is overweight, limit how often she/he can have a pizzle or reduce the normal food intake
  • As natural bully sticks often have a relatively strong odour, some suppliers have started to offer ’no-odour’ pizzles. However, these ones will have been more processed, and once chewed they will still smell, although to a lesser degree. These ’no-odour’ pizzles tend to be lighter in colour, which might help you choose wisely, albeit this is not always guaranteed to be the case.

Our range of Bully Sticks

All our pizzles are sourced from the EU from reputable farmers. Our pizzles are all 100% pure meat, which has been air-dried at a low temperature preserving all nutrients and killing all harmful bacteria.

We grade our pizzles by weight and offer the following products:

  • Regular 12cm pizzles – average weight of 20g (varies between 15-25g). As well as selling them in bags of 5, they are also in our Long-Lasting Delights bag.
  • Thick 12cm pizzles – average weight of 25g. These are found in the Chomper boxes (Power and Ultimate).
  • Extra Thick 12cm pizzles – average weight of 35g (varies between 30-60g). These are sold in bag of 4.
  • Jumbo 20cm pizzles are sold in bag of 4.

Alternatives to Bully Sticks

If you are still not totally convinced that pizzles are what you should treat your dog to, here are some alternatives which you might want to think about:

  • Yak chews: Originally from the Himalayas, these milk sticks are compressed blocks of yak milk which have been smoke-dried for about a month. They are completely natural, incredibly durable and excellent for dental health. They are suitable form 16 weeks of age.
  • Antlers: An excellent fat-free option, which dogs love to gnaw on. The bonus is that they are totally odourless to humans!
  • Camel Braids: Exceptionally long lasting, low fat, natural healthy treats for dogs of all sizes. The best of all, they are virtually odourless and naturally hypoallergenic. Suitable for dogs aged 12 weeks and above.
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