Let’s Talk About Food, Friday

Food talk! Yay! Today, I’ll be reviewing another long-lasting chew: naturally shed Deer Antlers. These tasty treats can seem a bit pricey but last a very long time. They come in a variety of colours and sizes (mommy buys medium for me). Here’s what the one I’m currently working on looks like:

Overview

Insides.

Review Time!

Taste: While these are not my “go to” version of treats, once I start gnawing on them I don’t stop! I can chew on these for a good 30 mins before I decide to put them down. Like I said in the Cow Hooves review, I’d prefer to chew on these when the day is winding down and it’s quiet time. Taste-wise I’d rate antlers 3.5 out of 5 Tail-wags!

Smell: If there are any hoomans with a super-sensitive nose out there, you are in luck! Antlers have minimal odour to no odour. Mommy had to put her nose right up to it in order to smell anything at all. I should also add, for any doggy friends who are enticed by strong odours, placing the antler in a food or treat bag for a day or two should do the trick! For this reason, I’ll give em 5 out of 5 Tail-wags for the smell (or lack of).

Durability: Again, like cow hooves, these things last forever! As a moderate chewer, it took me at least 2 months to finish my last one and I’m only on my second antler ever! I’m sure my bite is not as strong as others but I have not been able to bite off any large chunks that can sometimes be a choking hazard. Also, don’t forget to remind the hoomans to replace them whenever they get too small! For durability, I give Deer Antlers, 5 Tail-wags out of 5.

Overall Review from mommy:

We would give Deer Antlers an overall review of 4.5 Tail-wags out of 5. The only points lost would be on taste, as some dogs just don’t seem interested in them. However, these are a great safe and healthy option for dogs and for its durability, a great price. Depending on whether the antlers you receive are treated or not, it is always a good idea to pop them in the freezer to kill any bacteria or when not in use. Also available are Elk and Moose antlers but we have yet to try them. We would strongly recommend trying Deer Antlers.

C’mere you.

Nom.

Let’s Talk About Food, Fridays

What’s my favourite word? I’m sure you already know by now, but I’m gonna say it.. Foooood! Or even better, TREATS! As soon as I hear those words I’m there! Want me to sit? Sure. Want me to stay? No problem. Want me to beg? Now, that’s a given. Just the thought of food makes me drool, especially hooman food. But I’ll talk about that in a later post.

Today, let’s take a look at one of my current favourite long-lasting chews: Cow Hooves. Yup, gotta love them hooves! The smell, the taste, the challenge-it’s great! Here’s what the ones mommy buys look like:

Front.

Back.

After being chomped on.

Now, let’s go into some detail and maybe the hoomans will pick some up for my distant-doggie friends and followers!

Taste: I think it taste great! When I wanna relax in the evenings I will pick up the hoof and have a chew. If I had to rate it, I’d give it a rating of 4 Tail-wags out of 5!  As much as I love these chews, I’d have no problem putting them down if there’s something else to do.

Smell: The hooves definitely have an odour, even mommy can smell it with her sub-par hooman nose. However, the odour only seems to become apparent to the hoomans when I start chewing. The hooves mommy buys have been treated which may account for the smell. In terms of “tolerability” of the smell for hoomans, I’d give it a 3.5 Tail-wags out of 5! The smell isn’t bad but there are other chews that have less odour.

Durability: These things last looong! I’d say I’m a moderate chewer and can easily be occupied by  the hoof for 30 mins, maybe even longer. I have to use my chompers to break apart little pieces at a time so it takes me a loong time to finish. The last hoof I had lasted about 2-3 months! In terms of durability I’d give Cow Hooves 5 Tail-wags out of 5!

I’ll let mommy give you the overall verdict:

We would give Cow Hooves and overall rating of: 4 Tail-wags out of 5. The reason being, while Riley will chew them for quite a while once he’s started on them, he will only choose to chew the hooves when interested. However, these are good for casual everyday use, as they are inexpensive and last a long time.

With that said, I should add, that it is recommended to freeze the hooves when they are not in use to prevent contamination. Also, the opinions of Cow Hooves have been mixed. Some people believe they are great, while others warn of potential intestinal blockage/damage and choking. Riley has not been able to break apart any size-able pieces and the pieces  tend to fray and more or less peel off. While I do see the potential of larger/stronger chewers to be able to break off large bits, for Riley they are fine. Also, if your dog is able to finish them in a day or so, I would wait a reasonable amount of time before providing another. 

To sum up, we would recommend trying Cow Hooves to see if they are suitable for your dog.