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Safe Chew Treats For Dogs

 

Let’s just make it clear from the beginning, there are no perfectly safe chew treats for dogs. If your dog is putting something chewable in its mouth, there is a risk of choking. Just like you run the risk of choking every time you eat food, or the risk of a car accident every time you drive. But just because there is some risk, doesn’t mean that you stop eating and driving. Similarly, some amount of risk shouldn’t stop your dog from enjoying the benefits of chew treats.

It’s all about managing the risk. Not all chews are created equally, and some are safer than others. In this list, we’ll break down some common types of chew treats, their benefits, and their risk levels.

Durable Chews for Aggressive Chewers

Antlers & Bones

Durability: Super Strong

Risk Level: 6/10

Pros:

  • Good for power chewers
  • Natural

Cons:

  • They are so hard that there is a risk of breaking or damaging teeth
  • Can easily splinter, creating sharp pieces
  • Risk of obstruction

Antlers and bones are somewhat different, but they have enough similarities that I’m lumping them together for this analysis. It’s fairly common knowledge that you shouldn’t give your dog cooked bones, but cooked bones and antlers are fairly common treats, especially for those who are looking for a sustainably sourced, all-natural option.

These are especially tempting for power chewers because they can last so long. The problem is that the same hardness that makes them durable is also what makes them dangerous. If an aggressive chewer starts chomping hard enough on antlers or bones, eventually something has to break: either the teeth or the chew. And either option is disastrous. I don’t need to explain the problem with breaking or cracking your dog’s teeth. That’s pretty self-explanatory. But if your dog’s teeth prove victorious and break the chew, it may be even worse. Bones and antlers both splinter when broken, creating sharp shards that can pierce the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. They can also create blockages since they aren’t particularly digestible. In fact, in two separate studies from 2017 and 2019, around 80% of all foreign body obstructions were found to be bones.

When it comes to durable chews, these ones are pretty low on my list. I know a lot of people like them, but the FDA even put out an official warning to not give your dog bones. It’s one of the reasons we don’t sell them.

Himalayan/Yak Cheese Dog Chews

Durability: Super Strong

Risk Level: 3/10

Pros:

  • Easily Digestible
  • Good for power chewers
  • Natural
  • Comparatively Low Choking Risk

Cons:

  • They are so hard that there is a risk of breaking or damaging teeth

Yak Cheese Dog Chews, often simply referred to as Himalayan dog chews, are made from incredibly hard yak cheese. These chews have a lot of good things going for them. They’re natural, digestible, and very unlikely to cause any blockages. The major downside of these chews is the same thing that makes them great for aggressive chewers: they are crazy hard. That gives them the same flaw as antlers and bones, which is a risk of broken, cracked, or chipped teeth.

As with all dog chews, you need to know your dogs chewing style. Some dogs are going to do really well with these, and some dogs won’t. But they’re a reasonable option (and we aren’t even biased, because we don’t sell them.)

Natural Beef Hide

Durability: Super Strong

Risk Level: 3/10

Pros:

  • Digestible
  • Good for power chewers
  • Natural
  • Comparatively Low Choking Risk
  • Safe on teeth

Cons:

  • Some risk of obstruction

Of course I’m a little biased since natural beef hide is the main product we sell here at Ugly Chews, but I’ve tried to keep things pretty fair. Beef hide is different from conventional rawhide because it isn’t shaved down or processed with chemicals. Because they keep the full hide intact, they last longer and are much less likely to break into choking chunks. Most don’t, but our chews keep the hair on, which helps clean your dog’s teeth, gums, and digestive tract. Don’t worry, we roll the hair on the inside so it doesn’t get too messy.

Because the hides soften as your dog chews, they won’t damage teeth.

Moderate Chews

Rawhide

Durability: Moderate

Risk Level: 9/10

Pros:

  • Cheap
  • Lots of different varieties
  • Safe on teeth

Cons:

  • High choking hazard
  • Chemical exposure
  • Can easily create sharp pieces

The more we learn about the health impacts of “classic” rawhide, the worse it gets. When I talk about rawhide, I’m usually referring to the steretypical white twisted or bone shaped rawhides. These are a by-product of the tanning industry, so they’ve often been soaked in salt and lime (not the fruit) to keep them from rotting as they are shipped internationally. Rawhide is usually made from the leftovers after a hide is split, which leaves the dog chew hard, but thin. Combined with the chemicals, this makes for a thin, brittle chew that can easily splinter into sharp pieces or break into large chunks that present a choking hazard.

Rawhides are one of the worst choices for chew treat when it comes to safety, sustainability, and overall health.

Bully Sticks

Durability: Moderate

Risk Level: 4/10

Pros:

  • Low Risk
  • High Protein
  • Cheap And Accessible

Cons:

  • Smelly
  • High Protein

That’s right, high protein is both a pro and a con. The pro is that protein is generally good for you! The con is that too much protein rich food can give your dog diarrhea or other digestional distress. You just need to use caution and moderation.

Obviously, some bully sticks smell more than others. If you are looking for odor free bully sticks I would recommend checking to make sure that they aren’t descented using any harsh chemicals or processes. Aside from the protein issue, the only risks of bully sticks are the same risks that most natural chews have. You need to make sure your dog doesn’t break off a chokable chunk or try to swallow too much at once. But those apply to pretty much every reasonably durable chew.

We’re hoping to carry bully sticks in the future, but we want to make sure we’ve refined the process of making them odor-free while still maintaining our zero-waste, sustainable model. Check back for updates!

Trachea

Durability: Moderate/Light

Risk Level: 1/10

Pros:

  • Low Risk

Cons:

  • Not as durable

Beef trachea is an incredibly safe chew. Again, there is always some risk of trying to swallow too big of a chunk, but trachea is almost as safe as they come. Unfortunately, compared to other items on this list, beef trachea doesn’t have near the durability. They are a great option for moderate chewers, and will still last a power-chewer some amount of time, but they just don’t have the staying power. That can make it kind of discouraging if you have to keep buying more and more to keep your dog entertained.

Still, beef trachea is a great option. That’s why we sell it here at Ugly Chews (or at least we will soon, depending on when you read this.)

More To Come!

There are a lot of chew treat types out there. We’ll keep updating this list over time, adding more and more treats, their pros, and cons. In the meantime, check out our natural, zero-waste chew treats to see if they’re a fit for your canine companion!

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Let customers speak for us

from 1378 reviews
Bowie Approves

Bowie gets a 6 inch Bully stick every night before she rests her beautiful Brown eyes. If you buy these then you know. Those get darn right crazy expensive. When I seen another Doberman proudly chewing one of these Ugly Chews and read the reviews I knew we needed these. The owner of Ugly Chews was so nice and helpful she even said she was going to hand pick the biggest one for my baby girl. I was so blown away from the service and the product. That stick lasted a very long time You do need to watch and monitor your dog ,when it starts getting too soft that means it’s time to put away and save for later. My Bowie is a gulper and I know if it’s swallowable she’s probably getting it down. That can also be the tricky part “taking it away.” I almost forgot to mention there is absolutely No stinky odor like the traditional Bully Sticks. 😃So if you have a dog that is like mine you have found your dogs nest favorite chewy stick.

T.H.
Ugly Chews
Fantastic ! For the chewers in your life !

My dogs are both super chewers they can finish any chew in a matter of minutes. We just placed our first order of ugly chews and let me say that I was very impressed. Their chew lasted longer than the average plus the fact that they have no chemicals and are natural is always a plus. Can’t wait to order again.

C.M.
Ugly Chews
Single Ingredient and up for the challenge!

Owning 2 Great Danes and finding a chew to help keep them occupied as well as clean their teeth without breaking the bank is TOUGH but you know what else is tough? UGLY CHEWS! The danes absolutely love these chews and I love knowing they do not have any harsh chemicals or additives!

Taylor Brower
Ugly Chews
Crow Love UGLY CHEWS

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ugly Chews has been a game-changer for my 8-month-old Doberman puppy, Crow! These cowhide chews are a lifesaver, keeping him happily occupied for hours. The longevity of these chews is impressive, providing extended joy for my energetic pup. What sets Ugly Chews apart is its lack of any unpleasant odor, ensuring a pleasant chewing experience for both Crow and me. I can confidently say that Crow loves Ugly Chews, and I'm grateful for a product that stands up to the enthusiasm of a spirited Doberman. Highly recommended!

Krizzia Garcia
Hair-On Hide Rolls
Hair-On Hide Rolls

Received our first order just the other day, and all 5 of my dogs love them (even the picky ones)! We have a very large puppy who is definitely a power chewer, and this has been great for him! He has been carrying it around almost everywhere he goes for the last 2 days. I will definitely be a repeat customer.

K.L.M.
Ugly Chews
FINALLY! A CHEW THAT LASTS!

We have tried countless chews marketed towards "Aggressive chewers" . Our Hugo can chew through all of them within minutes! I don't even want to think about how much money we spent trying to figure this out! An ad came across my Facebook feed for Ugly chews. I went to the website and immediately loved what I was seeing. Small business. Women owned. No waste. NO NASTY CHEMICALS!... it was checking off all the boxes! I went to the reviews and read that several people with SUPER CHEWERS were so happy that they found something that lasted! I placed an order for 2 large rolls on that Friday night (late) and by Monday afternoon they were at our door! Hugo immediately loved it! He spent 45 minutes chewing on it and barely made a dent! When we took it away, he was happy, relaxed and pleased with his newest chew! We are now subscribers and feel great about it! Hugo gets a chew that he loves, and my husband and I don't have to worry about him getting an upset stomach or chewing through it in minutes! win/win!

Jocelyn Swanson
Hair-On Hide Rolls
Hair-On Hide Rolls
Only the best

I don't know what we did to deserve dogs that are picky eaters but they literally won't eat anything other than meat off the floor in our kitchen in addition to their normal food. Anyway, I mention that because they are picky with their treats as well. As soon as I gave them their first ugly chew they couldn't wait to lie down with it and get to work. Our dogs absolutely LOVE the ugly chews. Highly recommend for all the high maintenance dogs out there like ours.

David Pratt
Hair-On Hide Rolls
Hair-On Hide Rolls
I will forever buy these for all of my pups! 💚

I first bought some ugly chews back in February because my dogs are super chewers and chew through any/everything. I couldn’t find anything that would last them more than a day. Now, I don’t know how I went so long without getting the pups some ugly chews! They absolutely love them!! I recently got a puppy and it is PERFECT for teething! He just started biting everything and the ugly chew keeps him not only occupied but I know that he’s not eating anything he’s not supposed to. I also think it’s so cool that we can see how the chews are being made!!

N.J.
Ugly Chews
The BEST chew treats I have found!

We have been purchasing Ugly Chews for most of a year now and are extremely happy with them! We are a multi-dog household and have power chewers here. We have tried most other bones/chews and find them smelly, too expensive or just damaging to teeth. Ugly Chews don’t stink and last significantly longer than anything else we have tried. We are on a monthly subscription, and I love them so much that many of our puppy buyers and friends buy them now too. We love Ugly Chews!

Kimberly Barry
Ugly Chews
Keeping It Ugly

I raise and train German Shepherds, who LOVE LOVE LOVE to CHEW! After my very first Ugly Chew order months ago, I knew right away that something which is such a hit with ALL of my dogs needed to always be available in their treat drawer (actually an entire dresser - each drawer contains a different type of chew 🤭). I signed up for the monthly subscription, and have received my orders without delay or fail! Happy dogs, happy life! Thanks for such fantastic chews! We'll continue 'keeping it ugly' around here 😉

Tiffany Denne Clark
Monthly Chews
Monthly Chews
Our dogs’ favorite

Both of our dogs, a red heeler and a beagle, love these chews and do not want to give them up after their 20-30 min chew time. Our docile, loving beagle even snarled and tried to snap at me the first time I took it away from her! 😳 The red heeler is an aggressive chewer & these last 4-6 days with 20-30 minutes chew time. Great find that we ran across at Lewis & Bark Outpost in Red Lodge, MT and now we get these monthly!

Laura Francesconi
Monthly Chews
Monthly Chews
My black lab loves them my GSD did not(she is picky and a pain but i love her)

My black lab loves them my GSD did not. I like them because they are not stinky at all. I do like the website mentioned and put a timer on and they ( well the lab only) can chew it for 30 min and that's it, i put them in the freezer after that. so they lasted a few sessions. Pricey, yes, not any worst than bully sticks or many others, doesn't last forever and that's fine I didn't expect them too. Wanted to mention it because peoples expectation's and/or how many times I've been told some product was just so amazing and it just wasn't. This is decent, I will buy them again because i like their style, i like no chemicals, i like they didn't stink, i like that my dog didn't get diarrhea. Do you have to be responsible and watch them with it, yes, do you have to use a timer so you don't forget to take it away, YES. and am okay with that. But you do you.

chantal montgomery
Hair-On Hide Rolls
Hair-On Hide Rolls
Picky dog

I wasn't sure how well my dog would like Ugly Chews since he is such a picky eater. He doesn't really like dog treats, etc, but I gave the Hair-On Hide Rolls a try. First thing he did when I offered the roll was to go bury it; but the very next day he had dug it up and was happily chewing away! He was really enjoying it!

Margaret Davidson
Hair-On Hide Rolls
Hair-On Hide Rolls
Amazing!

I have 5 dogs, so I bought a huge batch of rolls and scraps… but they last so long! I feed my dogs as close to all natural as I can. So when I found rawhide that was natural and didn’t contain harmful chemicals I was hooked. My dogs love them, I’ve even gifted some of the scraps to my neighbors new rescue and she loves them just as much.

Caiti Falguera
Chips, Chunks, & Scraps
Chips, Chunks, & Scraps
Oh my god are they ugly

They are soooo ugly LOL. My dog loves it though. They do last a lot longer than other chews. For reference, my dog eats a 12 inch bully stick in less than 10 minutes. Hes gotten two 30+ min chew sessions with this Ugly Chew, and he's only halfway through it (we got the large). I can't tell if he's actually eating any fur or just pulling it off, but either way, its great enrichment. 10/10 recommend!! Will definitely be buying more in the future!

Brooke Todd
Hair-On Hide Rolls
Hair-On Hide Rolls

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