Bully Sticks, rawhides, flip chips, and “retriever rolls”

Bully sticks from the US, Venezuela, Argentina and South American countries are generally made from free range cattle. They tend not to have chemicals, preservative or antibiotics.  People often ask what is in a bully stick.  Simplest explanation: bulls have them, but cows don’t. They are typically sanitized up to 14 hours in hydrogen peroxide so that they do not carry bacteria.  Do not be conned and purchase cheap ones from a cheap manufacture, they  can have a terrible stench and carry a lot of bacteria.  Bully sticks are costly but if you purchase the longer ones let your active chewer chew about an inch or so each day.  Some are very cheaply processed.  They can be very oily and smell horrific.  Excellent brands do not have much of an aroma or oil content.   To prevent contamination and bacteria from accumulating, you can store the bully sticks in the freezer in a plastic zip lock bag.  If you have young children who are frequently get licked by your dog, you may want to keep them separate for about 30 minutes after they have a bully stick or a raw knuckle bone.  They can harbor bacteria even after being in the freezer and then thawed out again.  Always make sure to supervise your dog when they have a bully stick and never leave them alone – they can gobble the last several inches and it can become lodged in their digestive tract or they can choke.

“Retriever rolls” are rolled rawhides that are constructed from one piece of hide.  Purchase USDA sourced rolls, that is made in the US and not just packaged in the US.

Rawhides that are very hard and yellow (or golden brown) are actually made with some sort of mystery glue and are pressed into a particular shape. Nearly all of them are sourced from China, so we strongly advise against purchasing these. Rawhides that have knots on the end should be avoided as most dogs will ingest those ends; it is a very common source of blockages and impactions in the digestive tract.  The source of the material is just as important as the shape.

Purchase Flip Chips that are light tan or white.  Make sure they are the expanded or puffed type of material.  Some of these come with flavored coating can stain, so have your dog enjoy them away from carpeting and furniture.

Pressed rolled non-rawhide sticks are made from chicken, salmon, or beef.   They are naturally broken down because they are made from just meat.  Remember that because these are high quality protein sources, they may pack some pounds on your pup and increase the protein content of his diet.