What Is a Bully Stick?

Bully sticks are a new phenomenon and have gained a name amongst dog owners and enthusiasts alike. They are a relatively new entry into the pet food industry and that is why some of you might be apprehensive about them. You must have heard of these sticks from your local pet store owner, online platforms, or even seen them at pet stores or online stores. You might also have heard that dogs love chewing on them as they love their taste. But, there are some misconceptions about actually what these sticks are as well. That is why we are here to allay your ambivalence in this regard. All that you need to know about these sticks is mentioned as follows for your information and convenience. So, go ahead and educate yourself.

Are Bully Sticks Safe for Dogs?

This is an aspect that is open to debate and much discussion. The first thing that you need to know is that the pet food industry and all its products aren’t regulated or subject to some central quality assurance authority. That is why there are some concerns and predicaments when it comes to the safety of Bully Sticks for your dog.

To be frank, there are some instances where dogs have been affected by bacterial infections by chewing bully sticks. However, the odds of this happening are slim and are only incumbent if the bully stick in question isn’t cooked properly. That is because such sticks can be considered raw and a raw diet can entail bacterial infection for your dog.

Many studies have also shown that not all bully sticks that you purchase might be safe. For example, a study showed that out of 26 bully sticks that were purchased, 7 had traces of E.coli, and 1 have methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

That is why many veterinarians discourage the use of Bully Sticks for their patients. They argue that despite the chances of a bully stick being contaminated is low, there is still a chance that it might be. They instead recommend that you use chewable toys that can be filled with healthy treats for your dog. Another factor that plays in their forbidding these sticks is the fact that they are hard and can cause fractures in a dog’s teeth. Some might say that chewable treats remove tartar from a dog’s teeth but there have also been instances where dentists and surgeons have noted them causing fractures as well.

So, the thing is, if you want to feed these sticks to your dog then make sure you go for the ones that are cooked correctly. Better yet, get the dried ones as they have the lowest odds of containing a bacteria or other such contaminant.

Can Puppy Have Bully Sticks?

Puppies can have bully sticks to chew, and there is nothing wrong in doing so. Puppies are by nature prone to excessive chewing so it is a good idea to give them these sticks. They take a while to chew and your little pup will love its taste as well. But, you should remember what we have told you in the previous section. By that, we mean that you should take appropriate caution while giving these treats to your puppies. Puppies have relatively softer teeth than older dogs and thus are more susceptible to tooth damage.

So, choose softer bully sticks but ensure that they are clean and free of any contamination. You can cook them a bit, or to your liking, to make them a bit less smelly and dry. Then you can feed them to your puppy. So, to answer your question, yes puppies can have bully sticks and they will love them.

What Bully Sticks are made of?

Bully Sticks are made from a variety of different ingredients. Even if you think you have an idea about its composition, chances are that you don’t know anything. There is some confusion about this matter as some think that these sticks are made from muscle. Well, that isn’t the case and has been corroborated by many competent authorities as well. Bully sticks are made from a dried bull or steer penis and are digestible. This is pretty fascinating and might seem gross to some of you as well. We say that it is fascinating because most people are against giving animal-based edibles to their dogs but they didn’t know about Bully Sticks and their composition.

Bully Sticks are also called pizzle sticks and they are available in raw, cooked, and even dried forms. They are available in different sizes, shapes and dimensions, and flavors. Dogs can chew on them with ease as well since they evince a hard consistency.

They are quite smelly as well and their stink can easily permeate throughout a room. You might experience a smell like a dead animal while your dog is chewing on one in the room. So, we suggest that you let your dog chew on it to its heart’s content. But in an outdoor setting because if you don’t, then you might never be able to get this smell out of a room. One of the most prominent smells that these sticks exude is akin to urine. Which is terrible, to say the least. However, the dried versions have less moisture in them since they are cooked longer. That is why they are less odorous and these are the ones that you should opt for when it comes to your dog.

Your dog will certainly love the taste that these sticks have to offer. But you are responsible for ensuring that the ones you end up feeding it are up to the mark or not.

Conclusion

So, there you have it, all that you might need to know and want to know about Bully Sticks. You should now have a better idea about these sticks. You will also be able to make a more informed decision about either adopting or not adopting these sticks for your dog. If you feel that the benefits outweigh the cons then do consider using them for your dog’s needs.