Best toys for inside chewers? - Page 2

PVC pipe has NO ASBESTOS in it as an ingredient. Depending on use, PVC is between 70 and 90% PVC resin. It may have a variety of chemical additives to it. These may include chemical stabilizer, Calcium Stearate, Paraffin Wax, Polyethylene Wax, Titanium Dioxide, Calcium Carbonate, and Acrylic Process Aid/Impact Modifier depending on how the pipe is to be used.

The hazard from asbestos is inhalation of asbestos particles found in insulation of many kinds, used many years ago. There is no association with asbestos disease from ingestion because no one sat around eating asbestos. Inhaled asbestos is well associated with mesothelioma cancer in humans. Unfortunately, many dogs, just like humans, die of cancer but the kind of mesothelioma a dog would have is not related to asbestos exposure. Medical researchers are finding the causes of cancer and many recent discoveries point to genetics and infectious agents as causative agents. None the less, I would not use PVC pipe for a dog chew, not only because of the possible confusion with household pipes, sprinkler systems etc., but because it can and does get very brittle and can break off in sharp pieces. 

Nylabones are made with nylon. Compressed rawhide is NOT the same thing as normal rawhide which is much harder to digest. Most dogs, when chewing small pieces of compressed rawhide digest it just fine. With the normal rawhide that tends to be sold tied with knots at the end, in particular, one must be very careful that the dog does not chew off one of those knots and swallow it whole. That likely will end in trouble. 

There are a variety of other products on the market, including the really tough Kong products and sterilized bones, but even these I have seen torn up and swallowed by dogs, resulting in expensive surgery. So, again, the caution is supervision whenever the dog is chewing. 

My dogs never really liked the nyla bones, and I heard the same thing about the teeth.  Bully sticks are the best!  Unfortunately, the only place I  see them is Leerburg, so I have  to order them.  I  just wished they lasted longer. 

Leerburg has some other great toys that you can hide treats in, that keep  them occupied. 

My boy is a REALLY aggressive chewer.  The Giant Galileo is great.  Nylabone makes it.  He already has one side of it chewed up, but no chunks have broken off and we've had it about two weeks now, so it has lasted longer than anything else. 

from K911.biz/Pet Safety

Nylabones can become sticky and lodge in the back of the throat causing an obstruction. The clear ones usually cannot be detected upon x-ray, so the vet may not know that there is a blockage without doing an exploratory. They are also hard on a teeth so be certain to check the overall condition of your dogs mouth prior to giving him anything this inflexible to chew.

Cow Hooves are even more dangerous than rawhides. They are hard enough that a dog can actually break a tooth on one. They can also be chewed up into sharp fragments which may cause a partial intestinal obstruction. Partial obstructions are often difficult to diagnose until the point at which the fragment is ready to perforate the wall of the bowel from pressure against the sharp edges. If perforation has occurred, the infection that ensues from leakage of intestinal contents can be fatal.

Pig Ears can cause GI upset if overeaten, similar to the situation with rawhides, although obstructions are less common because the ears are not usually shaped into solid chunks. More Internet investigations turned up this information regarding pig ears: A CTCA member (Coton de Tulearre) lost her three-and-a-half month old puppy to a massive intestinal bacterial infection.

The bacteria noticed on autopsy were Escherichia coli, a common gut bacteria which, in proper balance, is essential for the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the mammalian gut. Too many E. coli, or E. coli in the wrong place (like the lungs) can cause serious disease.

The attending veterinarian and the owner suspect that bacteria inadvertently introduced by a pig ear was the cause of death. While alternative explanations are possible, pig ears are not entirely safe, especially for pups (who need chewies the most). Another vet pointed out the possibility of bacterial contamination also of pig ear chews. All chewie objects can potentially cause injury but pig ears, the most avidly chewed treat of all, can potentially introduce bacteria.

An FDA advisory published by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human services on Oct.1, 1999, stated that there is "a nationwide public health warning alerting consumers about a number of recent cases in Canada of human illnesses apparently related to contact with dog chew products made from pork or beef-derived materials (e.g., pigs ears, beef jerky treats, smoked hooves, pigs skins, etc.)... FDA is urging pet owners... to handle them carefully. Anyone who comes in contact with these treats should wash their hands with hot water and soap. Initial reports of illnesses came from Canada and involved Canadian products, but subsequent examination of similar products produced in the U.S. indicate that all pet chew products of this type may pose a risk...."

Bully Sticks also known as Bully's, beef stick or pizzles, are a dog treat made from a dried bull's penis. Since it is all beef, these are 100% digestible. There have been no known reports of bully's producing problems which are often associated with rawhide, cow's hooves and other chewy treats, such as choking or bowel obstruction.

As with any edible treat given to your dog, use your discretion and always be present when your pets are consuming them.

guess i'm a mean mommy.  my dogs don't get to chew on anything but meat or raw bones......jointy ones, nothing that slivers.  no rubber, no plastic, no nylon.  nothing unnatural and nothing indigestible.  i can't believe the crap they sell in the petstores for dogs to chew on.  sure my dogs have toys, but when playtime is done, the toys are put away - they are not for shredding.
pjp

I'm pretty sure that MY featherbed is the best dog chew ever. GDI. 

VomMarischal, we once had a rescue GDS mix with separation anxiety. One day in error he got trapped (as a puppy) in our bedroom, (the door closed mysteriously, and no one has yet to accept responsibility for what happened)... Coming home from work that day we opened the bedroom door and discovered he had almost successfully dug his way to China, right through our mattress!

 

HAHAHAHA! What fun! 

About the bully sticks: dogs love them but they're not a solution for extreme chewers, which is what the OP is asking about.  Bully sticks last only a couple of minutes with my German Shepherds.