Antler Chews

[Buchan]

MOrning folks,
Following some discussion with other vets, particularly dental expert types, the advice on using antlers as chews is simple: Don't.
If you wanted to design something to cause slab fratures of the carnassial teeth (the big one mid jaw) then it would be antler. Since antlers were marketted as dog chews, there's been a rise in these fractures. The fracture can be treated with endodontics, but you have to be doing it very soon after the fracture has happened, so most need full tooth removal. A chewing toy needs enough give for 3-4mm depth of bite, so yes, this also rules out bones.

This is just my advice. I fully expect a whole raft of replies on the lines of, "Fed bones for 50 years and never had a problem" and that's fine, lucky you. I also include an interesting article on the mechanics of tooth fracture. Fracture Limits of Maxillary Fourth Premolar Teeth in Domestic Dogs Under Applied Forces

 

[8x57]

I received similar advise from our vet too. She advised giving the dogs tracheas instead and I've been buying them these for the last few months. To think of all the tracheas that I've thrown away over the years and the price I am paying for them now upsets me. I won't be throwing another trachea away, they will be going in the oven in future.

 

[finnbear270]

So dog teeth have "Evolved", not running down game anymore, eating dried or tinned?

 

[thistledeyke]

So dog teeth have "Evolved", not running down game anymore, eating dried or tinned?

Maybe we are just more aware of it now? Antler chews are a relatively new (marketed) item.

 

[mallettn]

Thanks for the advice. I have thought of trying antler, but always felt uneasy about tooth damage and wear so it is good to have this settled in my mind.

 

[VSS]

Damn it! That's the end of stalkers being able to get £60 per kg for bits of antler!

 

[Buchan]

Damn it! That's the end of stalkers being able to get £60 per kg for bits of antler!

Sorry folks!
To answer the evolution issue, wild carnivores have similar problems with more fractures when prey is short and they have to eat more of the existing prey

 

[shakey jake]

id also guess a wild dog lives a pretty short life, especially once its teeth are cracked

 

[daw]

Thanks Buchan for the heads up.

 

[esau]

I feed quite a lot of bones and raw meat. Would fractures be evident to the untrained eye?Presumably a fracture would result in a lack of eagerness to tackle a bone?

 

[levigsp]

I feed raw bone, but only soft bones, not hard. I wouldn't dream of giving a dog antler as a chew.

 

[Buchan]

I feed quite a lot of bones and raw meat. Would fractures be evident to the untrained eye?Presumably a fracture would result in a lack of eagerness to tackle a bone?

Possible not, the tend to be, "slab" fractures, essentially the side of the tooth enamel coming away, but srtill held in place by the dental ligaments. I'd agree with the lack of eagerness to tackle a bone as a first clue! But it is amazing what they will tolerate. I had a lovely lab brought in for a dental, smell had got worse and you could see a cracked tooth. Once on the table we could see that all the molars were cracked and broken. The dog was a stone catcher and the other members of the shoot thought it good fun too. When the lady owner came in for a check she said - he's like a puppy again. That's was what being in pain was doing to him

 

[jimmy milnes]

Possible not, the tend to be, "slab" fractures, essentially the side of the tooth enamel coming away, but srtill held in place by the dental ligaments. I'd agree with the lack of eagerness to tackle a bone as a first clue! But it is amazing what they will tolerate. I had a lovely lab brought in for a dental, smell had got worse and you could see a cracked tooth. Once on the table we could see that all the molars were cracked and broken. The dog was a stone catcher and the other members of the shoot thought it good fun too. When the lady owner came in for a check she said - he's like a puppy again. That's was what being in pain was doing to him

Not surprised he was like a pup again after treatment, toothache and earache must be the worst pains ever in my opinion

 

[John Gryphon]

id also guess a wild dog lives a pretty short life, especially once its teeth are cracked

Not necessarily,check the dentition of this old dog that I trapped,many years on him to get his teeth warn down like that.
He was scalped hence the claret.
There is no way that my dogs will get antler to chew..ever!
A mate was actually looking at that dog head yesterday and I opened up my 12 year old dog and bitches gobs as a comparo,they are showing wear and age but nothing like the wild dog.

 

[esau]

Hi Buchan, thanks for the response. I might try and give them a dental check, though they all still tackle bones with gusto. As others have said I have never given them antlers and I suppose the hardest bones they will get are red deer leg bones.

 

[Buchan]

On the vet forum discussion the concept of chewing a bone so big they can't bite on to it is being thrown around. This is my prefered bone to use - big knuckle end of a beef bone with bits of tendon etc still on it. It gets removed after half an hour. As a chew proper - use simple rawhide

 

[Peter Eaton]

My Border had the very same issue. She had antler chews when younger and also cow hooves. All of a sudden she lost her spark, this went on for around 18 months until a vet found two rear teeth cracked in two from biting on the antler. £500 later and both teeth removed, one very happy dog.

 

[shakey jake]

Not necessarily,check the dentition of this old dog that I trapped,many years on him to get his teeth warn down like that.
He was scalped hence the claret.
There is no way that my dogs will get antler to chew..ever!
A mate was actually looking at that dog head yesterday and I opened up my 12 year old dog and bitches gobs as a comparo,they are showing wear and age but nothing like the wild dog.

View attachment 166410

ang idea on age of the dog?

 

[John Gryphon]

ang idea on age of the dog?

No it would only be a guess.
This is him at a dead cow,note he is heavy set,deep chest,muscular arse end etc.
Those worn teeth didnt stop him being the boss of the pack he was with either.
When he fed the rest waited.
A definite hybrid dingo/ dog that was twice the average dog in size.
I would have thought a dog with teeth like that would be on his last legs...not so.

 

[User00040]

So dog teeth have "Evolved", not running down game anymore, eating dried or tinned?

I think most dog owners expect their domesticated dogs to live for a lot longer than wild/feral dogs do.