Which Chews Are Safe for My Dog?

The safest chews are ones you can dent with your thumbnail, sized for your dog, and given while you watch. Bully sticks are a popular choice, but they're rich in calories and can carry bacteria, so offer them in moderation.

Skip bones, antlers and hooves. They're hard enough to break teeth, and bone is the most common thing dogs choke on.

What makes a chew safe for my dog?

Three quick checks cover most of it. None of them needs special knowledge, just a moment before you hand the chew over.

1. The thumbnail test. Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center advises that you should be able to make a dent in a chew with your fingernail. If you can't, it's hard enough to risk a tooth.
2. The right size. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) advises giving a product sized for your dog's body weight. WSAVA's treat guide adds that size and shape both matter for lowering the risk of choking.
3. Supervision. WSAVA, the VOHC and the FDA all recommend watching your dog while they chew, especially with anything new.

Those three checks rule out the riskiest chews straight away. The rest comes down to calories and hygiene, which is where bully sticks need a closer look.

Are bully sticks safe for dogs?

They can be part of a sensible routine, as long as they pass the three checks above. A study in the Canadian Veterinary Journal found two things worth knowing before you buy a bag.

First, what they are. Bully sticks are made from dried bull penis. When the researchers surveyed 752 dog owners, only 55.6% knew that.

How many calories are in a bully stick?

More than most people guess. The sticks tested averaged 15 calories per inch, ranging from 9 to 22. The average stick held 88 calories, and the biggest 133.

The authors worked out what that means at home. A 6-inch stick is about 9% of a 50-pound dog's daily calories, and about 30% of a 10-pound dog's. Half the owners surveyed underestimated the calories in a 12-inch stick.

Can bully sticks carry bacteria?

Some do. Of 26 sticks tested, one carried Clostridium difficile, one carried MRSA (an antibiotic-resistant staph), and generic E. coli turned up in seven.

The study's advice is simple. Wash your hands after handling them. People at higher risk, such as the very young, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system, should avoid contact with raw animal-product chews.

Why are bones, antlers and hooves risky?

Because they can be harder than your dog's teeth. WSAVA's guide says to avoid excessively hard chews such as antlers and hooves, and anything with sharp edges. It also warns that bones, cooked and raw, can be very dangerous.

How hard does a chew have to be to break a tooth?

Here's a striking number. A study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science tested the big upper chewing tooth, the maxillary fourth premolar. On average, it broke at a force of about 1,281 newtons.

Dogs can bite with anywhere from 13 to 1,394 newtons, the authors note. That overlap is the problem. A strong chomp on something that won't give can crack the tooth, rather than the chew.

The most common break was also the worst kind. Half of the tested teeth fractured with the pulp inside exposed. Cornell adds ice cubes and hard chew toys to the list of things to avoid. Licking ice is fine. Chomping it isn't.

What about choking?

Bone is the leading culprit. In a study of 222 dogs treated for something stuck in the esophagus, the tube to the stomach, 81% of the cases involved bone. Rawhide chews accounted for 3%.

Size wasn't protective. The breeds seen most often were West Highland white terriers and Labradors, followed by Staffordshire bull terriers, Maltese, boxers and Chihuahuas.

Pieces that get swallowed cause trouble further down too. The FDA warns that sharp bone fragments can injure the mouth, esophagus and stomach.

What about rawhide, pig ears and other chews?

Each has its own trade-off. Rawhide showed up in the choking study above. WSAVA also lists the calories of common chews, and some are startling:

Chew	Amount	Calories
Tripe stick	1 oz (28 g)	217
Dried pig's ear	2 oz (56 g)	242
Rawhide bone	6.7 oz (190 g)	700

For some dogs, WSAVA notes, one of these can go over the day's whole allowance for extras. Pig ears carry a second concern. WSAVA warns that unprocessed, raw animal-based chews, such as contaminated pig ears, can transmit pathogens.

For a dog who just needs to chew, a firm-but-flexible rubber toy is often the easiest answer. Our guide to puppy toys covers which kinds suit which ages.

Do dental chews actually clean teeth?

Some have been tested, and you can check. The VOHC is a council of nine veterinary dentists and dental scientists. It reviews products against its standards for plaque and tartar control.

Products that pass carry the VOHC Seal of Acceptance, for plaque, tartar, or both. If a dental chew makes cleaning claims, look for the seal on the pack or the VOHC's accepted list.

The same safety rules still apply. Choose the right size, and give it when you can watch. For daily cleaning, our guide to dog toothpaste walks through brushing step by step.

How many chews can my dog have a day?

WSAVA's rule of thumb is that treats, including chews, should make up less than 10% of a dog's daily calories. Too many extras can unbalance the main diet and lead to unintended weight gain.

That's where bully sticks add up fast. For a small dog, one average stick can take up most of the day's allowance, so the rest of the day's extras should be tiny.

If a chew's label doesn't list calories, WSAVA suggests contacting the manufacturer. Your vet can help you set a sensible amount for your dog's size and weight.

Puppies chew for their own reasons, and their needs change as adult teeth come in. Our guide to puppy teething toys covers that stage.

Call your vet promptly if your dog:

• is choking, gagging or drooling heavily after a chew. Treat choking as an emergency.
• starts vomiting, has diarrhea, seems less active, won't eat or has stomach pain in the hours or days after a chew. The FDA notes that a blockage may not show signs straight away.
• avoids food, chews on one side, or reacts to cold water
• has a tooth that looks broken, chipped or discolored
• swallowed a large piece of bone, antler or rawhide

Questions dog parents ask

Are bully sticks safe for puppies?

The same rules apply: dentable, sized right, and supervised. Calories matter even more for small bodies, so ask your vet how much fits your puppy's diet.

Can dogs chew cooked bones?

No. WSAVA warns that bones, cooked or raw, can be very dangerous, and the FDA notes that sharp pieces can injure the mouth, esophagus and stomach.

Are antlers safe for dogs?

Veterinary sources advise against them. Cornell and WSAVA both list antlers among chews hard enough to break teeth.

How many calories are in a bully stick?

About 9 to 22 per inch, according to the Canadian Veterinary Journal study, with an average stick around 88.

Sources

• Freeman LM, Janecko N, Weese JS. Nutritional and microbial analysis of bully sticks and survey of opinions about pet treats. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2013
• Soltero-Rivera M, et al. Fracture Limits of Maxillary Fourth Premolar Teeth in Domestic Dogs Under Applied Forces. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2019
• Burton AG, Talbot CT, Kent MS. Risk Factors for Death in Dogs Treated for Esophageal Foreign Body Obstruction: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 222 Cases. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2017
• WSAVA: Feeding Treats to Your Dog, 2025
• Cornell Riney Canine Health Center: Risks From a Fractured Tooth
• Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)
• FDA: Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe From Holiday Hazards

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own dog — they know the animal in front of them.

Choolip products are food supplements, not medicine. They are not intended to diagnose or manage any medical condition. If your dog has been diagnosed with a condition, their diet should be set by your vet.