Dog peoples...

What's a good NATURAL dog chew besides meaty bones? Something I can give them in the house that isn't going to make an awful mess or mess with their guts? I don't like to give them rawhide chews because of the preservatives in them... not sure how often it's safe to give them pig or deer or sheep ears (or what preservatives are in there)... haven't been able to give them their bi-weekly bones because of the snow that persists in their yard, and the new puppy is teething something awful, so NEEDS to chew. She's tiny, so it takes her an age to get through a pig ear, so I'm not too worries about her getting too much, just the other two big dogs...

Have you tried the Greenies - chew thingies for their teeth that would probably last a while for a puppy.

Can you put them in a crate & give them a real bone ?

I'm sure Greenies were on a no go list

Hm. Crates in the tiny house. Might work in a pinch. They do love their bones.... I gave the puppy a strip of dry goat hide, which she is enjoying, but the older dogs are moping about because they don't have one... (couldn't find any more... I think I will have to save some more goat skins to dry for the dogs). Kalmara -- how much/often is it safe to give dogs animal hides to chew on?

And is pig skin ok for them? Gotta do a couple of KK pigs at the weekend...

Pig skin should be OK (most love pig ears !) How often for animal hides ? probably depends on how well their digestive systems copes

I'm not sure why snow would be a problem for giving a bone?
My lab takes her bone into her kennel if weather lousy.

Kalmara;515647 wrote:
I'm sure Greenies were on a no go list

Thats interesting, what sort of no go list?

What about trying some not meaty big beef bones? A homekill butcher would rather give them away than have to fill up his pit with them .

Muz1;515668 wrote: I'm not sure why snow would be a problem for giving a bone?
My lab takes her bone into her kennel if weather lousy.

Our dogs are all house dogs. Need I say more? []

Ahh! Your profile picture looks like you have house goats as well.

Have you thought of filling a kong with peanut butter and treats for the puppy. They are pretty indestructible and it would be stimulating as well as time consuming. You could also give one to the other dogs as well if you chose to.

tonic;515674 wrote: Thats interesting, what sort of no go list?

plenty more sites like this one -

-http://www.optimumchoices.com/Greenies.htm

&

www.petplace.com/article/dogs/keeping-yo...treats-safe-for-dogs

Kalmara;515713 wrote: plenty more sites like this one -

-http://www.optimumchoices.com/Greenies.htm

&

www.petplace.com/article/dogs/keeping-yo...treats-safe-for-dogs

Interesting, the local vets still recommend them.

and most Vets still recommend annual vax & dry food