There are any number of 'bones' that a dog can use to gnaw on.

Over the years, I've gotten away from actual bones, mostly because it has been my experience that the dogs will confront each other over a bone but not a 'fake' bone.

Thoughts about 'fake' bones or other gnawing toys.

I'm thinking about gnawing items that will also help with tooth cleaning.

I have avoided any brand names but...

Also, I've gotten away from processed pig and cow things and rubber chew toys after a two visits to the emergency room.

Mine like Nylabones. I buy the largest ones they make (come in lots of shapes) and they seem to be hard enough to last a long time, but not so hard that they break teeth. And after gnawing on them for a while they are kind of bristly, which I think helps clean teeth.

I used to give Tucker the normal Nylabone...but he got a slab fracture from it. He's a pretty aggressive chewer.
so now I buy him these:
http://www.nylabone.com/product-finder/by-product-type/flexi-chew-bone-chicken.htm

still nylabone, but not the rockhard one. These have much more give. They are a bit on the expensive side, and i generally have to replace them after a week. They are for moderate chewers so he can demolish one pretty quickly.
He chews off some pretty big chunks, but he's an odd fellow, he never swallows the pieces...just spits them out on the floor.
So for him, they work. But for an aggressive chewer that would ingest the pieces there might be a problem. They are suppose to be all natural and safe for them to swallow, but I still think a big piece of it would cause some stomach upset.

ps...about the teeth thing. My vet asked me if i brush his teeth every day. He said they looked great. I admitted to him that I do brush his teeth, but it's more like once a week. I can only assume that these bones are helping keep the tartar away. As the poster above said...they do get bristly after awhile.

I don't use nylabone because of the dangers they claim it digestible but I don't believe it,to many reads on dead dogs and sick dogs for me. No rawhide that's a major no way with me bad news, nor pig chews, never tried bully sticks not sure I will doubtful.

I use beef back rib bones for Zoey shes a light chewer and I don't have the possible confrontational other dogs like you do Mike. And the well being and joy I see in Zoey when I give her a rib bone man that's awesome.
If I can find my link that lists a bunch of dangerous thing for dog like nylabones rawhide etc I'll put it on.

I had a 6mo old pup break off the end of a made for adult heavy chewer nylabone. I was sitting right there & took the whole thing & threw it out. I had checked before giving it to him & it was brand new & I saw no chops or cracks in it. I have had friends have simnilar experiences. I personally would never buy them again.

Nylabones pieces are not broken down in the digestive track they have been known to cause obstructions. There was a thread here a while back about this. The only way they are tolerated...is if the dog chissels off tiny tiny whisps of them..which is what is supposed to happen. But should peices break off they do not desolve & depending on the size of the piece & the dog they may or may not pass thru.

I feed marrow bones to pups & young dogs & older dogs that just eat the marrow out & then chew lightly, then I take them away. I have dogs with very hard bites & agressive chewers so they get bully sticks ocassionally & sometimes times raw beef rib bones.

I personally feel that feeding bones, other then their raw diet bones, is not worth the risk of a fractured tooth & the $$$$ that it costs to repair one. JMO

Nylabones are absolutely NOT digestible. A large hunk of one would definitely be dangerous if swallowed.

As with any toy, you have to know your dog's chewing style. Mine gnaw on the large Nylabones and don't try to break off hunks of them, so the only material they are removing are rice-sized shavings.

These were our second option after elk antler chews proved too hard. Luca is short one large molar (and I'm short the $700 it cost to extract it) after an antler chew. But I know many people's dogs do fine with those.

Rubbery things--even the "indestructible" ones don't last at all here. And I'm much more concerned about thumb-sized hunks of rubber than slivers of nylon.

At my house, all chewing is done under supervision. I'd never leave a dog with any chew toy alone.

Cost me over a grand and a half for the removal of a golf ball size chunk of rubber bone from the intestine of the then puppy, Titan last fall. No rubber toys other than the kongs, and they get watched for any sign of deterioration.

Yes, Mike, been there too. $1500 hunk of rubber removed from the Corgi's intestine. Although I think it was something she found outside, not from a toy I provided. Still, I should have had the wad of rubber bronzed to display on the mantlepiece.

I have head that about the antlers, too. So I have stayed clear of them as well.

I guess that my poor dogs will have to just suck it up & have the occasionally bully stick. They have become so pricey these days, so now a treat rather then an every day joy.

My dogs get plenty of bone chewing with their meals & they don't appear to be any the worse for no longer having recreational bones. LOL

Mike that was one expensive rubber bone, glad to hear he's OK.

I'm with Ann on the nylabone I also think not digestible.


Tracy says under supervision, I do the same I give Zoey a raw beef rib bone and I sit there with the lap top or mag.

But with that said even when I'm supervising there's no way I'm going to stop a tooth fracture even if I was inches from Zoey's mouth with hands ready. Luckily I know her chewing habits shes a light chewer and have been lucky.
However if by chance some choking were to accrue I would be there.