7 Reasons Why Natural Bully Sticks Are Great For Your Dog
If your dog won’t stop chewing your shoes, your socks or your kid’s homework (we hope not!), it’s a healthy sign that your dog is trying to keep himself occupied. When you can’t give him the extra belly rubs or take him for a walk, treating him with bully sticks for dogs is a terrific way to keep him happy.
But what do bully sticks, also known as pizzle sticks, have that other chewable toys don’t?
7 Reasons you Should be Giving Bully Sticks to your Dogs
1. Bully Sticks Help Ease Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety
Are you away from home most days of the week? Do you leave your dog alone, without anyone to watch over her? If your answer is yes, your absence could trigger separation anxiety in your pet if she is prone to it. Dogs suffering from separation anxiety become stressed when their owner leaves.
Separation anxiety can result in the development of various bad behaviors. Some dogs become vocal, barking and whining loudly until their owners return. Others will adopt destructive behaviors, such as ripping holes in furniture and chewing on other objects.
If your dog doesn’t do any of the above, here’s another tell-tale sign — when your otherwise house-trained pet starts urinating and pooping indoors.
How Can Bully Sticks Help Decrease your Dog’s Separation Anxiety?
Beef bully sticks can help distract your dog while you leave. Instead of focusing on the cues you naturally drop when you leave the house, your dog will be occupied with enjoying her chewy, mouth-watering treat.
Another reason to offer her natural bully sticks whenever you leave the house is that it will allow her to form a positive association with being left alone. Of course, she’ll still be glad to see you when you return, but at least it will keep her happier and less likely to rip up your furniture or your shoes while you’re at work.
2. Good for Your Dog’s Teeth
While giving your dog bully sticks won’t replace brushing his teeth regularly, here’s how they help keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy.
Whenever your dog gnaws and chews on a pizzle stick, small abrasions form on the surface of your dog’s teeth. These small abrasions on the enamel can help to remove deep-seated plaque from the teeth. Plaque is a cause of periodontal disease, a common disease in dogs, causing inflammation of the gums, pain, and if left untreated, tooth loss.
Another reason pizzle sticks are great for cleaning dogs’ teeth is that they are made from high-protein beef, which does not contribute to tartar build-up.
3. Nutritious Treats or Snacks
A by-product of beef processing, bully sticks are an excellent source of high-quality protein and taurine. Taurine is an amino acid that helps your pet’s cells easily absorb other nutrients. The fatty acids and protein also help to keep your dog’s coat glossy and prevent skin problems from starting.
While most humans abhor the pungent smell the bully sticks give off, it is the ultimate gourmet scent for your dog. Besides, the smellier they are, the more natural they are — free of preservatives that can harm your dog’s health.
Bully sticks are also easy to carry and prepare, so offering them as a snack or a quick treat for your dog eliminates the mess other treats, such as kibble or cookies, can create, Likewise, they save on the preparation time homemade treats require.
4. Reduce Choking Hazards
Bully sticks provide a safer, more natural alternative to rawhide chews. That’s because rawhide chews are not easily digested due to their synthetic chemical content and can pose serious choking hazards.
Not only can swallowing pieces of rawhide result in choking, but they can also cause digestive tract blockages because dogs’ digestive juices cannot break down the tough leather completely. Bully sticks, on the other hand, are made from raw, dried strips of beef penis and are easily digestible.
5. They Come In Different Shapes and Sizes To Fit Your Pet’s Preference
Got a big dog who loves to gnaw on everything? Give him an extra thick bully treat while teaching him where to go to the bathroom.
Have some dogs who love to chew on your shoes? Get braided bully sticks to keep them busy (and your shoes safe).
Is your dog a bit old and having problems with chewing? Try straight bully sticks or the curled ones.
Whatever your canine friend’s preferences and needs are, with the variety of bully sticks available, you can find the perfect treat for your dog.
6. Help You Cut Down Your Pet’s Food Intake
Just like with humans, pet obesity has been rising in recent years. Obesity in dogs increases the risk of health problems, particularly with the skeletal and cardiovascular systems.
There is no question that bully sticks are high in calories. A study published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal found that an average 6-inch bully stick contains about 88 calories. This comprises 9% of the daily calorie requirements for a 50-pound dog and about 30% for a 10-pound dog.
However, if you keep your dog active and balance his food intake overall, there is no reason why he can’t enjoy the nutritional and other benefits bully sticks provide.
7. They Are 75-85% Protein
The average bully stick consists of 10% fat and 75-85% of protein. Meanwhile, pig ears contain about 30% fat. This makes bully treats a better alternative, particularly if you’re concerned with keeping your dog at a healthy weight.
What Else Should You Know About Bully Treats?
While bully sticks might be an awesome way to treat your pet for good behavior and giving her a balanced diet, here are some of the things you might want to know about them.
1. Bully Sticks Can Contain Harmful Bacteria… But your Dog Can Take It!
The recent study conducted jointly by Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Guelph in Canada unearthed some interesting facts about bacteria and bully sticks that every dog owner should know.
Out of the 26 bully sticks examined, 4% tested positive for contamination with Clostridium difficile, 4% were contaminated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and the other 27% showed the presence of Escherichia. Coli.
Given that bully sticks are made from raw beef penis, and given how they are processed, these findings are not surprising or unexpected. Bacterial contamination of meat, no matter if it is dried or refrigerated, is natural.
But don’t fret. Your pet’s body is designed to handle a massive bacterial load from the food they eat, including bully sticks. These bacteria are unlikely to cause you harm either as long as you wash your hands thoroughly after handling the treats.
Also, keep in mind that anyone who is immuno-compromised or pregnant should avoid handling beef bully sticks. Likewise, if you have a toddler or infant at home, keep the bully sticks somewhere out of reach to prevent infection.
2. The Stinkier Your Pet’s Bully Stick Is, The More Natural It Is
We get it; you hate the pungent smell.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, although most humans think it’s revolting, dogs love the smell the bully sticks emit. And believe it or not, the stronger the smell, the healthier and more nutritious the bully stick is.
Some bully sticks imported from foreign countries like Brazil are chemically treated in a bleach-like mixture to make them scent-free. These bully sticks also have a lighter appearance. While this process can sanitize the bully sticks, and as a result, remove some of their pungent odor, this process also depreciates their nutritional value
Bully sticks are made from raw beef strips, which means they have a high concentration of protein. Beef, naturally rich in amino acids, helps with supporting your dog’s integumentary system. The right nutrition-packed bully sticks take care of your dog’s muscles, brain, skin, and coat.
Why Choose Pungent All Natural Beef Pizzle – Bully Stick Treats
Want to give your dog the best treat while providing them optimal nutrition? Wyldlife Pet’s Pungent All Natural Beef Pizzle – Bully Stick Treats are created by professionals to give your pet a rewarding treat without compromising their health.
To give your pet the most scrumptious, pure beef experience, we created this bully stick treat without any harmful chemicals and preservatives. Low in fat and high in protein, our bully sticks offer you the best in terms of value and quality, get yours now!