FAQs
Antlers
- How long do elk antlers last for dogs?
- Are elk antlers safe for dogs?
- Why are elk antlers good for dogs?
- Which is better for dogs - deer or elk antlers?
- How do you make elk antlers for dogs?
- Why do dogs like antlers?
- Do antlers have marrow?
- When do elk shed their antlers?
Questions and Answers
Q: HOW LONG DO ANTLERS LAST FOR DOGS?
A: How long an elk antler lasts for a dog depends on the antler cut and the dog. For example, a split antler will not last as long for a dog because the softer core is easily accessible to the dog (that's the point). Also, the dog ha s a lot to do with this timeline - not only the size and strength of the dog but also how they handle antlers. We are used to seeing antlers last anywhere from 1 week to 2 months.
Q: ARE ELK ANTLERS SAFE FOR DOGS?
A: Yes, elk antlers are safe for dogs. However, just like with any hard object, you should watch out for two things:
First, you should make sure that your dog is not snapping the antler into sharp pieces that can cause can injury or induce choking.
Second, you should make sure that your dog is not chewing on the antler too aggressively - as the antler is similar to bone, a dog can crack a tooth if it is trying to snap the antler in one bite instead of gnawing or chewing on the elk antler.
Q: WHY ARE ELK ANTLERS GOOD FOR DOGS?
A: Elk antlers are good for a dog's physical and mental health.
First, the hard antler material helps to scrape plaque off of a dog's teeth and stimulate the gums promoting good dental hygiene.
Second, the elk antler is FULL of minerals that are great for dogs! The minerals help promote healthy growth, healthy bones and joints, and even a healthy gut biome.
Lastly, chewing on a piece of nature is great for a dog's brain. Elk antlers help reduce stress by giving them an activity and the natural origin is great for a dog's instincts.
Q: WHICH IS BETTER FOR DOGS - DEER OR ELK ANTLERS?
A: Although we'd rather see you give your dog a deer antler instead of something made from plastic or something gross like a bully stick (you know that's just a term for bull penis, right?), we think that elk enters are WAY better for dogs than deer antlers.
Deer antlers are harder than elk antlers and elk antlers are bigger! We'd rather our dogs have access to more "meat" of the antler on the inside for its nutrients and less hard outside "shell" like a deer antler has.
Q: HOW DO YOU MAKE ELK ANTLERS FOR DOGS?
A: To be clear, you can't "make" elk antlers unless you're a bull (male) elk. :)
The way we make elk antler dog chews (which is what you may be curious about), is to hunt through the woods in early Spring to find the dropped or "shed" antlers that elk drop on the ground every year naturally.
It is important to get to these before they start to rot or are chewed on by other animals.
Next, you cut the antlers in to manageable pieces for dogs and potentially cut them in half to make split antlers.
That's it. Straight forward and easy.
A: Dogs like antlers because they are a great chew treat that provides lots of natural minerals. Dogs love to chew things - it's in their nature and it can help relieve stress and provide great stimulation. An elk antler is a chew treat that lasts a LONG time so it is something they can keep with them and go to as a source of comfort. The elk antler is also natural and something that gives them nutrients as they chew (it also cleans their teeth but they don't know that) :)
A: Yes, antlers have marrow. The outer hard shell of the antler is strong like bone so that elk and deer can use them for defense. The inside, however, also like bones is marrow.
Q. WHEN DO ELK SHED THEIR ANTLERS?
A: Elk shed their antlers every year in early Spring. Yes, those large antlers on elk are grown fresh each year - and they get bigger every year! Elk use their antlers to fight off other males during their mating season and then they are shed naturally each year where we try to find them on the ground in Spring.