How do I know which bone to choose?
Whether you want to give your dog a nylon bone, a real bone, or a rawhide bone, choose a bone that matches your dog's chewing rate and chewing habits. You may also wish to consider your dog's size and choose a bone that best fits his mouth and teeth. For assistance in selecting a bone, read Selecting the Right Bone and see our bone selection guide.
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How do bones improve dental health?
When your dog chews on bones, the chewing action scrapes away plaque, controls tartar buildup, and helps stimulate gums. This diminishes bad breath, keeps teeth whiter, and reduces the risk of potentially serious dental problems.
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How are "dental bones" different?
While all our bones offer dental benefits, Dental bones are specially designed to promote clean, healthy teeth and gums in even the most aggressive chewer. They're also often flavored to prevent bad breath.
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How do bones help prevent negative chewing behavior?
Bones satisfy your dog's innate urge to chew. They also help to relieve teething pain, giving your puppy a beneficial (and acceptable) item to chew on when teething. If you encourage your dog to chew on bones from puppyhood on, chances are he'll choose a bone over your shoes, books, television remote, and so on. Offer a variety of bones to maintain your dog's interest.
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My dog chews through bones in a flash. Which bones last longest?
We have a number of very good options for your power chewer. Nylon-based Nylabones are virtually indestructible and will wear down slowly without splintering. Pressed rawhide bones, with several compressed layers of the toughest rawhide "welded" together, are also ideal for aggressive chewers.
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Is nylon safe for dogs?
In our experience, we've never seen a dog with health problems resulting from chewing on nylon bones. Nylon is a harmless plastic used in dog bones for its strength. If your dog ingests small pieces of nylon, it simply passes through the digestive system and is eliminated in the stool.
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Do you offer bones made of natural ingredients?
Healthy Edibles Natural Chews offer natural ingredients in a variety of flavors that provide chewing satisfaction .
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Is there such thing as a "low-calorie" bone?
Healthy Edibles dog chews are a good choice for dogs on weight-loss plans. These all-natural, low-calorie chews are made from healthy ingredients and taste great.
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Are your real bones safe for my dog?
In our experience, we've seen very few health problems resulting from dogs chewing on real bones. However, all real bones pose a minimal risk of splintering. Therefore, we recommend supervising your dog's chewing sessions and taking away any small pieces your dog may break off. Our long-lasting, real bones are designed to wear down slowly, rather than splinter. We do not recommend giving dogs bones left over from food you eat, since you cannot be assured of the hardness of the bone - particularly after it has been cooked.
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How are your rawhide bones different from those I can buy at my local grocery or retail store?
We have gone to great lengths to ensure that our rawhide bones and chews are the absolute best for your dog. Made from premium beef hide from corn-fed American cattle, our rawhide is produced under the strictest quality standards. And our rawhide bones are tightly wrapped/knotted to give you the most rawhide for your money. Compare our rawhide bones to the thin, loosely wrapped bones you will find on any retail shelf, and you'll see a definite difference in quality, durability, and how long they last.
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Should I supervise my dog while he's chewing a rawhide bone?
We do recommend supervising your dog while he's chewing a rawhide bone and taking away smaller pieces he has chewed off to minimize the extremely rare risks of choking and intestinal blockage.
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Are bones appropriate for older dogs?
Provided that your older dog has healthy teeth, bones are extremely appropriate. Bones provide entertainment and mental stimulation that can be very beneficial to older dogs - especially those who are not extremely active.
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I want to give my dog a bone that won't discolor my light-colored carpet and rugs. Do you offer any non-staining bones?
Yes, Drs. Foster and Smith offers many bones that are specially designed not to stain or discolor light-colored surfaces. For details on which bones are non-staining, see our bone selection guide.
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My dog doesn't seem to like certain kinds of bones. What should I do?
Your dog may be choosy when it comes to bones. If at first you don't succeed, try other varieties of bones until you find the perfect chew. For an at-a-glance listing of our bones and their attributes, see our bone selection guide. Once you've found the perfect bone, your dog will thank you with a healthy mouth, constructive chewing behavior, and near constant interest in the bone you've chosen.
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