Dutch Shepherd Forum

Hi everybody. Does anybody know of a good place or website to buy Elk antler chews for a reasonable price in Canada? I was looking crossborder but nobody will ship them over.

Charles wrote:... in Canada? I was looking crossborder but nobody will ship them over.

Did you ask why this policy? Seems nuts to me. Do you have trouble buying other things from this side of the line?

It's illegal to sell most wild animal meat or parts in the US. Commercial venison is farm raised and much of it comes from New Zeland. This may have something to do with international bans on the movement of wildlife products.

Antlers are bones. Are they any different, safety wise, than other large bones?

Try here:
http://www.saltydogcanvas.com/elkantlersnatural.aspx

I get mine from ELKusa.com. I just checked their site and they dont say anything about canada so i would guess they dont, but it may be worth a call.

Boogies wrote: Antlers are bones. Are they any different, safety wise, than other large bones?

Yes...most of the large bones people give as recreational tend to be marrow bones, or weight-bearing bones, which are very hard. Antlers are not as hard. And, they're just chock full of nutrients and minerals.

Now, it still depends on your dog and his/her chewing style. My Geyser is very tough with chewing...she's chipped edges off of the large molars on either side of her mouth; I watch them closely, as does my vet, and so far, it's just the outer enamel being chipped off a bit. But she HAS to chew, and these antlers seem to be about the best option for us.

Check out Rens Pet for Canada pet supplies. That's where all my groomer friends up there shop since they have free shipping over $60. I did a quick search and found some antlers, I'm not sure if that's all they have or what animal they're from, but hopefully it helps.
http://www.renspets.com/antlers.html

My boy loves antlers and they seem to crumble rather than break like bones do. His first once crumbled away to nothing in about an hour, but he has 3 or 4 floating around that he rotates through that have last over a year now. We have a deer farm down the street, so I get them for $50/bag and will probably never run out.

It's the one thing I keep in the crate for rescue transports to keep them occupied and all the dogs go home with one when I hand them off.

leih merigian wrote:

Boogies wrote: Antlers are bones. Are they any different, safety wise, than other large bones?

Yes...most of the large bones people give as recreational tend to be marrow bones, or weight-bearing bones, which are very hard. Antlers are not as hard. And, they're just chock full of nutrients and minerals.

I thought it was the opposite that Antlers are harder than marrow bones? I had picked up a marrow bone from my doggy health food store and it breaks apart. The Antlers I have are at lease 6 months old and still show no wear from the daily mauling. I dont remember what type of bone it is though, I am going there today, Ill take a look.

Antlers vary in Hardness. Softest are deer, then elk, and the hardest are moose. I buy only the antlers that have NOT been cut in half length wise exposing the marrow part.

I think the problem with weight bearing mammal bones is the density of the bones, being more apt to break/fracture the teeth.

Thanks everybody. I will check out those places. I already tried ELKusa.com great prices but they dont ship to canada. The prices for antlers in pet stores is robbery. $20 for a small cut antler!

You know, $20 may sound expensive, but compared to other things that get destroyed in no time, I found that the antler is great bang for the buck as it lasts so long. A bully stick will be gone in half and hour or an hour...and we are talking one that costs $10. I just finally replaced Sugar's antler and its been months!

alspyce wrote:Antlers vary in Hardness. Softest are deer, then elk, and the hardest are moose. I buy only the antlers that have NOT been cut in half length wise exposing the marrow part.

dutchringgirl wrote:Why?

I think the problem with weight bearing mammal bones is the density of the bones, being more apt to break/fracture the teeth.

Gotcha

Sugars Mom wrote: A bully stick will be gone in half and hour or an hour...

I'd love to see the bully stick that would last for Geyser for 30 minutes!

And Lisa, yes, it's the weight-bearing bones that are the worst...that's not to say that your experience wasn't true; perhaps that bone had been treated in some way? I've never had any bone crumble apart...

Sugars Mom wrote:You know, $20 may sound expensive, but compared to other things that get destroyed in no time, I found that the antler is great bang for the buck as it lasts so long. A bully stick will be gone in half and hour or an hour...and we are talking one that costs $10. I just finally replaced Sugar's antler and its been months!

Its expensive in ontario compared to what they charge in USA at places like ELKusa.com. I know there good otherwise I wouldnt be shopping for them.

Ha, I'm in B.C...they say that stands for "bring cash"! Everything is cheaper in the states tho...

Hey Charles,
Can you take a minute and visit the User Control Panel and create a quick signature that includes your name? It just helps us keep everyone sorted out as we grow.
Thanks!!

Maroc ate a deer antler within 2 hours

for 13 years I have given a raw [ non-flaring, i.e., thick and heavy ] marrow bone with all the fat trimmed off the outside every other day.
will continue that if for nothing but the marrow, but I love all this antler info. thanks to everyone. will start antlers to provide a chewing fix for the dogs.

Chris,

Why wont you buy the Antlers that have been cut so the marrow is exposed?

Dutchringgirl wrote:Chris,

Why wont you buy the Antlers that have been cut so the marrow is exposed?

Lyric chews them up too fast, and they seem to chip off in big pieces that my JRT could pick up and choke on.