New puppy in house. Would it be o.k. for him to chew on something that has been alum tanned? Just to be on the safe side. Figured you guys would know. Thanks in advance.
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Alum is safe but not aluminum sulfate which is used in tanning, it is highly poisoneous to a puppy.
Just buy him a rawhide bone at wallmart.
I would not let him chew on anything that was tanned. Do like Alex said and take him to Pets Mart and get him an approved chew toy.
Veterinarians don't recommend ANY leather "chews" for dogs including pigs ears and feet along with the leather knots. Dogs chew off pieces that can lodge or penetrate their intestines. If that stuff were for humans, the FDA would be having a fit. The nylon synthetic bones are more stable and safe. (And if you have to know, my sister just got through paying $1100 to have a small piece of ChewBone surgically removed from the small intestine of her small dog.)
Thanks. All responses are very appreciated.
If you're going to Petsmart, pick up a Kong chew toy. The Kong toys come highly reccomended by vets and trainers.They a bunch of different sizes, so just be sure to get one that is appropriate for the size your dog WILL be. They're a little more expensive, but they last forever, and you can put either peanut butter or dog biscuits in them. We have a lab, and getting her one cut down on the amount of destructive chewing she did as a puppy, and also made her excited to get in her kennel when we left the house. She's now almost 3, and except for a few tooth marks, the thing is still in great condition.
I have found the bleached beef bones to go over very well with my dogs. From puppies to my 12 year old. It's good for their teeth and it keeps them from chewing on the furniture.
I have found these bones at Petco, sometimes at Wal-mart or Kmart. I usually keep a few extras on hand cause they do love to chew on them.
Good luck with the new puppy
Terri
Thanks for the tip on the chew toys. I have a lab a 15 month old lab that feels she must chew on anything that doesn't put up to much resistance, so I'm definatly going to check out Petsmart! Thanks again.
No problem. George is right, you want to stay away from the leather/ rawhide. We got a Kong for my lab when we first got her (on recommendation from a friend) and the casualties were limited to 2 leather belts and 1 leather sandal, of which only one of the belts was no longer wearable. When we got her, she had flown from Montana to Colorado, to Georgia, to Buffalo, where we picked her up. Needless to say it took two of us 10 minutes each time we wanted to get this three pound puppy back in that pet porter. When we did finally get her into it, we'd come home and she had been so mad that the kennel was now upside down and across the room. When we got her a bigger kennel, we started putting just a little bit of peanut butter into the kong and putting it in the kennel with her (that's the only time she got peanut butter). So now, as soon as we get the PB jar out, she's standing in her kennel waiting for us, usually barking because we're not moving fast enough. She has an upstairs and a downstairs Kong and I think it saves her from eating things she's not supposed to... at least most of the time!
As for the bleached beef bones, that's another one my mom puts peanut butter in for her dog (who can disintegrate a 50ft garden hose in 20 minutes).
I've found petsmart has had the best selection of chew toys, at least around here (Erie,PA). You can always ask your vet to see what they recommend. Good luck!