How Often Should You Give Your Puppy Bully Sticks?

I​t’s no secret that puppies love chewing on things. Whether it’s a bone or your favorite slippers, your puppy is going to chew stuff up.

Giving puppies healthy options for chewing can make them less destructive, but not every option at the store is good for your pup.

I​n the rest of this article, we’ll talk more about feeding puppies bully sticks and offer some other great chewing options for your pup.

A​re Bully Sticks Okay For Puppies On A Regular Basis?

I​t’s healthy to offer your puppy bully sticks on a regular basis, as long as you do so in moderation.

Puppies love bully sticks in the same way that kids love candy – just because they’ll eat it all day long doesn’t mean they should.

Bully sticks are quite nutritious – they are created entirely from beef muscle, so they are packed with protein.

While this makes them a healthy snack, eating too much protein can be hard for your puppy’s digestive system to handle.

To keep your pup from having a tummy ache or vomiting, make sure the bully stick makes up no more than 10% of their diet.

Like all treats, bully sticks have both pros and cons.

Pros Of Feeding Puppies Bully Sticks

• T​hey can help keep your puppy’s teeth clean and healthy. As they gnaw on the bully stick, any existing plaque is scraped away.
• T​hey’re healthy. Because they only consist of beef muscle, they are filled with helpful amino acids. Amino acids can help to keep your dog’s coat, brain, and skin in top condition.
• T​hey’re free from chemicals and additives. Unlike other chews – such as rawhide – bully sticks aren’t made with any chemicals or preservatives.
• T​hey are easily digestible. Because they don’t have any additives or preservatives, bully sticks are easy for your dog to digest. The chances of an intestinal blockage caused by bully sticks are very small.
• Dogs love them!

Cons Of Feeding Puppies Bully Sticks

• T​hey can harbor bacteria, such as salmonella. Be sure to wash your hands after handling bully sticks, and only purchase them from quality retailers.
• T​hey can be a choking hazard. As your dog eats the bully stick, it’ll wear down to a small piece. Once your puppy can’t chew it anymore, they might try to swallow the piece whole; it may become lodged in their throat and cause them to choke. To prevent this, always supervise your puppy when they’re chewing on a bully stick and take it away when it’s almost gone.
• T​hey can cause digestive upset if too much is consumed, especially in young puppies whose digestive systems are sensitive. Signs your puppy has eaten too much of a bully stick include diarrhea, upset stomach, and vomiting.
• W​hen eaten in large quantities, the large amount of calories may cause unwanted weight gain in puppies. You’ll avoid this issue if you only let your puppy chew on a bully stick for a few minutes each day.

Now that you know all the pros and cons, check out the list of the best natural bully sticks for your puppy on Amazon.

C​an A Puppy Have A Bully Stick Every Day?

While a puppy can chew on a bully stick each day, they shouldn’t eat a whole stick every day.

The high calorie and protein content are just too much for an adult dog to handle, much less a puppy.

Instead, offer your puppy a bully stick no more than 5-10 minutes a day.

This will allow them to expend some energy and clean their teeth without making them sick.

H​ow Much Bully Stick Is Too Much For A Puppy?

I​f your puppy is eating a bully stick each day, they’re having too much. The high calorie content may lead to unwanted weight gain.

While pudgy pups are adorable, being overweight can lead to long-term health issues and a decreased life expectancy.

Each bully stick should last your puppy several days to a week.

Only allowing them to chew on bully sticks for a short period will also keep them from losing interest and deciding to chew on your couch instead!

H​ow Long Should A Puppy Chew On A Bully Stick?

Y​our puppy can chew on a bully stick for 5-10 minutes each day.

This will give them an opportunity to clean their teeth and enjoy the taste without ingesting too many calories or damaging their still-developing teeth.

I​f your puppy has never eaten a bully stick before, start with even shorter chewing times.

This will help your puppy’s stomach adapt to the new treat and can help prevent an upset stomach or diarrhea.

A​re There Any Better Alternatives To Bully Sticks?

I​f you’re looking for something your puppy can chew on longer each day, there are alternatives to bully sticks that will provide what you need.

Here are some examples:

• K​ONG dog toys. These chew toys are great because they are strong enough to handle even the toughest chewers–and you can put small treats or peanut butter inside as an added treat.
• Benebone chew toys. These “bones” are created with nylon, so they can handle your dog’s best chewing efforts. They also include real bacon flavoring, which dogs love!
• Dog-safe veggies. Try cutting up a few carrots for your puppy each day as a fun snack. They’ll love crunching on them, and they’ll receive a nutrient boost.

W​hat Can Puppies Chew On Safely Every Day?

Puppies can safely chew on durable chew toys such as Benebones, KONG toys, and Nylabones.

Of course, you should monitor your puppy at all times when they’re chewing on a toy, and remove it from them as it starts to fall apart to keep them from choking.

Conclusion

Bully sticks are a good choice, as long as you feed them appropriately and supervise your puppy while they have them.

Puppies can eat bully sticks every day as long as they don’t eat the whole stick in one sitting.

It’s easy for a puppy to eat too much of a bully stick, which may lead to an upset stomach. Instead, let your puppy chew on a bully stick for 5-10 minutes a day.