Best and Worst Chews for Large Dogs
When we first got our German Shepherd, Meeka, 8 years ago, we trusted that any chews sold specifically for dogs at the pet store would be safe to give her. Fast forward to now after adding 4 more dogs to our pack and fostering 20+ dogs, we’ve learned this is very much not the case.
Between tooth fractures and upset stomachs, over the years we began being very careful about the chews we give our dogs. Many popular chews on the market now are simply not worth the risk. Here is my list of chews to avoid, as well as my top recommendations for long-lasting, quality dog chews.
Koba, Ryker, Meeka, Brenna and Kai enjoying Mega Monster Bully Sticks from Sancho & Lola’s
Worst Dog Chews on the Market
Many chews on the market are simply too hard for your dog’s teeth. Fractured teeth can not only be very painful for your dog, they also are very expensive! You can expect to pay over $1,000 for a tooth extraction and possibly several thousand more for a root canal.
Many popular chews can also cause upset stomach for your dog due to splintering or additives. Before purchasing that tasty looking smoked bone at Wal-Mart you think your dog will love, jump online and read the reviews. Many dog’s have had very serious digestive issues or even died from consuming bones like these.
Talk to your vet’s dental specialist and ask them if they recommend any of the following chews. The answer is most likely a strong no. The risk of a tooth fracture far outweigh the benefit of giving your dog any of these chews.
Before we realized how bad these chews were for their teeth, we gave our dogs all of these chews listed.
List of Chews to Avoid
Antlers
Cooked bones (including smoked bones)
Weight-bearing bones (including marrow bones)
Nylon bones (Benebones, Nylabones, Barkbones, etc.)
Cow hooves
Horns
Yak Cheese Blocks
Best Dog Chews on the Market
The following are our go-to chews for our dogs, as well as our brand recommendations! Some of them still pose some risk, but it is much lower than the previously mentioned chews.
Sancho and Lola’s
Kai with a Mega Monster bully stuck from Sancho & Lola’s
We started giving Sancho & Lola chews last year, and they quickly become our go-to source of long-lasting chews. They have strong focus on quality, and use products from GSFI, USDA or FDA inspected and approved facilities. They offer the largest selection of Bully Sticks we’ve seen, ranging from extra thin to HUGE, and a wide variety of other options. They have sales of 20%+ off almost weekly, and they also offer bulk discounts!
Our Dogs Recommend:
Bully Sticks - S&L sells 6 different sizes of bully sticks. If you have a power chewer, we HIGHLY recommend the Monster bully sticks! They’re one of the longest lasting chews we give our dogs, and they also have low odor and high odor options.
Beef Cheek Rolls - Easy to digest and last our dogs several chew sessions
Turkey Tendon Strips - Not long-lasting, but our dogs LOVE them
Beef Tracheas - High in collagen, glucosamine and chondroitin, which help support joint health
Roasted Cow Ears - Another great source of natural collagen and not greasy like pig ears
Rah Raw
We first started purchasing raw dog food from Rah Raw and were drawn to the brand for their amazing customer service. They now sell a variety of very affordable treats and chews! You can buy individual items and mix and match to make your dog’s perfect chew package!
Our Dogs Recommend:
Beef Snouts - These are lightweight and puffy, but often last our dogs for several chew sessions! One of their all-time favorite chews.
Giant Cow Tails - Another great natural chew option!
Lamb Tripe Sticks - Not long-lasting, but a healthy natural chew your dog will love!
Nature’s Logic
Many people know about Nature’s Logic all-natural dog food, but did you know they also makes chews? We’ve been feeding these for over 5 years, and they are always great quality.
Our Dogs Recommend:
Beef Tendons - Our dogs love these! A great natural chew that lasts about 15 minutes.
dr. Harvey’s
This is one of our favorite brands for raw base mixes because of their focus on holistic nutrition!
Our Dogs Recommend:
Sweet Potate’r Chews - Made with 100% dehydrated sweet potatoes, these are a healthy and safe snack for your dog!
Dental Chew Recommendations
Kai holding a Yummy Combs chew
These are not single-ingredient chews, but these are favorite dental chews! Keep in mind that these are specifically for dental health and not long-lasting.
BARK Bright Dental Sticks - We love these because they’re so unique! You put the doggy toothpaste right in the grooves on the chew and feed. You can set up a subscription so you get a month’s supply once a month! Click here to get a free month when you sign up for a 6 month plan.
Yummy Combs - Our dog’s love these! The grooves in the honey comb design help to clean your dog’s teeth. The ingredients are a little rich for some dogs, so make sure to monitor after giving one to make sure your dog doesn’t have any issues with them. This is a VOHC Accepted Product. View on Amazon.
WHIMZEES - A great, easy to digest chew option that work to clean your dogs teeth. This is a VOHC Accepted Product. View on Amazon.
Kai having the zoomies with a beef trachea from Sancho & Lola’s
Your dog has a natural desire to chew, but it’s up to us to give them safe and healthy chews! We’ve had good luck with all of the chews mentioned in this post. Is there another great, safe chew that you recommend? Share below in the comments!