“Are antlers safe for dogs?” is one of the most common questions we hear from new customers — and it’s a smart one to ask. The short answer is: yes, antlers are safe for most dogs when you choose the right chew and use it correctly. The key is understanding your dog’s chew style, sizing properly, and encouraging good chewing habits.
Why Antlers Are a Popular Natural Chew
- 🦴 Naturally shed — no animals are harmed.
- 🌿 Single ingredient — no preservatives, chemicals, or dyes.
- ⏳ Long-lasting and mess free.
- 🪵 Naturally rich in beneficial minerals.
- 📦 All Chewy Pawz antlers ship free across the USA.
When Antlers Can Be Unsafe (and How to Avoid It)
- Choosing a chew that’s too small can lead to poor chew habits or choking risks.
- Old, brittle antlers can splinter — always choose fresh, quality cuts (Chewy Pawz only offers Grade A antler chews).
- Narrow antler tine tips that have not been blunted.
That’s why we offer different options for puppy, light, moderate, and strong chewers.
How to Choose the Right Antler for Your Dog
- Puppy & Light: Split antlers, moose paddles
- Moderate: Whole elk and deer sections
- Strong: Dense base sections, jumbo elk, thick moose tines
Always size up when in doubt — a larger chew encourages healthy gnawing and lasts longer. You can also use our Antler Guide for extra help.
Unique Chewy Pawz Care Tips for Safe Chewing
The way your dog chews matters just as much as the chew itself. At Chewy Pawz, we teach customers to look for good gnawing habits — not clattering or snapping.
- 🐾 Watch their chew style. You want your dog to slowly gnaw down their antler, not snap at it like a stick. If your dog is clacking or snapping at the chew, take it away and try again another day.
- 🦴 Encourage good habits with a thick chew. Larger, more durable chews encourage slow gnawing. A great pick for big breeds is our Jumbo Elk Base. You can also pick exactly what you want from our Custom Cut Moose listings, where the exact antler is pictured before you buy.
- 🪓 Replace split chews when the marrow is gone. Once the soft center is eaten out, remove the remaining hull. It’s denser and less rewarding, which can lead to snapping attempts.
- ⚠️ Avoid sharp points. Tips are dense and tempting for snapping. That’s why every Chewy Pawz antler is blunted for safer chewing.
- 📏 Size up for better habits. A too-small chew can cause dogs to chew in unsafe ways. A larger chew encourages gnawing, not crushing or snapping.
- 🐮 Offer alternatives if needed. Some dogs prefer softer options. We also offer natural chews like cow hide rolls, bison tracheas, and pig ears for safe enrichment. Explore our dehydrated chews collection for non-antler options.
Safe Chewing & Storage Tips
- Always supervise your dog with any new chew.
- Replace the antler when it becomes small enough to swallow.
- Air dry between sessions.
- Store in a cool, dry place. See our Storage Guide for full details.
Why Chewy Pawz Antlers Are Different
- Wild sourced from the USA.
- Hand-cut, blunted, and sorted by size and/or chew strength.
- No chemicals, dyes, or preservatives.
- Free shipping on all antler chews.
