If you are wondering, ‘why my dog is addicted to bully sticks,’ then, my friend, you are not alone. There have been many pet owners who have frequently complained about their dogs being addicted to bully sticks.
Even my dog is addicted to bully sticks. So what makes bully stick so delicious is that almost all dogs crave these treats. In this article, I will discuss five major reasons why my dog is addicted to bully sticks.
Furthermore, I will also tell you about ‘what happens if your dog eats too many bully sticks.’ Many people offer a bully stick to their pet dog daily, raising a very serious question: is it OK to give your dog a bully stick every day?
Well, to know that answer, you will have to read the complete article properly. Therefore, let’s begin with knowing about this fondness for bully sticks.
5 Reasons Why My Dog Is Addicted To Bully Sticks
Natural Instincts
It’s not uncommon for dogs to have the instinct to chew on bones and other animal parts because they are carnivorous animals. In the wild, dogs often hunt and scavenge for their food. You might have noticed wild dogs, including wolves (the dog’s ancestor), chewing on cartilage & bones just to abstract extract the nutrients they need.
Therefore bully sticks may also provide a similar experience to your dog, making them gnaw on the treat for hours. Believe it or not, this can also be the primary reason your dog is attracted to and addicted to chewing on bully sticks.
Additionally, dogs with a chewing habit also need a continuous source of mental stimulation bully sticks satisfies their desire to chew.
Nutritional Value
According to the AAHA, a 6-inch bully stick contains around 88 calories and 9 grams of protein. So your dog may like the bully stick because it is high in protein and other essential nutrients. Dogs are naturally instinctively drawn to foods & treats that contain higher nutritional value. Plus, they can sense the presence of protein & other nutrients.
Dental Health Benefits
Many types of chewings help in improving our canine’s dental health. Similarly, bully sticks can also provide the same benefit to your dog. As a dog chew on the bully sticks, it continuously scraps against its teeth which helps in removing the tartar builder and plaque.
If you want to prevent gum diseases, tooth decay, and other dental problems in your dog, consider offering them chewable treats. A study published in the Sage Publications found that chewing on rawhide helped reduce plaque & tartar buildup in dogs’ teeth. The act of chewing a bully stick helps strengthen a puppy’s jaw muscle & improve its overall oral health.
Mental Stimulation
As I told you earlier, dogs continuously need mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy for life. If you don’t provide proper exercise and mental stimulation to your dog, it will easily get bored, leading to destructive behavior like chewing on your furniture, clothing, etc.
If you want to keep your dog busy for hours and provide a good form of mental stimulation, you should offer a bully stick. Bully sticks are better because they force your dog to break down the tough texture of the treat.
Surprisingly, it kills your dog’s boredom & destructive behavior but also keeps them engaged for hours while you are doing your chores. One study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior found that chewing on rawhide, a similar bully sticks treat, helped reduce stress and anxiety in dogs.
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Taste & Smell
Have you ever smelled a bully stick? If you haven’t, you shouldn’t try so. This is because bully sticks tend to have a very strong meaty flavor and smell. It may be unpleasant to us, but it is very irresistible to our dogs.
Since dogs tend to have a much stronger sense of smell than us, so they are quickly drawn to strong savory cents. If your dog is continuously attracted to it, you might have left the packet open, which might be particularly appealing to your dog. If this is not the case, your dog might be very picky eaters or have a very sensitive sense of smell.
Is It OK To Give Your Dog A Bully Stick Every Day?
Yes, you can offer one piece of bully stick a day, but up to 70-100 calories worth of treats, including bully sticks. You must monitor your dog’s regular intake and ensure you are not overfeeding bully sticks to your dog.
According to the American Kennel Club, dog treats should comprise at most 10% of a dog’s daily calorie intake. If you feed your dog 700 to 800 calories, you should only offer them 700-800 calories worth of trees, including bully sticks.
If you overfeed your dog with bully sticks, it will become obese and have digestive issues. You should also note that some dogs can be allergic to bully sticks, and if one of your dogs is showing any signs of vomiting, diarrhea, or screen rashes, stop feeding them these treats.
Plus, if you are thinking of giving your dog or already giving your pup a bully stick every day, you must consult with your veterinarian regarding this as well. The professional will help determine whether a particular bully stick is a good fit for your dog’s nutritional needs. They will also be the best person to help you learn how often to give bully sticks to your dog.
What Happens If A Dog Eats Too Many Bully Sticks?
If you continue to feed your dog with too many police takes, it can lead to many health concerns in your food, which you might not like. Feeding too many police may end up you spending more money on veterinary care for your dog.
To avoid this, you must be there for the recommendation or consult a veterinarian first. Below I am mentioning a few potential side effects that your dog may exhibit if eating too many police takes a day.
- Weight gain
- Diarrhoea
- broken teeth
- Gum irritation
- Kidney problems
- Constipation
- Choking or blockages in the digestive tract
Note: If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog after feeding them bully sticks, you should talk to the nearest veterinarian clinic immediately.
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Conclusion
This article has given you comprehensive detail on feeding bully sticks to dogs. After reading this article, if you have any concerns or questions regarding bully sticks for dogs, feel free to ask me in the comment section.
Even though bully sticks provide a good source of mental stimulation and nutritional benefits and improve your dog’s overall health condition, too much of it can do the opposite.
In addition, if your dog is overweight, you should avoid feeding the bully sticks as a treat every day. It is better to offer a bully stick once a couple of days to an overweight dog so it won’t become more obese.
You must talk to your veterinarian if you need clarification about how many bullies sticks you should give your dog. I hope from now on, you will never say my dog is addicted to bully sticks, and you don’t know why.
You will also never ask: Is giving your dog bully sticks every day OK? Rather, you should educate other people about the risks & benefits of feeding bully sticks to pet dogs. It will make you seem more knowledgeable and your love towards animals/pets.
If you liked this article, then please share it. I have given my best to prepare this article and come up with the best possible reason behind the question: why is my dog obsessed with bully sticks?
In addition, your share will help many people learn what happens if a dog eats too many sticks. Always check our other articles on dog food reviews and homemade dog food recipes. See you in the next post, till then, take care & goodbye.
