(taken from www.greendogpetsupplies.com August 31st, 2010)
If you are like me, you want to find the best toy possible for your pet. I have been looking for a natural and durable toy for months when I stumbled upon the perfect toy for my Chocolate Lab. I read an article about Elk antler and it didn’t take long before I bought one. It took Jake, my dog, a few minutes before he warmed up to it. I guess that he was more used to the smell of rubber than he was to a more natural scent. But when he got used to the scent of it, there was no turning back.
I love antlers, mostly because it is a natural solution for a heavy chewer dog, but also because it is a lasting one. One antler can last months (Jake had his for over six months).
What are antlers?
Antlers are odorless, durable and rich in calcium and in glucosamine. They will not crack or chip and they are a great alternative for dogs with allergies or intolerance.
Since elk shed their antlers once a year, there is no harm done to the animals when the antlers are harvested, contrary to pig’s hooves or raw hides (which, by the way, are not recommended for your dog).
The reasons why elk antlers are so good for your dog’s health, is because it is different from any other horned animal. A rhinoceros horn is made out from keratin (like fingernails) and it does not shed. The horn only grows up to a certain length. An antler, or the other hand, needs proteins and minerals to grow. Each year, the elk will shed its antlers only to grow bigger ones. A pair of antlers of a five years old animal can weigh up to, approximately, 40 pounds.
A little bit of history
Antlers have been harvested for thousands of years for Chinese medicine. Its proprieties are renowned and you can even buy elk velvet antlers as caplet for human consumption to help with arthritis pain.
The cycle of an antler
There are two types of antlers available. There is the Elk velvet antler, and the Elk antler. An Elk velvet antler is harvested during the spring season, before it has started to calcify. It is called “velvet” because it has a slight “duvet” on it. It is harvested in an elk farm, in a humanitarian and sanitarian way. If not harvested, the antlers will lose its duvet and will calcify until its shed naturally and become the Elk antler.
Velvet antler. The “duvet” is still visible. Calcified antler.
What it does
For the human, international studies have shown that it can reduce inflammation, it can influence body metabolism, support immune function, protect damaged tissues and improve blood, liver and kidney function.
For your pets, it also has shown great benefits, such has: regenerative effects on joint cartilage and joint fluid, positive effect on the immune system. It is also good and effective for your dog’s dental health and since it is made out of bone, it will not splinter or crack whiles your dog chew on it.
Even though the benefits speaks for themselves, the reason why I will continue to promote elk antlers is because it is the only toy I can trust with my dog if I have to leave him alone at home. He will not tear a piece of it and swallow it nor will I find a broken expensive toy when I’ll be back.
References:
No comments:
Post a Comment