Antlers

[MushusMommy]

Happy Holidays, pug parents! My in-laws have friends that hunt and they were able to get some antlers for Mushu. How do we prepare them? I'm sure he'll like them, but I don't want him to get sick. Any advice is appreciated! Merry Everything!

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

While you could boil them or freeze them to kill any possible pathogens, I think most people just pick them up, wash them off and saw them up. Splitting them lengthwise and dribbling a little warm bacon grease on the cut side, then baking at 200 for about 15 minutes gets novice chewers going on them.

Take care,
Lisa

[bnwebm]

The ones you buy, I believe are just boiled to kill bacteria and sanded on the edges so they aren't sharp.

[bnwebm]

Ok, well yeah, because you could put bacon grease on a brick and make it palatable :D

While you could boil them or freeze them to kill any possible pathogens, I think most people just pick them up, wash them off and saw them up. Splitting them lengthwise and dribbling a little warm bacon grease on the cut side, then baking at 200 for about 15 minutes gets novice chewers going on them.

Take care,
Lisa

[MushusMommy]

Thanks so much for the advice! My fiance boiled them for a ridiculous amount of time (like 2.5 hours) to make sure he killed any and all creepy crawlies and sanded the edges down. Mushu LOVES them. He will sit and happily gnaw on an antler for hours. And I don't have to worry about him choking. What a great chew!