Bully sticks for dogs are a much healthier and safer alternative to rawhide chews. They are made from the “pizzle”, or penis, of a bull. For this reason, you may also see them referred to as pizzle sticks, beef sticks or steer sticks by some companies. As with other pet products, not all bully sticks are created equally. Downtown Pet Supply Bully Sticks are 100% natural, single-ingredient dog treats for pet owners looking for the healthiest option.
One of the main reasons that pet owners prefer bully sticks over rawhide chews is because the sticks are easily digestible. Many dog chews are not 100% digestible. Bully sticks are made with only one ingredient, bull pizzle, so your dog will have no trouble digesting them.
Usually, the pizzle is cleaned naturally and hung to dry. Then the muscle is slow-roasted to lock in the natural flavor of the beef. This process doesn't use any harmful chemicals to color or flavor the bully sticks, which is one of the many reasons why they are a safer alternative to rawhide chews.
Bully sticks will also take your dog a while to chew through completely. The continuous chewing is great or your pup's teeth, too! The chewing motion scrapes the plaque and tartar buildup off of the teeth.
How do these bully sticks from Downtown Pet Supply compare with other similar products? Are they worth the expense? I'll give you all the details on the nutrition of these chews, the cost per package and the health benefits of feeding your pup these sticks.
Downtown Pet Supply Bully Sticks Review
I've tried other bully sticks with my dogs, and they've always loved them. I've loved most of them too, except the ones that smell bad. Usually you can smell the unique odor of a bully stick as soon as you open the package.
These Downtown Pet Supply Bully Sticks are low-odor. They aren't completely odorless, but they aren't nearly as potent as some of the other brands I've tried.
These pizzle sticks are sourced from free-range, grass-fed beef with no hormones or antibiotics. They are made with no additives or chemicals, just 100% bull pizzle. They are even approved by the US Department of Agriculture.
As I mentioned, bully sticks are fully digestible. They are also low in fat and high in protein. I like feeding these chews to my dogs because they're packed with vitamins and minerals that your dog won't get from traditional treats and chews.
There are 3 sizes available. The width of each size is:
- Junior – ¼”-½”
- Regular – ½”-¾”
- Jumbo – ¾”-1.5”
Our chocolate lab is a mildly aggressive chewer. She can go through one of these bully sticks in about 20 minutes. It takes our 2 smaller dogs much longer. They'll chew on them for as long as 45 minutes.
Unfortunately, the healthier and safer that a product is, the more expensive it usually is. While you can pick up a cheap package of rawhide chews for around $10, you'll get what you pay for.
Depending on the size of the sticks and the quantity that you choose, these bully sticks sell for $16.99-$48.99 on Downtown Pet Supply's website. While I know that's pricey for a bag of dog chews, you also have to remember that you're getting a top quality product that will be safe and healthy for your pet. In general, bully sticks are more expensive than rawhide chews – it's not an issue that is unique to this brand.
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