What Kinds of Chew Sticks Are OK for a 7-Week-Old Puppy?

Puppies use their teeth and mouth to explore the world, much like a human toddler. They bite each other, humans, toys and anything they find because they have an innate need to chew. Providing your puppy at a young age with appropriate chew outlets helps train it to use the right toys and chews. Chewing helps your puppy alleviate pain during teething and helps it's jaw muscles and gums to develop.

  1. Rawhide

    • Remove knotted rawhide when the knotts untie.

      Choose the right material for your puppy to chew to increase the puppy's pleasure and safety. Chew sticks made from rawhide pose risks such as choking and intestinal blockage, according to Jeannie Thomason, a doctor of veterinary naturopathy and certified animal nutritionist. Use rawhide sticks only under close supervision to prevent swallowing the stick and avoid possible choking, gastritis or blockage, advises the American Animal Hospital Association.

    Bones

    • Select large chew sticks made from hard bones that allow the puppy to chew without breaking off pieces. Watch the puppy for aggressive chewing, as forceful biting of hard chew sticks can break or damage the teeth. Sharp fragments from chews, such as bones and cow hooves, provide dangers of perforated intestines, according to Thomason.

    Materials

    • Some chew sticks come in different flavors.

      Choose chew sticks made from hard rubber or plastics. Some products provide holes to put treats in to encourage chewing. These inedible chew sticks provide your puppy with a safe chewing outlet and activity, according to the ASPCA. Other chew sticks break into particles or safe bits. Use chew sticks meant for ingestion in limited quantities to avoid causing diarrhea or gastrointestinal upsets. Alternate harder chews with chew sticks made from sturdily sewn lamb's wool and other materials provide the puppy with different experiences and textures.

    Size

    • Safe dog chews for one size dog may not be safe for another. The chew stick needs to be small enough for the puppy to chew and play with, but they should be large enough that your puppy cannot swallow it. Watch the puppy and remove the stick when it reaches a size small enough for the puppy to swallow or choke on it.

    Manufacturing

    • Chew stick quality depends on the manufacturing and product labeling. Items labeled for ingestion, not just chewing, require greater ingredients controls. Look for products made in the USA to avoid unsafe chemicals and preservatives, advises Thomason. Check the ingredients and avoid dyes and chemicals not safe for ingestion, warns Vetinfo.