My dog ate a whole bully stick

Get this: over half a million dogs each year are estimated to choke on or swallow an object that’s too big for them to digest. In fact, veterinarians everywhere can attest that gastrointestinal distress is the most common reason for emergency vet visits, and even more troubling, bully sticks are often the culprit.

Beware the tail-end of the bully stick

My dog ate a whole bully stick

Dogs and dog owners love bully sticks because they are easy-to-digest, natural, healthy, stimulating and delicious. But as dogs chew the stick down, they increase the risk of choking on the tail end of the treat. If that little nub gets swallowed whole, your dog could choke or develop an intestinal blockage - both of which are serious medical emergencies.

This is not a small risk either - it happens All. The. Time.

In fact, our founder, Scott started Bow Wow Labs after a bully stick choking scare with his dog Finn. Luckily, Finn was able to cough up the bully stick after initially choking on it, but sometimes dogs are not so lucky.

Safely secure the bully stick to prevent choking

My dog ate a whole bully stick

To solve this common, troubling problem, Scott developed an ingenious solution: The Bully Buddy. The Bully Buddy safely secures bully sticks so that dogs can’t choke on the last little bit of the treat. When offered with a safety device like the Bully Buddy, dogs can enjoy bully sticks while minimizing their choking risk.

Watch this video to learn more about the Bully Buddy.

Not only does the Bully Buddy keep them safer, it also provides peace of mind for pet owners and caregivers. “The Bully Buddy is the best product I’ve seen to prevent bully sticks from becoming a choking hazard,” says Dr. Jerry Moore, DVM of East San Rafael Veterinary Clinic in California.

Surely, dogs can swallow or choke on all kinds of things you don’t willingly give them to eat - coins, balls, clothes, batteries, tin foil, toys, rope, rocks, balls, wood, plastic and more.

But a bully stick doesn’t have to be part of that list. Bully sticks are a terrific treat for dogs IF they are administered safely, and the Bully Buddy is the safest way to treat your dog.

Has your dog eaten Bully Sticks too fast? Are you worried the Bully Sticks will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats like this.

We’ve put together some information about Bully Sticks and whether they can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!

What are Bully Sticks?

Bully Sticks are a dog treat made from beef muscle. The treats are high-protein and healthy for dogs. They’re great for keeping a dog’s teeth clean, giving him healthy skin and coat, providing nutrients, and more. Bully Sticks are healthy treats for dogs.

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However, what happens if a dog eats Bully Sticks too fast?

Bully Sticks & Dogs

Bully Sticks, if eaten too fast, may cause choking. Another problem is that the dog doesn’t chew the still well enough and swallows a large chunk whole. This chunk could be large enough to become lodged in the dog’s digestive system and cause an intestinal obstruction in the dog.

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Symptoms of Intestinal Blockage in Dogs

You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten a Bully Stick too fast:

  • Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weakness
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain & swelling
  • Restlessness

If you notice these symptoms in your dog, call the vet immediately. This is an emergency.

Don’t wait to see if your dog’s symptoms improve or worsen. If an intestinal blockage is not treated right away, it can cause death.

Be sure to let the vet know the issue has been caused by your dog eating a Bully Stick too fast and not chewing it properly. Let the vet know when this happened and about how much of the stick your dog has eaten.

Some dogs may require emergency surgery to remove the piece of Bully Stick from his digestive tract.

The prognosis is best for dogs who receive prompt medical treatment. So, the key is to get your canine companion to the vet ASAP! His life depends on it!

Can dogs digest whole bully sticks?

Bully sticks, on the other hand, are highly digestible, which means that they break down easily in your dog's stomach. They also don't splinter like other treats, so you don't have to worry about broken off pieces causing any internal injuries.

What happens when dog swallows bully stick?

Bully sticks are highly digestible, so the risk of intestinal blockage is very low. This is because bully sticks are broken down in the stomach relatively easily. However, if large pieces are swallowed, they can cause an obstruction in the throat, and cause your dog to choke.

How much bully stick is too much?

We recommend feeding your pup no more than one bully stick a day.

How long does it take a bully stick to digest?

On average, it can take about three hours for a bully stick to be fully digested. Once ingested, tour dog's stomach will completely digest the meat over that period of time.