How are they made?

When cattle are processed for human consumption, the pizzle or penis is gathered with other parts that eventually become treats for dogs. Trachea, gullets, lungs all become chewy treats. Though these parts are clearly spelt out on the packets, they are known as just that - bully sticks.

The penis, which measure about 25 inches is cleaned and hung out to dry so all the fluids drain off. It is then stretched to about 40 inches and then divided into smaller sticks. The standard length sold are 6" and 12" or anywhere between four and thirty inches.
How should you store them?

You can store your bully sticks in zip bags so they can be used and reused again and again. You can also preserve them in the freezer to prolong their life and to increase their hardness. You can give 12" piece to your dog and keep the remaining half chewed piece in the freezer and give it to your dog the next day after it has become hard. The freezer will keep it fresh. You should not store them in open as otherwise insects could attack and contaminate them.

Different types of bully sticks:

They may be curly, braided or full cane bully sticks. They can be even shaped like pretzels or rings.

How are they useful

• They keep puppies and young dogs busy chewing, so that they don't chew on footwear, curtains, newspapers and just about anything they normally like to do. It will keep them busy for hours together as it takes a long time to chew.
• They do not have the danger of bones being embedded in them. They are pure muscle.
• They are made 100% of a single natural ingredient and does not contain fillers. They are a good source of protein.
• Dogs can be disciplined with the help of chewy bully sticks-
• Since they are all natural, they tend to stay longer than other chewy products like manufactured bones.
• They are good for the dental health of the dog.

Why they are not recommended

• An obese dog could get fatter because of the protein content.
• They are packed with calories with 9 to 22 calories per inch of the bully stick. Excessive feeding of these is not good.
• They could be contaminated with bacteria. Pet owners are advised to wash their hands after use. An outbreak of salmonella was linked to contaminated dry pet food in 2010. E. Coli, Clostridium Difficile, Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) were some of the pathogens found in chewy treats.
• While many pet owners are against the concept of pet food because they incorporate the byproducts of the meat industry, they are unaware that bully sticks are also a byproduct.

Where does the meat come from.
The pizzle or penis comes from free range cattle in South America, who are hundred percent grass fed. Most are odor free.
Bully sticks are indispensable yet their use should be under supervision. Dogs are fond of chewing them, and it keeps them out of trouble for a long time.

Why Dogs Salivate before They get Their Food
If you are a dog owner, you have first-hand experience of how dogs just love their food. As a matter of fact, some dogs are just down right greedy and always make it seem like they haven’t been fed for decades. Once they hear that food bag rattling or they see you pick up their food bowl that is it. They become hysterical, anxious, hungry, and impatient and they begin to salivate.  You see, your dog is a walking food hoarder and part of your dog’s main focus in his/her dog years is simply to eat. Once you beginning feeding your dog on a regular basis, you dog then creates a perception of how yummy the food is going to be in his head and then begins to anticipate that great taste in his mouth. That anticipating will lead to excessive saliva being drained from the dog mouth. It is the same trigger that works in us humans. Have you ever heard someone say that their mouth is watering for some kind of food? Some people mouth literally waters for that food. When your dog salivates for food it is a very natural process and as long as you continue to feed your dog, you will see lots more of that.

The Science Behind Saliva
Your Dog's saliva is produced in salivary glands. Saliva is 98% water, but it contains many important substances, including electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds and various enzymes. The saliva in your dog's or anyone's mouth play a very important role, if not for saliva, we probably could not eat certain foods. The saliva in your dog's mouth helps to create a food bolus so it can be swallowed easily. It moistens up the food for us to create what I call soft digestion.

Coughing is a natural actions for mammals. It is a reaction to any foreign objects which enters the animals breathing area, nose, lungs etc. Such foreign objects could be food items loged in the throat or some bug your dog caught while barking off his head. Coughing among dogs is not a disease itself. But sometimes it is a signal of illnesses within the animal. The list below indicates illnesses which may cause your dog to cough.

 Diseases and Conditions Signaled by Dog Cough

Heart problems - Dogs with heart problems often cough after they become excited or have just exercised.

Kennel Cough - A raspy cough could signal "kennel cough" or dog bronchitis, a highly contagious illness often caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica or another virus or infection. It is preventable with a vaccination, but once infected; your dog should see a veterinarian.

Food obstruction - Many dog coughs are actually attempts to remove food that was improperly chewed and has become lodged in the esophagus. If food is not expelled properly and enters the respiratory tract, a dog will continue to cough to expel it and prevent any further complications such as pneumonia.

 Parainfluenza - This viral infection is characterized by a dry cough combined with sneezing. It is a highly contagious respiratory illness requiring a visit to your veterinarian.

Pyothorax - This common disease causes a dog to cough as a result of puss and fluids accumulated in the lungs and bronchial tubes in response to an infection. Made up of white blood cells (neutrophils) and dead cells, pus is the body's natural immune response to an infection. Eventually, the white blood cells die, leaving the thick whitish-yellow fluid that is characteristic of pus.

Edema of the Lungs - This cough often afflicts dogs living in poorly ventilated homes. Edema is the medical term for swelling. Body parts swell from injury or inflammation. It can affect a small area or the entire body. Medications, infections, pregnancy, and many other medical problems can cause edema. Edema happens when your small blood vessels become "leaky" and release fluid into nearby tissues. That extra fluid builds up, which makes the tissue swell.


Canine Tuberculosis -This is similar to tuberculosis in humans and characterized by a cough that produces blood. This can be cought by ingesting infected animal products. Tuberculosis is a contagious disease and a zoonotic disease, which means it can spread from animals to humans


Dog Cough Treatment and Prevention

• Cough suppressants, expectorants, anti-tussive and herbal remedies to treat benign dog coughs as a symptom of a larger problem.
• Antibiotics for viral or secondary bacterial infection in the respiratory tract, such as Clavamox, as prescribed by your veterinarian can be very helpful in treating dog cough.
  

You, as the pet owner must always ensure the proper health of your pet. Remember, prevention is always better than a cure.