Ryder Reviews Barkworthies Split Elk Antler

My boy, Ryder has some nasty allergies. And with those allergies comes a strict diet. No fun for him, but the alternative is even more unbearable. So this dog mom has been on the prowl for more treat options.

So What Are the Best Bones for Dogs with Allergies?

One of the biggest struggles I face is finding him treats that do not upset his tummy. Most of the time, I do without. The risk is too great for one little snack. He does have treats that are made from the same formula as his food. So, don’t you worry. He does not go without. 

One of the “treats” that seem to work best are dog chews. Plus, there are so many benefits to having chews.

• Chews keep him occupied longer
• He gets to release some pent up energy
• They help clean his teeth
• Some are flavored for extra fun

The chew we usually get last him a long, long while. But in comes the purpose of this post. We were given another type of dog chew that really peaked my interest. I received a Split Elk Antler from Barkworthies.  

In full disclosure, I was approached by a lovely lady from the Matrix Partners PR firm in Chicago. I was not paid for this post however, she did give us the product for free in exchange for an honest review.

So, here it is.

The Barkworthies Brand Split Elk Antler.

One of the main reasons I was intrigued by this product was because these are eco- and animal-friendly.

Did you know that antlers are naturally shed each year by members of the Deer family? I will be the first to admit that I did not know they shed as often as annually. For some reason, I thought that it was only a couple times a lifetime. (Now I know…)

These treats are all-natural and are harvested right here in the USA. The most common US animals in the Deer family are Deer (duh), Elk, and Moose. There is an estimated population of over 40 million Deer, Elk, and Moose in the United States alone.

I believe you can get whole antlers for your pup, but our’s is split. This makes the marrow inside the antler easy to get to. There are a lot of great nutrients for your doggo in this part of the antler. Some of them include:

• Potassium
• Iron
• Zinc
• Sodium
• Magnesium

 

Once the antler is harvested they are cut, cleaned, and packaged. There are no added ingredients or preservatives. This is my opinion is very rare in treats theses day. It gives me peace of mind as a dog mom.

The outside of the antlers are rigid, but they are not sharp. The hard surface and rigid texture are great for cleaning your pup’s teeth.

List of Options

The Barkworthies brand carries a few different types of antlers. We chose to get the Elk. The types available are:

• Moose
• Elk
• Deer

Now the nutrient factors are all the same. So, I would say the main difference in the three is the shapes and size. If you think of a Deer, they have a slimmer, rounded antler. Elk antlers are a bit thinker. And Moose has more wide and flat antlers. I guess your pup should be the deciding factor on which he prefers.

Sizes & Price

The Elk comes in small, medium, large and jumbo. They are offered in both split and whole. There are even little disc-shaped chews. These were cut horizontally instead of vertically.

Ours is a Large Split Elk antler. It is about 4-5” long and a diameter of less than the size of a quarter.

The Elk antlers range from about $7-$14 depending on size and where you buy them from. You can find the one we have on Amazon.

Please be mindful that because these are all-natural that the sizes and shapes will vary. Barkworthies does a very good job cutting the lengths as close as possible.

 

The Pros

• All-Natural, Animal and Eco-friendly
• Grain free
• Stain free and Odor free
• Long-lasting for aggressive chewers
• Mineral Enriched
• Great for dental health
• It didn’t upset Ryder’s tummy!

 

The Cons

• They do not splinter, but they do chunk apart. Smaller pieces could be a choking hazard
• Because of the latter, supervision is advised while chewing
• They can be a little pricey for some. Personally, I would pay the price because our is over 2 months old now.
• These antlers are HARD. If you have a very playful dog, you have to be mindful if your dog likes to drop toys at your feet or likes to toss them.

 

Ryder First Encounter

 

 

Ryder’s Ratings

Ryder will rate the Barkworthies Elk Antler based on:

Taste		Five bones. Mom has never given me a treat like this before. It is delish. All I want to do is chew out the marrow.
Price		Three Bones. Mom is pretty frugal, but I am talking her into these treats because last forever!
Quality		Five bones. I have been chopping on my antler for a couple months now and it is still kickin!
Enjoyment		Five bones. As you could see in my video, this chew is fun and scrumptious.

 

I would say that so far this Elk antler has been one of the best bones for dogs with allergies. At least this dog. Plus, as you can tell, he loved it. 

Have you tried antler chews from Barkworthies? Did you like them? Start a howl in the comments and let us know! Also, what do you think is the best bone for dogs?