Bully sticks are made from beef, and are dog treats or chews that are made from the penis or pizzle of a bull. Thus it is made of pure muscle and nothing else. They are made differently by different vendors but are a favorite among all the dogs. They are frequently sold loose in bins and are dried without cooking for consumption. Many vets themselves are unaware of the body part used in bully sticks. If bully is mentioned in the name of your dog's chewy treat, you can be sure that the penis is part of it.
Most buyers are aghast at this revelation, but soon get used to it as something the family dog is fond of.
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.