Author: Janine DeVault
Chewing is more than just a fun way for your dog to pass their time. Whether they’re gnawing on toys or treats, the act of chewing releases endorphins that help your dog relieve stress while providing mental stimulation.
On top of that, chewing helps strengthen your dog’s jaw and promotes dental health through the secretion of saliva, which has antibacterial properties that fight tooth decay. Chewing also stimulates the release of stomach enzymes which aid in digestion. Selecting a healthy chew for your dog will help you maximize the benefit of this activity while providing your dog with hours of entertainment.
Natural Farm’s collagen sticks and bully sticks are two of our most popular chews, and each of them offers its own set of added health benefits for dogs. Today we’ll compare the two to help you decide which is best for your furry friend.
What Are Collagen Sticks?
Collagen sticks for dogs are an irresistible chew that was developed as an alternative to rawhide chews. Like rawhide chews, collagen sticks are long-lasting and suited for medium and heavy chewers.
These tasty treats are made from the inner layer of cow skin, called the corium, which contains a lot of collagen. The elasticity of the corium makes it a safe and amenable substance to chew, and it’s easy for dogs to digest. As dogs chew, they ingest the nutrients found in the corium, which offer various benefits that aren’t found in rawhide chews.
Benefits of Collagen Sticks
In addition to providing mental stimulation and entertainment, collagen sticks also offer physiological benefits for your dog. As your dog chews, the collagen breaks down into peptides and amino acids that help:
- Reduce inflammation
- Increase mobility and flexibility
- Improve bone strength
- Support skin health and moisture retention
- Make your dog’s coat shiny
- Promote dental health through saliva secretion and tartar removal
On top of all these benefits, collagen sticks also last about 20% longer than bully sticks, meaning they’ll keep your dog occupied for a long time.
What Are Bully Sticks?
Bully sticks are a chew made from the penis muscle of a bull, or, as we prefer to call them, “bull pizzle.” This is the one and only ingredient in Natural Farm’s bully sticks, and dogs seem to find it quite appealing.
Bully sticks are low in fat but high in protein, making them a healthy alternative to rawhide chews, which offer no nutritional value.
Generally, bully sticks are ideal for medium chewers, but they come in various shapes and sizes designed to accommodate dogs of all sizes and chewing habits. Small breeds might prefer pixie bully sticks, while heavy chewers will surely enjoy the challenge of braided bully sticks.
Benefits of Bully Sticks
Bully sticks are more than just a delicious treat for your dog. Pizzle is entirely digestible and is an excellent source of amino acids that benefit your dog’s muscles, fur, and nails.
Bully sticks:
- Support dental health by removing tartar a promoting saliva secretion
- Promote joint health
- Help make your dog’s coat shiny
- Support muscle tone
Choosing the Right Chew
There’s no question that chewing is a vital part of a dog’s life. It’s fun for them, and it offers health benefits as well. So why not maximize the benefits of your dog’s chewing habit by providing healthy treats for them to enjoy.
Collagen dog chews come in sizes and shapes appropriate for all types of chewers and help improve joint health, dental health, and muscle tone. They have an irresistible flavor that dogs can’t get enough of.
Dog collagen sticks are perfect for medium to heavy chewers and help support a shiny coat, joint flexibility, and bone strength. Their elastic properties make them an engaging chew that lasts about 20% longer than bully sticks.
All of Natural Farm’s beef chews are made from 100% grass-fed beef using a process that does not include chemicals or preservatives. Whether you spoil your dog with one of these treats or both of them, you can rest assured that your dog is consuming only the highest quality ingredients regardless of which of these treats you choose.
About Natural Farm
In 2018, after years of searching for high-quality, natural dog treat products, we decided to bring them to the market ourselves. That’s how Natural Farm was born—we wanted to present the industry with what it lacked the most: natural dog chews, treats, and bones, sustainably sourced from local suppliers and produced in our own human-grade, FDA- and USDA-approved facilities, where every product is lab tested for quality and contamination.
Natural Farm is committed to pets, people, and the planet. We give back to communities and pets in need, support reforestation efforts and nonprofits, and our products are packaged using only recycled materials.
