Dog Chew Safety: How to Choose the Right Size, Texture & Chew for Your Dog

Dogs love to chew, but not every chew is right for every dog.

Choosing an appropriate chew means looking beyond the number on the scale. Your dog's size matters, but so do their chewing style, mouth size, dental history, age and the firmness and texture of the chew itself.

A chew that works well for one dog may not be appropriate for another dog of exactly the same weight.

The goal isn't to find the hardest chew your dog can handle. It's to choose something appropriate for the individual dog and supervise how they interact with it.

Start With Your Dog, Not the Chew.

Before choosing a chew, consider a few things about the dog in front of you.

1. How does your dog chew?

Some dogs slowly gnaw and soften a chew over time.

Others are determined power chewers who bite down forcefully, work through products quickly or try to break pieces off.

Neither style is necessarily better or worse, but it should influence what you give them.

A dog that repeatedly bites down with significant force may require a different chew texture, size or type than a dog that gently works at a chew.

Veterinary guidance recommends considering an individual dog's chewing behaviour when selecting chew products.

2. Consider Your Dog's Dental History.

This is one of the most important (and sometimes overlooked) parts of choosing a chew.

Before offering a firm chew, consider whether your dog has:

• Previously fractured or chipped teeth

• Missing teeth

• Significant dental disease

• Sensitive or painful teeth

• Loose teeth

• Previous dental procedures

• Known abnormalities of the teeth or jaw

Dogs with existing dental concerns may not be appropriate candidates for firm chews.

Veterinary sources warn that excessively hard objects can contribute to chipped or fractured teeth. Bones, antlers and other extremely hard, non-bending items are commonly cited examples.

If you're unsure about the condition of your dog's teeth, ask your veterinarian before introducing a new firm chew.

3. Bigger Can Be Safer Than Smaller.

Choosing the right size isn't only about whether your dog can physically chew the product.

You also need to consider whether they could swallow it. 

As a general principle, a chew should be large enough that your dog cannot easily fit the entire piece inside their mouth. VCA recommends selecting chew toys that are too large to be easily swallowed whole.

For dogs that are particularly enthusiastic or powerful chewers, sizing up may sometimes be appropriate. A properly fitted chew holder can also help reduce the risk of a dog swallowing the remaining end piece.

4. Texture Matters.

There is a common misconception that harder automatically means better or longer lasting.

When it comes to teeth, that's not necessarily the case.

Veterinary dental guidance generally recommends avoiding objects that are extremely hard or have no give because they can place significant stress on a dog's teeth. AAHA and VCA both caution against very hard chewing materials such as bones and antlers because of the risk of dental fractures.

One commonly referenced guideline is the thumbnail test: if you cannot make any impression in a chew or toy with your thumbnail, it may be too hard for some dogs. Bend or “give” is another characteristic veterinarians suggest considering.

Mighty Marrows begin firm, but become more flexible and easier to indent as they soften with saliva.

5. How Mighty Marrows Change as Your Dog Chews.

A chew's texture at the beginning of a session may be different from its texture 20 or 30 minutes later.

Pay attention to how it changes.

Does it soften?

Does your dog begin removing large pieces?

Has it become small enough that your dog could attempt to swallow it?

Is your dog biting down increasingly hard rather than gnawing?

Those changes can be your signal that the chewing session is over.

For Mighty Marrows:

Mighty Marrows are a firm collagen chew that gradually softens with saliva as a dog chews. As the collagen softens, it develops a more flexible, gel-like texture that can flex and move around the surfaces of the teeth during chewing. 

They are designed to be a multi-serving chew and we recommend a minimum of three chew sessions per chew, when your dog’s chewing style allows.

Want to learn more about the mechanics behind collagen dental chews? Read our guide to how collagen dental chews work here. 

For dogs that would benefit from a softer introduction, you can also soften one end of a Mighty Marrow before the first chew session:

• Place one end in warm water for approximately one minute.

• Remove it from the water rather than leaving it to soak.

• Allow your dog to begin chewing the softened end under supervision.

We recommend introducing the chew under supervision and beginning with approximately 30-minute chewing sessions.

Removing the chew before it becomes overly soft can also help extend its life. Allow it to air dry completely between sessions so it can firm back up before the next chew.

6. Know When to Take the Chew Away.

Supervision doesn't simply mean being in the same house.

Watch how your dog is using the chew.

Remove it if:

• It becomes small enough to swallow.

• Your dog is attempting to swallow large pieces.

• Large pieces begin breaking away.

• Your dog is biting down with excessive force.

• Your dog's chewing behaviour changes suddenly.

• The chew has become excessively soft or damaged.

No chew, toy or treat is completely risk-free, which is why veterinary guidance consistently recommends supervision. 

What About the Last Piece?

Don't feel like your dog needs to finish every centimetre of a chew.

Once the remaining piece is too small to comfortably hold and chew without a swallowing risk, the chewing session should end.

With Mighty Marrows, that doesn't necessarily mean the remaining collagen needs to go to waste. The end piece can be used to make a Collagen Puff rather than continuing to offer it as a traditional chew. Find our guide to oven baked or microwaved puffs here.

Puppies, Seniors and Dogs With Dental Concerns.

Life stage matters too. Puppies have developing teeth, while senior dogs may have dental changes that aren't immediately visible.

Dogs with a history of fractures, dental disease, missing teeth or other oral-health concerns may need a softer chew or may not be appropriate candidates for firm chews at all.

When you're unsure, your veterinarian is the best person to assess your dog's teeth and recommend an appropriate chew texture.

Chewing Is One Part of a Complete Dental Routine.

For dental chews, mechanical cleaning happens through contact between the chew and the surface of the teeth.

Importantly, longer isn't always better.

AAHA's canine life-stage guidelines note that only a few minutes of chewing are needed for dental-product efficacy.

That means a dental chew does not need to be consumed in one long session to play a useful role in an at-home oral-care routine.

Home Care + Veterinary Dental Care.

AAHA recommends daily brushing as part of home oral hygiene and also makes an important distinction: brushing removes plaque, but it does not remove established calculus. Even consistent daily brushing does not eliminate the need for professional veterinary dental examinations, radiographs and treatment when indicated.

For more on building a consistent at-home routine, read our guide to why a healthy brushing routine matters for long-term dental health.

Regular veterinary oral assessments can also identify dental disease, damaged teeth, and other concerns that may not be obvious at home.

That's why we think about dental care as a routine rather than a single product.

Brush. Polish. Chew. Repeat.

The Takeaway: The Best Chew Is the Right Chew for Your Dog.

There isn't one chew that's appropriate for every dog.

Before choosing one, consider:

Size. Is it large enough that your dog can't easily swallow it?

Texture. Is the firmness appropriate for your dog's teeth?

Chewing style. Does your dog gnaw gradually or bite down forcefully?

Dental history. Have there been fractures, damaged teeth or dental disease?

Age and life stage. Are their teeth still developing or becoming more vulnerable with age?

Supervision. Can you observe how the chew changes and how your dog interacts with it?

And remember, choosing to take a chew away isn't wasting it or ending the fun early.

Sometimes it's simply good chew safety.

Every dog is different. Their chew should be chosen accordingly.