What are bully sticks?
Bully sticks are the dehydrated, internal fibrous tissue located just before a bull's penis. Bully sticks are not the actual penis of a bull but the internal tissue connecting the bull's penis to the bladder. This tissue is not a tendon or muscle and is why when dehydrated, it is durable and long-lasting as a dog chew. A bully stick is comprised of three different layers. The outer layer is darker and harder which contributes to how long it will take for your dog to consume it. The larger and lighter layer is what attracts the dog but if not properly processed can leave blood trapped in this layer. The thin, innermost layer is the actual urethra which must be properly cleaned to prevent urine from being trapped. Trapped urine and blood is what causes bully sticks to have an odor. This is usually the primary cause of salmonella contamination. The smaller the bully stick, the more difficult to adequately clean and sanitize. Quality bully sticks should be inspected before buying and do you know who cleaned and processed the bully sticks you're about to buy?
Why odor free bully sticks?
Odor free bully sticks ensure that all of the blood and urine has been properly cleaned from the bully stick prior to the drying process. It also prevents salmonella or e coli contamination. Freshly prepared bully sticks are easier to clean than frozen or brine-stored bully sticks. Smoked or flavored bully sticks can trap or mask odors that would normally be recognized. Not to mention that most people don't want to have stinky bully sticks in their house or on their furniture. With bully sticks costing as much as a good steak, shouldn't we be getting superior products without the odor. Demand better...
Why Angus bully sticks?
Angus bully sticks are from specially-bred Angus bulls raised in Argentina. They have been bred to have less fat and to require less water than western cattle herds. Not only are the Angus bulls different from bulls from other countries but the way the bully sticks are processed is vastly different. Argentina bully sticks are dried in chambers using government regulated natural gas for consistent and controlled drying which allows the bully sticks to have a long shelf-life without the use of preservatives or harsh chemicals. Bully sticks from China have been found to contain high levels of antibiotics which can cause diarrhea in some dogs. Bully sticks from India have been found to be dried in the sun which sounds good at first, but can lead to improper sterilization and greater odds of salmonella or
e coli. Bully sticks from Brazil have been found to be processed from unregulated propane which can allow for chemical absorption and adverse side effects. Quality bully sticks are only as good as the process used in preparing them...
Why free range bully sticks?
Bully sticks that are from free ranging bulls means the bulls lived and grazed on grass out in the open. Bully sticks that aren't from free ranging bulls means the bulls were kept in feed lots. Feed lots are where animals are packed into barbwire areas with no room to walk around. Feed lots don't have grass so the animals are fed protein pellets made from ground up animals, including cows, and grains that are unnatural for the animals to eat. Because of the confined space and close proximaty to other animals, feed lot animals can easily contract disease and illness. Feed lot animals are given antibotics and hormones which can remain in their systems. These chemicals can be transferred to the people eating the meat and the dogs eating the bully sticks. Do you know exactly what you're eating? All I know is that bulls should eat grass so our dogs can eat healthy bully sticks...
www.bullysticksonline.com answers once and for all, "What are bully sticks? Trust those that make it their business to know!