Who knew? Bull penises are high in calories
A new study on bully sticks reports that many pet owners are unaware how high in calories the popular dog treats are.
And more than half of all consumers who buy them for their dogs aren’t aware that they are made from the penises of bulls.
Perhaps even more astounding, about four of every ten veterinarians didn’t know that, either.
The study, which pointed to some health concerns when it comes to bully sticks, also known as pizzles, was published this month in the Canadian Veterinary Journal.
Researchers at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and the University of Guelph examined 26 bully sticks purchased in the United States and Canada. A random sampling of those determined they contained between nine and 22 calories per inch.
That’s about 88 calories per six-inch stick, less than 10 percent of the recommended caloric intake per day for a 50-pound dog.
Slightly more alarming was the study’s finding — based on tests on all 26 bully sticks — that nine were contaminated with bacteria. One was contaminated with Clostridium difficile; one with Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics; and seven were contaminated with Escherichia coli.
The researchers advised pet owners to wash their hands after touching such treats, as they would with any raw meat diets.
Based on an online survey conducted as part of the research, only 44 percent of pet-owners, and only 62 percent of veterinarians, were aware bully sticks were bull penises.
Twenty-three percent of the respondents fed their dogs bully sticks.
Posted by jwoestendiek January 29th, 2013 under Muttsblog.
Tags: animals, awareness, bacteria, bull, bully sticks, calories, canadian veterinary journal, consumers, cummings school of veterinary medicine, dogs, food, health, penis, pets, pizzles, research, safety, science, steer, study, treats, tufts university, unaware, university of guelph
Comments
Comment from Doodles
Time January 30, 2013 at 2:45 pm
You need to give your dogs healthy organic human grade food snacks. Visit doodlespupcakery.com for healthy and fun dog treats.
Comment from Doodles
Time January 30, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Bought some of your ay chihuahua chip treats. My dogs went crazy for them….
Comment from Southern Fried Pugs
Time January 31, 2013 at 5:12 pm
I do use human grade ingredients organic when I can to make their food and treats. But I haven’t been able to create something that has the chew-ability and longevity of a bully stick or a bone. My dogs need something that will keep them occupied and work their jaws and mind. They gulp down cookies.
Comment from Southern Fried Pugs
Time January 29, 2013 at 3:59 pm
I guess I am one of the few who knew where bully sticks came from. And I’m ok with it. Anything that is meant for your dog to ingest has some calories. And I would much rather give my dogs a bully stick (from a reputable source) that hasn’t been soaked in chemicals like rawhides or made up of a smorgasboard of questionable ingredients like many treats. My bully supply comes from a company I trust (Best Bully Sticks) and sourced from the US or South America. Better a natural product like a bully than anything processed.