Can Bully Sticks Cause Diarrhea in Puppies?

Yes, bully sticks can upset your puppy's stomach and cause diarrhea in some cases. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't imply that bully sticks are harmful to your furry friend.

Bully sticks are a personal favorite. They're a great source of entertainment for your pup while also providing numerous health benefits.

For example, bully sticks reduce stress, keep your doggo's mouth healthy, and promote good mental health by releasing endorphins.

On the other hand, diarrhea in puppies can be messy, especially if they're still not potty trained. If this is the case, cleaning their poop from the floor will become a full-time job.

In this blog, we'll show you how to control that, so let's get started!

Why Do Bully Sticks Cause Diahrrea in Puppies?

Because bully sticks are high in protein, they can cause diarrhea in your pup. Particularly if your puppy consumes a lot of it. As a result, you must gradually introduce bully sticks into his diet.

If you've been a dog owner for a while, you're aware that this is also the protocol when changing your dog's food.

For new parents, think of us as time travelers warning you about the smell that'll accompany sudden dietary changes.

So, summon your inner protective parent! We're about to impose some strict guidelines for using bully sticks.

How Can I Safely Introduce Bully Sticks to My Puppy?

When it comes to introducing bully sticks, there are some simple guidelines to follow. We've compiled them all into three points to avoid messy situations and potential dangers:

1.   Limit Access to Bully Sticks

The first thing you should do is limit your pup's stick playtime from 5 to 10 minutes. They should also be able to use it no more than twice per week.

Don't worry, you're not being cruel, even though your doggo's sad eyes say otherwise.

This time frame will still satisfy their chewing needs while also stimulating their mental health. If they don't react negatively, you can gradually increase their playtime. Nonetheless, even when they get used to it, try to limit the chewing time to no more than 20 minutes.

Aside from being high in protein bully sticks are also extremely high in calories. They're 15kcal/inch, which means that those small 6-inch bully sticks contain about 90 calories.

Consequently, consuming them for longer than the specified times can result in weight gain. In fact, bully sticks are not recommended for obese dogs.

2.   Check for Unusual Symptoms

Based on what’s been explained so far, it's understandable if your buddy experienced diarrhea. However, there's another factor to be aware of, which is protein allergy.

Thus, you must monitor your dog's behavior and see if he exhibits any of the following symptoms after chewing on it:

• Trouble in breathing
• Paw biting
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Bald spots
• Itching (anus, groin, eyes, ears, paws, muzzle, underarms)
• Vomiting
• Salvation
• Skin rash

If you notice any of these symptoms, you should stop giving your puppy bully sticks until you see your veterinarian.

3.   Monitor Playtime

During playtime, make sure you're always paying attention to the little troublemaker. Bully sticks shouldn't be consumed.

However, your dog's excitement can go too far and he may break a large chunk of the stick.

If he tries to swallow it, which I'm sure he will, he could suffer from gastrointestinal blockage or choke.

That being said, you should always supervise him so that if something like this happens, you have enough time to remove it from his mouth.

Can Low-Quality Bully Sticks Give My Puppy Diarrhea?

The short answer is yes. Bacteria can easily form on bully sticks if they're not properly prepared and stored. You see, those sticks are quite natural, meaning, they've been minimally processed.

Because they lack the number of preservatives found in processed foods, they can easily form bacteria under the wrong conditions.

So, always go for premium bully sticks; you may save a few dollars with cheaper ones, but it's not worth it.

Your poor pup can experience diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach upset as a result of bacteria-contaminated sticks.

Again, that's a product that's made from unprocessed meat, and so, bacteria will cling to it in some way.

Therefore, wash your hands after holding the stick and sanitize the area where your doggo chewed on it.

How Do You Store Bully Sticks Properly?

Now that we understand how bacteria formations can harm your pet, it's time to learn how to reduce them.

Leaving a bully stick covered in your puppy’s drool out in the open is the perfect recipe for bacterial growth and attracting insects.

The first step in storing a stick is to place it in a cool place to dry. Then, store it in a sealed jar, ziplock bag, or similar.

If you expose the bully stick to air and humidity, bacterial growth will accelerate. So whatever container you use, just make sure it's properly sealed.

Finally, for maximum protection, place the stick in the refrigerator or freezer. This is a fantastic way of storing them because cold temperatures significantly slow the rate of bacterial growth.

When Is It Time To Throw Away The Bully Stick?

First of all, a rule of thumb, choose an appropriate size of bully sticks for your puppy. To protect your dog from choking hazards, choose a size and shape that is larger than its muzzle.

Nonetheless, due to constant chewing, bully sticks tend to shrink in size. Thus, make sure to inspect it after playtime to ensure that it's still of a safe size to be given to your puppy.

When it gets close to 2.5 inches, I like to change it up. I've also seen pet owners mark or stick something on the stick to indicate when it's time to throw it away.

What Are Some Bully Stick Alternatives?

If you don't like bully sticks or, in particular,  the smell, there are some excellent alternatives. If you've never bought a bully stick before, it has a strong odor since it’s technically raw meat.

Brands that claim their sticks are odorless simply process the meat more thoroughly to mask the smell.

Anyway, if you don't want to use bully sticks for whatever reason, here are four great substitutes:

• Healthy chews like sweet potatoes and carrots
• Deer or moose antlers
• Dental chews
• DIY frozen treats

Paul S.

Paul has been creating content for the dog niche for many years. The information he shares comes his first hand experience growing up in dog lovers household and then owning multiple dog breeds of his own as an adult. Paul enjoys doing the hard research to collect, analyze and present our dogtemperament.com readers with the best answers to their questions.