On another forum I go on (breed specific american one) there were members talking about feeding their dogs elk hound and various other animals antlers.  Can this be done with deer and do butchers generally get them in when they get venison?  I don't want to phone the butchers and make a fool of myself if they don't - would rather do it on a forum lol!

c'mon has nobody here fed antlers to their dog?

Do you want me to make a fool of myself and ask mine?
You could contact an abatoir and ask them for some if the butcher says no

I can't imagine that they'd get as far as the butchers as they have no value for human consumption.  Do you have a deer farm in your area?  They'd probably be able to tell you what happens to the antlers.  There are plenty of venison companies online so perhaps you could email?

This is a good read about naturally shed antlers but when I googled I found these - much more fun !!

We have a local farm so I'll ask next time I'm passing - he's given me some bits for raw feeding before.  Thanks for the idea :)

Edited to say: I've just sent an email, I'll let you know

Thanks people,much appreciated.

Hi

I've heard of it and even went as far as looking on ebay for mine, so Yes people do feed antlers, they are very hard and last alot longer than doggie chews

lol at the other antlers, don't think they'd last five minutes in our household ;-)

Glad to see I'm not barking mad, knew I'd find the answer I was looking for on cd.  DH poo poo'd it as none of "his friends" had mentioned them before, So next time he's out with "his friends" keeping the deer population down, he can bring something home for the dogs not just the freezer :-D

maddog, if you live anywhere near me give me a shout and I will help test run antler munching (my dogs not me obviously!)

As I understand it farmed Venison the males have their antlers removed for safety?

So only wild shot ones would have them.

> As I understand it farmed Venison the males have their antlers removed for safety?

do they sell them to the Scottish shops for making those bizarre antlers on a plaque things that only americans seem to buy? lol  I will approach the local council run zoo and see what they do with theirs.  I am also planning to contact the council to get first dibs on any astroturf they are lifting from places as my brothers friend apparently got his for free from the council and all he had to do was move and it and get it laid.  This recession is making me very resourceful :)

>So only wild shot ones would have them.

Stags shed their antlers every year and grow new ones.

The best doggie chew in our toy box is a 6inch long piece of Buffalow horn I bought for a pound at a counrty fayre. It is about 4 inches across and is chewed and loved by all three girlies, I have had it for over a year now and there is still lots of chewing in it. I only wish I had got three as I have not seen it since, but when I do I will grab some more. Not sure of the value of deer antlers, a bit spiky I would have thought but then the deer round here are lovely little fallow and they are not too big?
Aileen

> Stags shed their antlers every year and grow new ones.

Oh I realised that, but doubt anyone would bother collecting them.

maddog, if you live anywhere near me give me a shout and I will help test run antler munching (my dogs not me obviously!)

LOL we're at the opposite ends of the island methinks, but I'll bear you in mind for taste testing ;-)

Oh & the ones I'm talking about aren't farmed for meat so they have antlers.

Also this might be disgusting to some but mine adored them, a local farmer shot a deer butchered it up left its legs from knees down, i asked for them well my dogs chomped on the little hooves and ate the lot fur an all lol

Contacts in the USA consider the leg bones of the deer to be too splintery to be safe, don't know how true this is.

Not sure brainless but mine had no bother with them at all ;)