Bully Sticks for Dogs: The Complete Guide

We sell hundreds of bully sticks at Barks N Purrs, and customers ask us the same questions: What are they made from? Why do some smell? Which size should I buy? Can they upset a dog's stomach? Here are the straight answers.

What is a bully stick?

A bully stick is a dried beef pizzle. It is a single-ingredient animal chew made from muscle tissue rather than compressed hide or a manufactured blend. Our Natural Bully Sticks list one ingredient: beef pizzle.

How are bully sticks made?

Processing varies by manufacturer, but the basic steps are cleaning, stretching, drying or baking, cutting and sorting. The finished chew should be dry, firm and free from mould, tackiness or a sour smell.

Colour and shape naturally vary. A mild beef smell is normal, and the smell often becomes stronger after the stick is wet with saliva.

Why weight matters as much as length

Two 12-inch bully sticks can offer very different chew times. A thicker, heavier stick usually lasts longer than a thin stick of the same length. Choose by your dog's size and chewing style, not length alone.

Barks N Purrs size	Weight	Current price
6-inch Small	20 g	$5.49
12-inch Regular	40 g	$9.99
12-inch Large	70 g	$19.99

Prices shown in CAD and current when this guide was published. Check the product page for current availability and pricing.

How many calories are in a bully stick?

Bully sticks can contain more calories than people expect. A peer-reviewed study of 26 bully sticks found an average of 15 calories per inch, with samples ranging from 9 to 22 calories per inch. The same study reported approximately 2.96 to 3.07 calories per gram.

Using that study's per-gram range as a rough estimate:

• A 20 g stick could contain about 59 to 61 calories.
• A 40 g stick could contain about 118 to 123 calories.
• A 70 g stick could contain about 207 to 215 calories.

Those are estimates, not laboratory results for our specific product. Calorie content can vary. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association recommends keeping treats below 10% of a dog's daily calorie intake, so count bully sticks as part of the day's treat allowance.

Why can bully sticks upset a dog's stomach?

A dog may develop loose stool or vomiting after eating too much of a rich chew, swallowing large pieces, eating too quickly or reacting to beef. Product handling and storage also matter.

For a new chewer, start with a short supervised session and see how your dog responds before allowing more time. If your dog has a diagnosed food allergy, digestive condition, pancreatitis history or prescription diet, ask your veterinarian before offering a bully stick.

Bully stick safety checklist

• Supervise every chewing session.
• Choose a stick too large for your dog to swallow whole.
• Remove the small end before it becomes a choking hazard. A bully-stick holder can help.
• Separate dogs that may compete, guard or gulp chews.
• Include chew calories in the dog's daily food and treat total.
• Wash your hands after handling animal-based treats.
• Discard any stick that develops mould, a sour or rancid smell, or a slimy texture.

Contact your veterinarian if your dog has repeated vomiting, blood in the stool, marked lethargy, trouble swallowing, refuses food or water, or has persistent diarrhea.

How should bully sticks be stored?

Keep unused sticks sealed in a cool, dry place and follow the package directions. Moisture shortens storage life. If you save a partially chewed stick, remove surface saliva, let it dry on a clean surface and refrigerate it in a clean container. Do not keep a chew that remains slimy, smells sour or shows mould.

Beef versus water buffalo bully sticks

Beef and water buffalo sticks can differ in thickness, weight and price. Species alone does not tell you how long a chew will last. A thick beef stick may outlast a thin buffalo stick, and the reverse can also be true.

Water buffalo is not automatically suitable for a dog with a diagnosed beef allergy. Ask your veterinarian before changing to another ruminant protein.

Frequently asked questions

Are bully sticks digestible?

Bully sticks are generally digestible because they are dried muscle tissue. That does not remove the risk of choking or obstruction from swallowing a large piece, so supervision still matters.

Are bully sticks better than rawhide?

They are different. A single-ingredient bully stick is dried muscle, while rawhide is processed animal hide. Many customers prefer bully sticks because they are digestible and do not break into the same leathery sheets, but every edible chew still carries choking and stomach-upset risks.

Do bully sticks clean teeth?

Chewing can mechanically scrape some buildup from teeth, but a bully stick does not replace toothbrushing, veterinary dental care or products accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.

Can puppies have bully sticks?

Some puppies can have an appropriately sized bully stick under close supervision once they can safely chew firm treats. Keep sessions short and remove the stick before it becomes small enough to swallow. Ask your veterinarian if you are unsure about your puppy's age, teeth or digestion.

Why does a bully stick smell?

Bully sticks are animal-protein chews, so some natural smell is expected. Saliva makes the smell stronger during chewing. Discard a stick that smells sour, rancid or like ammonia, or develops mould or a slimy surface.

How long should a bully stick last?

There is no reliable universal chew time. Thickness, weight, moisture level and your dog's chewing style all matter. Choose a heavier stick for stronger chewers and supervise from start to finish.

Sources

• Freeman, Janecko and Weese: nutritional and microbial analysis of bully sticks
• WSAVA guide to feeding treats to dogs

Want to compare other options? Browse our natural dog treats and chews or read our antlers versus bully sticks versus yak chews guide.

This article provides general pet-care information and is not veterinary advice. Ask your veterinarian about the right treats for your individual dog.