Ostrich Bone and Your Dog’s Teeth: How Chewing Helps (and What It Can’t Replace)
by
Gerhardus Hanekom
on
Sep 30, 2026
At the annual checkup
Brenda took her 11-year-old Cocker Spaniel to the vet. The vet asked if she brushed her dog’s teeth.
“I said no, she just chews on an Ostrich Knuckle.”
★★★★★ Brenda T., Ostrich Knuckle
She isn’t the only one. Here’s what a good chew does for your dog’s teeth, which bone fits which dog,
and where a chew stops and your vet takes over.
How it works
What chewing does
1
Tartar starts at the backIt shows up on the back teeth, where dogs do their grinding.
2
A firm chew works right thereEvery time your dog bears down, the bone scrapes along the teeth, and saliva rinses as they go.
3
It has to lastA dental biscuit is gone in two bites. Twenty minutes of gnawing is twenty minutes of scraping.
Coatings work against you too. A chew glazed in sugar or flavoring leaves residue on the same teeth you’re trying to clean.
The bone
Why ostrich bone works for it
The inside is a honeycombOstrich bone sits between hollow chicken bone and solid beef bone. The dense honeycomb gives teeth something to grip and scrape against, and it wears down gradually as your dog works at it.
Nothing on the surfaceEvery Savannah chew is 100% ostrich. No glaze, sugar, starch, grain, or preservatives.
Air-dried, never cooked or smokedSlow drying at low temperatures keeps the bone’s natural structure.
Dogs keep going back to itThat’s what makes it work. A chew your dog ignores cleans nothing.
From our reviews
What owners have noticed
★★★★★
“The mild-moderate tartar on her back teeth is literally GONE since she’s had access to these bones!”
Kris P.Large Ostrich Knuckle
★★★★★
“This is the first bone that has thoroughly cleaned her back teeth! I have been brushing her teeth in vain for quite a while. Who knew all I needed to do was buy an ostrich hip bone?”
Hans M.Ostrich Hip Bone
★★★★★
“My two super chewers love these! They clean their teeth without wearing them down!”
Yvonne S.Ostrich Hip Bone
A few of our reviewers are vets themselves. They’re wary of bones for the reason every vet is: hard chews can crack teeth.
They still give these to their own dogs.
Sizing
Pick the right bone
The right size matters more than anything else on this page. A bone that’s too small can be swallowed,
and a power chewer will finish a light bone in an hour.
Ostrich Knuckle
Small to medium dogs4" × 3"
Compact and knobby. Brenda’s 11-year-old Cocker Spaniel chews this one.
A good chew supports your dog’s teeth between vet visits. It doesn’t replace checkups, professional cleanings,
or brushing if your dog lets you.
Start with 15 to 20 minutesFor the first few sessions, so their stomach can adjust.
Stay in the roomKeep an eye on them while they chew.
Take it awayOnce it’s small enough to swallow, or if big chunks start breaking off.
Use a mat or towelIt sheds small flakes as it wears down.
See your vet if you notice:
Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
Loose or broken teeth
Bad breath that doesn’t go away
Chewing on one side or dropping food
Where it comes from
Why ostrich
Most dogs have never eaten ostrich, which makes it a good option for dogs who react to chicken or beef.
It’s a lean red meat, not poultry.
Our ostriches are free-range and alfalfa-fed on our family farms in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, with no hormones
or antibiotics. Every chew is processed in a USDA- and EU-inspected facility and ships from South Dakota.
Try one
If your dog doesn’t love it, our 180-Day “Tail Wag” Guarantee covers you.
New to Savannah? Code NEWTREATS15 = 15% off your first order
Always supervise your dog while chewing and choose a chew suited to their size, age, dental condition,
and chewing style. This article is for general education and is not a substitute for veterinary care.
At Savannah Pet Food, we stand behind the quality of our products with unwavering confidence. We understand the trust you place in us to provide the best nutrition for your furry companions, and we are committed to ensuring your satisfaction.
Tyler’s favorite things are his ostrich tendons. He loves them, they keep him busy and I don’t need to worry that he will choke on them. Great product!
My dogs LOVE your products! I just purchased ten large/long bones!!
If I can’t spoil my dogs who love me unconditionally- and I feel the same way, WHO CAN I SPOIL ???????
I have been ordering for about a year now and have been thrilled with everything. Bodhi has a very sensitive stomach and the ostrich treats and chews have been truly amazing. Thanks for such great products.
Ozzy loves the knee tendon! He likes to play with it first but once he gets going, it's a good two hours of non stop chewing. He's 4.5 months old and we're right in the bad teething stage. This guy has drawn blood just trying to play with my hands but now, he's too busy.
I have to limit them because he's still so young and I need to be sure his stomach can handle them.
So far,so good.
I also bought the chest bones, flats, and long tendons but will space them out and maybe review later.
My nipped hands thank you for offering such a great product. will definitely reorder and recommend
Shipping was quick too.
Luca wasn’t much interested in this at first. It is large but now he really likes it. I take it away for a few days at a time then reintroduce it.. and then he’s at it again!!
Owen & Chanel love the tendon twisters. As soon as they see me pull it out of the treat box they go crazy. 😄 I swear I can almost hear them saying “Hurry up mom!”
I have a little rescue dog that has acid reflux and has a hard time with any treats. This seems to have solved her problem and she loves the treats. I'll be buying more for sure.
His eyes opened wide when I held it out for him. He grabbed it very gently. And then ran into the other room and played with it for a while before he chomped it down. I love your products and so does Henry. 🐶
My baby has bad allergies so I decided to make a purchase, we just received the products and this is day 1 she enjoyed the knee joint today, ate the whole thing!
Tomorrow I am going to give her the big one to chew on, I will let you know!
Thanks for making these products!
A new product and drum roll.......SHE CAN'T GET ENOUGH! I will need to order more of these gizzard strips. Believe it or not she is a picky eater but when it comes to the Savannah products, we are at 100% love for every product thus far. He attitude and her teeth have improved! THANKS YA'LL
Roxy LOVES it. Once it peeled off…and I threw that away…some sharp points, it is great! Highly recommended. Just watch closely until it peels back to solid bone.
My dogs are very aggressive chewers. I was disappointed by just about every dog bone or chew toy. They would be gone within a couple of hours. These bones can last for days. I have not found anything that keeps them occupied for such a long time and stands up to their chewing. I love Savannah
