Every year mature male elk grow and shed a set of antlers, sometimes called elk horns. As the antlers begin to grow in the springtime they are soft, filled with vessels, and covered in a skin called velvet. As the animals’ hormones fluctuate with the mating season the antlers start to harden at the base where the antler meets the skull, cutting off the blood supply to the velvet and causing it to fall off.

 

During mating season the fully hardened antlers are used to mark the animal's territory and spar with other males; both of which help determine male dominance within the herd. After the mating season ends in winter these antlers are shed naturally by the animal. If left in the wild, these antlers are chewed on by squirrels, chipmunks, birds, mink, beaver, and even wolves who all enjoy the nutritional benefits antlers have to offer.

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During shedding season these antlers are collected off the ground where the elk sheds them. This practice allows us to minimize our impact on the habitat in which the elk live and to provide a sustainable, cruelty-free, eco-conscious dog treat.

 

Each Summit Antler Chews antler is a cut piece of 100% all-natural shed antler from North American elk. These chews are all-natural and unprocessed. Better than raw or cooked bone, these chews are more durable and long-lasting to stand up to even the most energetic chewers. Unlike rawhide, these chews are not only 100% digestible, they provide nutrients unparalleled in any manufactured product.