If you have stopped buying rawhide, you have probably ended up looking at two chews: bully sticks and collagen sticks. Both are made from beef. Both are fully digestible. Both keep a dog busy. They are not the same chew though, and the differences matter for your dog, your nose and your wallet.
Here is a straight comparison so you can pick the right one.
What each chew is made of
Bully sticks are dried beef pizzle, a muscle. They are dense, rich and strong smelling, which is a big part of why dogs love them.
Collagen sticks are made from the corium, the inner layer of beef skin that sits under the hide. That layer is almost pure collagen protein. It is rolled and slow dried into a stick. Fidelis collagen chews come from free range, USDA inspected cattle and are high in protein (85% crude protein) and low in fat.
Neither one is rawhide. Rawhide is the outer hide, it is often chemically processed, and it breaks down slowly in the stomach. That is the chew most owners are trying to get away from.
Shop Fidelis Beef Collagen Chews
Rawhide free. Fully digestible. Free shipping on orders over $50.
Collagen sticks vs bully sticks at a glance
| Collagen sticks | Bully sticks | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Inner layer of beef skin (corium) | Beef pizzle (muscle) |
| Digestible | Yes | Yes |
| Fat and calories | High protein, low fat | Richer, usually more calories per chew |
| Smell | Mild | Strong, unless you pay extra for low odor |
| Chew time | Long lasting, softens as the dog works it | Long lasting, very dense |
| Price | Usually less per chew | Usually more per chew |
Which is safer?
Both are a safer choice than rawhide because a dog can digest them. The risk with any chew is the same: a dog that bites off and swallows a large piece. That comes down to size and supervision more than to the type of chew.
Collagen sticks soften as your dog chews, so most dogs work them down gradually instead of snapping off chunks. Bully sticks are harder and denser, and the last inch or two is the piece owners worry about most.
Three rules apply to both:
- Size up, not down. The chew should be longer than your dog's muzzle. Small dogs do well on a 5 inch chew, medium dogs on a 7 inch, large dogs on a 10 inch.
- Stay in the room. Watch your dog chew, especially a strong chewer.
- Take away the last piece. When the chew is small enough to swallow whole, trade it for a treat and throw it out.
If your dog has a medical condition or a sensitive stomach, ask your vet before adding any new chew.
Which lasts longer?
It depends on the dog more than the chew. A thick bully stick and a 10 inch collagen stick will both keep a moderate chewer busy for a good stretch. Power chewers get through either one faster.
What changes the math is the cost of that chew time. Bully sticks usually cost more for the same size, so if your dog gets a chew most days, collagen sticks give you more chew time for the money. A Fidelis 7 inch chew is $6.75 in the 4 pack and a 10 inch chew is $8.50.
Smell and mess
This is the reason many owners switch. Bully sticks have a strong smell that gets stronger once they are wet, and it can stay on carpets and furniture. Collagen sticks have a mild smell, so they are easier to live with indoors.
So which one should you buy?
Choose collagen sticks if your dog gets a chew most days, you are watching weight, your dog has a sensitive stomach, or you are tired of the smell.
Choose bully sticks if your dog is a picky chewer who needs the strongest flavor to stay interested, and the smell and price do not bother you.
Plenty of owners keep both in the house. If you have a picky dog and want to stay with collagen, try a flavored chew. Fidelis collagen chews come in natural, chicken, peanut butter and bacon.
Shop Fidelis Beef Collagen Chews
Rawhide free. Fully digestible. Free shipping on orders over $50.