Twisted, tantalizing, and tempting – Purina Busy Bones promise hours of chewing entertainment and dental benefits for dogs.
But are these chaotic-looking chews all they’re cracked up to be?
If you’re wondering whether Purina’s bestselling treat is right for your dog, you’re not alone.
We’ll cut through the confusion on whether these snacking sensations are a savvy choice or a senseless risk.
You’ll learn everything from ingredients and sourcing to potential dangers and digestive reactions.
By the end, you’ll have a definitive answer to whether you should go with Purina’s Busy Bones.
Short of time, here is my Purina Busy Bone Review:
Quick Verdict
Skip the risks of Purina Busy Bones and choose Just Food For Dogs’ mouthwatering singly-sourced treats instead.
Their human-grade ingredients and easily digestible recipes offer tail-wagging flavors without upsetting your dog’s stomach.
With convenient auto-delivery, you’ll never run out of these nutritious, vet-approved snacks that both you and your pup will love.
What Are Purina Busy Bones?
Purina Busy Bones are a dog chew treat made by the popular pet food brand Purina. They are designed to provide dogs with long-lasting chewing enjoyment through their unique twisted shape and real meat middle.
Unlike traditional bone-shaped dog chews, Busy Bones have a twisted shape with ridges, nubs, and curves that make them more interesting and engaging for dogs to chew.
These chewable treats stimulate a dog’s natural instinct to chew while providing a tasty meaty flavor they’ll love.
Busy Bones have a tender texture and contain real chicken, beef, bacon, or peanut butter in the middle, allowing for over an hour of chewing time.
Busy Bones are available in several sizes ranging from 6.5oz to 35oz pouches to accommodate dogs of different breeds and sizes.
Are Purina Busy Bone Good For Dogs?
Purina Busy Bone can provide dogs with chewing stimulation and entertainment, however the ingredient profile along with customer experiences and reports mean that they cannot be considered the healthiest nor safest of treats on the market.
Some pet owners have reported digestive issues like diarrhea and constipation after feeding them to their dogs.
For their dogs, the rich real meat flavor, fatty content, or ingredients may be too much for their stomachs to handle.
Smaller dogs also tend to be more sensitive.
We’ll soon get into the ingredient list (in the next section), and as you will soon see, the ingredient list is not optimal.
And as with any chew product, they also pose a choking risk if large pieces break off.
Its important to note that other pet owners have used Busy Bones without any adverse effects.
As with any new treat or food, how much and how often you offer will largely dictate how good that food is for them.
As does the dogs age, health status, bread, and general digestive capabilities.
Overall, negative reactions seem unlikely, but are still possible. And nutritionally, there are better treats out there.
What Are Purina Busy Bones Made Of?
Purina Busy Bones are made of globally-sourced ingredients, with the main ones being rice, wheat flower, a meat by-product meal and hydrogenated corn syrup.
For instance, here is the complete ingredient list for Purina Busy Bone Mini Chew Treats for Small Dogs:
Rice, vegetable glycerin, water, wheat flour, brewers dried yeast, chicken by-product meal, hydrogenated corn syrup, sugar, corn germ meal, beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols, pork, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, wheat gluten, phosphoric acid, salt, gelatin, sorbic acid (a preservative), calcium propionate (a preservative), iron oxide color, natural smoke flavor, soy lecithin, BHA (a preservative), BHT (a preservative), calcium carbonate, citric acid. I545720
Granted, that is one product in the range.
Here is the ingredient list for the Busy Chewnola Chew Treat:
INGREDIENTS: Beefhide, oats, brown rice, maltodextrins, rye flour, sugar, gelatin, wheat flour, animal digest, lecithin, salt, phosphoric acid, citrus pulp, xanthan gum, sorbic acid (a preservative), potassium sorbate (a preservative), propionic acid (a preservative). H545618
As you can see, some of these ingredients are not ideal.
Even rawhide isn’t that great – it is left over from the tanning process and is entirely indigestible for dogs.
Why I Recommend Other Treats To Purina Busy Bone Instead
The Potential For Digestive Issues
As we’ve already covered, these treats have been known to cause stomach upset like diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation.
They are also quite a lot for small dogs to be able to process, and considering these treats are primarily aimed at smaller dogs, it doesn’t quite make sense.
Lack Of Nutrition
Unlike other treats on the market, Busy Bones don’t provide as much nutritional value.
While they may prove a fun snack; they lack the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients your dog needs to truly thrive.
Risks of Choking
The twisted shape and brittle texture can pose a potential choking hazard.
Large pieces can break off and get lodged in a dog’s throat.
Proper supervision is required, especially for aggressive chewers. That’s not something that is ideal either.
Chances are you want to offer your treats without having to watch over your dog!
Purina Busy Bone Pricing
Purina Busy Bone typically cost between $4-$15 per pouch. Larger sizes typically cost more.
You can actually get these treats at Walmart, Chewy, Amazon and Pet Supplies Plus, among others.
They are commonly available for a similar price, regardless of where you shop.
For instance, I have seen the 6.5 oz pouches available for just shy of $4.
Whereas the larger, 20oz-35oz pouches go for just shy of $16.
My Verdict: Should You Get a Purina Busy Bone?
While Purina Busy Bones may seem like a convenient chew treat, I don’t personally think they are worth the potential risks.
Instead, I would recommend the all-natural single ingredient treats from Just Food For Dogs. These treats are much more nutritious and digestible than Busy Bones.
Just Food For Dogs offers treats in a variety of enticing flavors like Chicken Breast, Pork, Beef Brisket, Venison, Pumpkin, Beef Liver, Chicken Apple, and Salmon.
You can have them conveniently delivered right to your door and even set up recurring auto-shipments to save money.
I haven’t seen any reports of digestive issues with this brand.
The ingredients in Just Food For Dog treats are human grade and fully transparent.
You’ll peace of mind knowing exactly what your dog is eating.
The single protein, carb, and veggie ingredients are gently cooked in the company’s own kitchens and optimized for digestion.
With so many safer, healthier, and tastier alternatives out there, I don’t think the risks of Purina Busy Bones are worth it.
Just Food For Dogs offers premium nutrition without the chances of choking or stomach upset.
And pet owners seem to love the flavor variety and convenience of direct delivery.
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I am an experienced pet owner with decades of experience owning a number of different pets, from traditional pets like dogs and cats, to the more exotic like reptiles and rodents. I currently own a Cockapoo (pictured) called Bailey. I am also the main writer and chief editor here at Pet Educate; a site dedicated to sharing evidence-based insights and guidance, based on my vast pet ownership knowledge, experience, and extensive research.