Yak Chews for Dogs

A Himalayan dog chew is a hard cheese that is all natural, and contains no chemicals, no preservatives and no additives. The people in the region of Nepal have enjoyed this recipe for centuries. The product is a Yak and Cow milk based hard cheese that is now a favorite amongst dogs. The cheese flavor of the chew is very alluring, and the hard texture of the product makes it a perfect and a long lasting dog treat.

The raw materials used in producing himalayan dog chew are a mixture of Yak and Cow milk. The milk is first boiled then poured into a manual Churning barrel that allows for the extraction of most of the prevalent fat.

The coagulated mixture is then poured into a sleeve so that solid material used to make the cheese is separated from the whey. It is important to note that most of the lactose from the milk is transferred into the whey; therefore the resulting cheese is virtually void of lactose.

The solid is then transferred to burlap sacks where any remaining whey residue and water is meticulously drained out. The soft cheese is then kneaded until the substance is finely blended then hand cut into desired pieces or put into moulds of different shapes and sizes. The cheese is then sundried to attain the perfect hardness and texture.

A trace amount of lime juice mixed in water is used to then clean the dried pieces. Due to the handmade approach through every step of the process, it is not uncommon for the end product to have a slightly different look or even tint than the next one.

The yak and cow milk produced in the regions of Nepal, usually at or above 15,000 feet, were in abundance and couldn't all be consumed locally. Due to a lack of modern storage technologies, the people who kept the Yak and cow herds used this recipe to store this precious nutrient. In the local language, it is referred to as "Durkha" meaning Milk Cake, it is also commonly referred by its Tibetan name as "Chhurpi".

Every dog is different. Safety of the chew will depend on the chewing habit of the dog as well as the supervision level of the dow owner. Unlike rawhide, and with exception of larger ones (depending on the size of the dog), these chews are fully digestible.

The Durometer tests confirmed that: dog chew 5 mm thick pieces –Durometer (shore A scale) hardness of the chews was reduced an average of 49 and 46% for pieces immersed in simulated gastric and intestinal juices (respectively) for 8 hours. The pieces were flexible and much softer than prior to soaking.

The Digestibility tests confirmed that: himalayan chew 5 mm cubes – had digestion reaching an average degradation of about 33% within 8 hours, which is much faster than bones, antlers and rawhides but much slower than other softer treats.

But regardless, please be careful since the results may not be the same for your dogs. Always supervise your dog when giving any chew toy or feeding any treat.

Small pieces that break off or once chewed down can be placed in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. The result is a cheesey puff tha can be given to your dog as an additional treat. Please allow the cheesey puff to cool down before giving it to your dog.

The size of the treat will depend on the size of your dog, generally measured in pounds (lbs).

Please refer to our recommended size guide under the product details.

It is safe to say that the himalayan chews for dogs have expiration date of approximately 2 years from the date of opening the package, as long as they are in dry conditions.

The packaging contains a small desi-pack to absorb any moisture and oxygen in the bag after sealing it, preventing any growth of microbes, as long as they are sealed and have no tear.

Since September 2011, experiments have been taken to figure out the expiration dates on the himalayan dog chews. A sample is taken from each container and tested for:

Salmonella
E. coli
Yeast
Mold
Water Activity

Please store the chew in the opened package in dry place such as table, shelf etc along with the dessicare pack.

The chew will go bad, if it sits with moisture (such as water or humid temperatures) for a long period of time, and if the dog is not feeding on it.

Although not very common, please stop feeding if you see fibrous white/light green/blue spots on the chew. This is a sign of mold growth and is hazardous.

Milk in its raw form is what is difficult for dogs to digest. Once it is made into cheese, the cooking process actually alters the protein making it more easily digested. Positive rewards-based obedience trainings often encourage the use of small pieces of cheese as motivators for behavior. In addition, our product is extremely hard and depending on the dog's chewing habit - quite long lasting, and because of this, the amount of dairy that a dog can consume at any one time is extremely limited.

Generally speaking, about 10% of the dogs that try our product experience an initial loose stool or gas that always resolves. We have never had a problem with repeated or lasting GI issues. We have been giving this product to our dogs since the beginning, and we have had no problems over this sustained period of time.

Most or all lactose is removed during the cooking, and cleaning and removal of whey liquid from the solids after the coagulation of the milk. So, the final product has little or no lactose to contribute towards the intolerance among dogs.

The amount of salt included in the creation of these chews is negligible. The people add it as a flavor enhancer, not for the flavor itself.

The fat content is less than 1% of the whole product.

Cows and yaks are raised in sheds, the way it has been done forever. No modern equipment or techniques are used in raising or milking the animals.

They graze on open grasslands or are brought fresh cut grass by their families, and have never been introduced to hormones, prophylactic antibiotics, or other chemicals.

Cows and yaks are considered to be sacred life-givers and are directly responsible for the improved economic situation of the family.