Lumabone Vs. Nylabone: Which Dog Chew Is Better?

Dog chews are an essential tool for keeping your pup happy and healthy. Chewing satisfies your dog’s natural instinct to chew and gnaw while helping to clean teeth and massage gums.

With so many options on the market, it can be tricky to choose the best chew for your pooch. 

Two popular brands, Lumabone and Nylabone, offer comparable products, so how do you decide which is right for your dog?

Let’s take an in-depth look at the pros and cons of Lumabone and Nylabone to help you make an informed decision.

A Brief Comparison Table

Feature	Lumabone	Nylabone
Ingredients	All-natural wheat flour, vegetable glycerin, gelatin	Nylon polymer plastic
Durability	Does not splinter but less durable than Nylabone	Extremely tough, made for power chewers
Dental Health	Textured surface cleans teeth	Textured surface cleans teeth
Safety	Low risk of breaking into sharp pieces	Low risk of breaking into sharp pieces
Pricing	$15 for 2 chews	Under $10 per chew
Variety	Limited shapes and sizes	Wide range of shapes and sizes

Lumabone Overview

Lumabone emerged on the dog chew scene in 2015 as a healthy alternative to traditional rawhide chews. The company uses all-natural ingredients and a patented baking process to create chews that clean teeth and last longer than the average rawhide.

Lumabone’s bone-shaped chews come in a variety of sizes for dogs of all breeds and ages. They are also available in different flavors like peanut butter, chicken, and bacon.

Lumabone Pros

• All-natural ingredients: Lumabones are made from wheat flour, vegetable glycerin, gelatin, and natural flavors. They contain no artificial ingredients.
• Does not splinter: The unique baking process creates a hardy chew that does not easily break off into small pieces when chewed. This minimizes the risk of choking.
• Promotes dental health: The texture of Lumabones helps remove plaque and tartar as your dog chews. The abrasive surface cleans teeth and massages gums.
• Variety of flavors: Lumabone offers chews in enticing flavors like bacon, peanut butter, and chicken to keep your dog engaged.
• Long-lasting: A Lumabone chew can last for weeks with regular chewing, getting your money’s worth.

Lumabone Cons

• Contains wheat: Dogs with wheat allergies may react negatively to Lumabone chews.
• Not consumable: While Lumabones are considered digestible, they are still plastics and are not meant to be fully eaten. Supervision is required.
• Complaints of quality issues: Some owners report Lumabone chews falling apart too quickly, staining carpets, or having an unpleasant odor. Quality control may be inconsistent.
• Potential to cause GI upset: Aggressive chewers who swallow bigger pieces may experience vomiting or diarrhea. Canine digestive systems were not meant to process plastic.
• Price: Lumabones are more expensive than some competitors at roughly $15 for a pack of two regular-sized bones. Power chewers may go through them quickly.

Also Read: Comparison Between Lumabone And Benebone.

Nylabone Overview

Developed by a team of scientists in 1955, Nylabone has become one of the most trusted names in dog chews. Their chews are designed to stand up to even the most determined chewer while being tasty enough to keep dogs engaged. Nylabone uses nylon polymer and real meat flavors to create a variety of shapes and textures.

Nylabone Pros

• Long-lasting formula: Nylabone chews are extremely tough and durable, made to withstand rigorous chewing. Their patented nylon stands up to powerful jaws.
• Textured surfaces: Nylabone chews feature textured nubs, ridges, and shapes that help clean teeth and control plaque and tartar as dogs gnaw and chew.
• Flavored varieties: Chews contain real chicken, beef, bacon, or peanut butter flavors to entice chomping. Some have a meaty center for extra taste.
• Range of shapes and sizes: From small knots to giant bone-shaped chews, Nylabone has a chew suited for every dog’s size and chewing style.
• Veterinarian recommended: Many vets and veterinary dental specialists recommend Nylabone chews as a healthy way to satisfy chewing in dogs.
• Affordable pricing: Nylabone chews offer durability and dental benefits at an affordable price point, with most costing under $10.

Nylabone Cons

• Not consumable: While flavors are added for taste, Nylabone chews are still plastic and should not be ingested in large pieces.
• Risk of gastrointestinal obstruction: Aggressive chewers may break off and swallow chunks that can potentially cause intestinal blockages.
• Complaints of quality decline: Some pet owners feel that Nylabone quality and durability has gone down over the years as production moved overseas.
• Lack of variety in shapes/flavors: Nylabone offers fewer specialized shapes and tasty flavors compared to some competitors. Most flavors are limited edition.
• No dental benefits with softer chews: The softer, rubbery styles do not provide the dental scrubbing power of Nylabone’s tougher nylon chews.

Also Read: Differences Between Barkbone And Nylabone.

Lumabone Vs. Nylabone: Comparing Key Features

Now that we’ve examined the pros and cons of each brand, let’s directly compare some of the most important factors pet owners consider when choosing a dog chew.

• Ingredients

Lumabone’s all-natural ingredients make it the better choice for owners who want chews made from real food materials. Nylabone chews are plastic-based.

Lumabone chews list wheat flour, vegetable glycerin, gelatin, and natural flavors as their ingredients. So you know exactly what’s in them. Nylabones are made from nylon polymer plastic and contain synthetic flavors.

• Safety

Nylabone’s super-tough nylon formula makes their chews safer for aggressive chewers. Lumabone’s baking process also creates a hardy chew.

Both Nylabone and Lumabone chews are designed not to splinter. This makes them unlikely to break off into sharp pieces that could harm your dog’s mouth or digestive tract. However, Nylabone’s durable nylon stands up to the jaws of extremely aggressive chewers better than Lumabone.

• Dental Health

Lumabone and Nylabone chews are equally effective at cleaning teeth and controlling plaque and tartar.

The textured surfaces of both Nylabone and Lumabone chews provide an abrasive scrubbing action as dogs gnaw. This mechanical cleaning removes plaque and massages gums. Their bone and toothbrush shapes also allow dogs to get to those back molars. It’s a draw when it comes to dental benefits.

• Pricing

Nylabones offer more value for the cost, with durable chews starting under $5.

A two-pack of regular Lumabone chews costs around $15. Most comparable Nylabone chews cost between $5-10 for a single chew, with packages of smaller chews available under $5. When you factor in durability, Nylabones give you more bang for your buck, especially for power chewers.

• Variety

Nylabone dominates when it comes to offering diverse shapes, sizes, and textures to suit any chewing style.

Lumabone primarily offers traditional bone-shaped chews in a few sizes. Nylabone’s wider range includes bones, rings, knots, soups bones, dumbbells, and more. They have small and large options tailored for a Chihuahua or Great Dane. More size and shape options accommodate different chewing preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Also Read: Is Angel Eyes Plus Better Than Natural Tear Stains Treatments For Dogs?

The Verdict

In the battle between Lumabone and Nylabone, there is no definitive winner. The right choice depends on your dog and your priorities when it comes to ingredients, durability, safety, and budget.

For all-natural chews made from food materials, choose Lumabone. If your #1 factor is toughness for aggressive chewers and value, go with Nylabone.

Whichever you choose, always monitor your dog with any chew to prevent gulping and ensure a healthy chewing experience. With the pros and cons of each brand laid out, you can make an informed decision to find the best dog chew fit for your pooch.