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Bully stick calories: what a vet study measured and what brands state
Bully sticks add calories to a dog's day, and in a veterinary survey half of owners underestimated how many. This page quotes the one peer-reviewed analysis of bully stick calories we found (Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2013), veterinary nutritionists at Tufts on how treats fit into a dog's daily calories, and the calorie and per-day wording on each bully stick product page in our directory. Nibbables doesn't calculate or recommend amounts; your vet can tell you how many calories your dog needs.
Last checked 2026-10-23
Calories and per-day wording on each brand's page
Quoted from each brand's product page, checked 2026-10-23. "Not stated" means we found no calorie figure or per-day wording on that page. Brands state calories in different ways (per kilogram, per ounce or per stick), so the figures can't be compared directly.
Brand: product
Calorie statement (quoted)
Per-day / treat-share wording (quoted)
Campfire Treats: Standard Odor-Free Bully Sticks (8-10 Inch)
Calorie Content: 3,320 kcal/kg; 94 kcal/oz
Depending on the size and diet of your dog, we recommend giving your dog up to one bully stick per day.
Depending on the size and diet of your dog, we recommend giving your dog between one and three of these bully sticks per day.
Bow Wow Labs: SafeFit Bully Sticks
Caloric Content (calculated): ME 3,495 Kcal/kg · 6" Bully Sticks Midsize: 58-87 calories per stick Thick: 90-119 calories per stick Jumbo: 122-151 calories per stick · 12" Bully Sticks Midsize: 116-174 calories per stick Thick: 180-238 calories per stick Jumbo: 244-302 calories per stick
Not stated
Best Bully Sticks: 12-Inch Standard USA-Baked Odor-Free Bully Stick
Calories per kg 3300 kcal/kg Calories Each 86
As with any treat, bully sticks should not make up more than 10% of your dog's daily caloric intake.
Best Bully Sticks: 6-Inch Thin Bully Stick
Not stated
As with any treat, bully sticks should not make up more than 10% of your dog's daily caloric intake.
Mighty Paw: All-Natural Bully Sticks
Calorie Content (calculated): 3,500 kcal/kg (~160 kcal per stick)
Not stated
Nature Gnaws: Small Bully Sticks 6"
About 70 calories per chew
Always best to consult a veterinarian before introducing any new food, treat, or chew to your dog.
GREAT DOG CO.: Bison Pizzle (Bison Bully Sticks) – 5, 6 Inch Sticks
Metabolizable Energy (ME): 3,450 kcal/kg
Not stated
Pupford: Skinny Smoky Bully Stick
Metabolizable Energy: 2,625 kcal/kg
Not stated
Redbarn: Bully Sticks for Dogs
Calories: N/A
Not stated
GREAT DOG CO.: 12" Beef Bully Stick – Beef Pizzle 4.0, Jumbo Size
Not stated
Not stated
GREAT DOG CO.: Thin Bully Sticks – 12" Steer Pizzle, 11 oz
Not stated
Not stated
Jack&Pup: Bully Sticks - 6 inch Standard
Not stated
Not stated
Pawstruck: Straight Bully Sticks for Dogs (Sold by Weight)
Not stated
Not stated
Raw Paws Pet Food: Standard Bully Sticks, 6-inch - 10-ct
Not stated
Not stated
How many calories are in a bully stick?
It depends on the stick's length, thickness and weight. In a 2013 Canadian Veterinary Journal study, five 5- to 7-inch bully sticks bought in the US were analysed by a commercial lab; the authors reported “a mean total caloric density of 88 kcal/treat (range: 45 to 133 kcal/treat)”. Brand pages that give a per-stick figure run from Bow Wow Labs' “58-87 calories per stick” for its 6-inch midsize stick to “244-302 calories per stick” for its 12-inch jumbo; Nature Gnaws says “About 70 calories per chew” for its small 6-inch stick (see the table above).
How many calories per inch is a bully stick?
The same study reported: “Mean caloric density was 15 kcal/inch”, with a range of 9 to 22 kcal per inch and 2.96 to 3.07 kcal per gram. A 2015 correction changed only the per-centimetre conversions (to 5.9 kcal/cm, range 3.5 to 8.7 kcal/cm); the per-inch figures stand. Lisa M. Freeman, DVM, PhD, one of the authors, summarised it on Tufts' Petfoodology blog: “an average 6-inch bully stick is nearly 100 calories!”
How many calories are in a 12-inch bully stick?
The study's authors wrote that “bully sticks could provide between 54 to 132 kcal for a 6″ bully stick and 108 to 264 for a 12″ bully stick.” In its owner survey, “Calories in a 12″ bully stick were underestimated by 50% of respondents.” Among brand pages, Best Bully Sticks lists “Calories Each 86” for its 12-inch standard odor-free stick, and Bow Wow Labs gives 116 to 302 calories per 12-inch stick depending on thickness.
How many bully sticks a day can a dog have?
Nibbables doesn't set a number. Campfire Treats says of its 8-10 inch sticks, “we recommend giving your dog up to one bully stick per day”, and of its 4-6 inch sticks, “between one and three of these bully sticks per day”. Best Bully Sticks says “bully sticks should not make up more than 10% of your dog's daily caloric intake.” Deborah E. Linder, DVM, writing for Tufts Petfoodology, says “your pet should only receive 10% of their daily calories from treats so you don’t unbalance their diet!” Ask your vet how that applies to your dog.
Can dogs have bully sticks every day?
The study gives an example rather than a rule: “If the mean for a 6″ bully stick were used (i.e., 90 kcal), 1 bully stick daily would be equivalent to 9% of the daily calorie requirements for a 50-pound (23-kg) dog and 30% of the daily calorie requirements for a 10-pound (4.5-kg) dog”. For comparison, Tufts Petfoodology says a 10 lb dog's treat maximum would be “only 30 calories for treats” and an average 75 lb dog's “a maximum of 140 calories for treats.” Whether a daily bully stick fits your dog's diet is a question for your vet.
Why per-stick calories vary so much
The study's authors found the sticks were similar by weight but not by size: “The number of calories measured in the 5 bully stick samples was similar on a weight basis. However, the length and width of bully sticks varies widely so total calories in an individual treat will vary accordingly.”
That matches how brands present their numbers. Bow Wow Labs lists a separate calorie range for each length and thickness. Campfire Treats, GREAT DOG CO. and Pupford give calories only per kilogram (Campfire also per ounce), so you'd need the stick's weight to work out a per-stick figure. Mighty Paw's page gives “~160 kcal per stick” but doesn't say which of its stick sizes that refers to. Redbarn's page lists “Calories: N/A”.
Other findings in the same study
The study also tested 26 bully sticks for bacteria. In the authors' words: “Of 26 bully sticks that were tested for bacterial contamination 1 (4%) was contaminated with Clostridium difficile, 1 was contaminated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and 1 with a tetracycline resistant Escherichia coli.” Dr. Freeman's Petfoodology summary says the results emphasize “the importance of washing your hands after touching these treats, as you should with any raw meat or raw meat diets.”
About the sources
The study is Freeman LM, Janecko N, Weese JS, “Nutritional and microbial analysis of bully sticks and survey of opinions about pet treats”, Canadian Veterinary Journal 2013;54(1):50–54 (Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and the Ontario Veterinary College), with a 2015 correction. It analysed five sticks for calories, so it's a small sample from one point in time. Brand calorie figures are each brand's own statement, quoted as published; Nibbables hasn't measured any product.
Campfire Treats: Standard Odor-Free Bully Sticks (8-10 Inch)
Ingredients (as listed)
Ingredients: Dehydrated beef pizzles
Made-in claim
Sourced and made in the USA
Sourced-from claim
Sourced and made in the USA
Rawhide-free?
Not stated, check with them
Size / dog guidance
Puppy, young, adult, senior
Supervision note
This product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. Always supervise your dog when feeding any treats or chews. Please ensure that your dog has always access to plenty of fresh water.
This product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. Always supervise your dog when feeding any treats or chews. Please ensure that your dog has always access to plenty of fresh water.
Best Bully Sticks: 12-Inch Standard USA-Baked Odor-Free Bully Stick
Ingredients (as listed)
Ingredients Beef Pizzle
Made-in claim
This 12-Inch Standard Bully Stick is USA-baked and odor-free.
Sourced-from claim
Not stated, check with them
Rawhide-free?
Not stated, check with them
Size / dog guidance
Size does matter! To avoid accidental swallowing that may result in choking or blockages, always choose a bully stick that's wider than your dog's mouth. When in doubt, select a larger size.
Supervision note
Always supervise your dog when they're enjoying a bully stick, and remove small or broken pieces to prevent your pup from choking. It's also important to provide access to fresh water before, during, and after treat consumption.
Options on the page
6 Pack
15 Pack
25 Pack
50 Pack
Note
The page says USA-baked; it does not say where the beef comes from.
Indulge your pup with the finest treats sourced from grass-fed, free-range beef in Colombia.
Rawhide-free?
Not stated, check with them
Size / dog guidance
We recommend our Standard Bully Sticks for light chewers, Thick Bully Sticks for Heavy Chewers, and Jumbo Bully Sticks for Aggressive Chewers.
Supervision note
Not stated, check with them
Options on the page
Variety Pack (10 Pack)
Standard 12" (5 Pack)
Thick 12" (5 Pack)
Jumbo 12" (5 Pack)
Note
The same page also says "Our Bully Sticks are sourced from grass-fed, free-range beef in Brazil" and that they are hand-inspected in Rochester, NY. Ask the brand which applies.
GREAT DOG CO.: Bison Pizzle (Bison Bully Sticks) – 5, 6 Inch Sticks
Ingredients (as listed)
US sourced bison pizzle
Made-in claim
Made entirely in the USA in a certified human-grade facility
Sourced-from claim
Made from 100% free-range, grass-fed American bison
Rawhide-free?
Not stated, check with them
Size / dog guidance
Ideal for dogs of all sizes and especially great for power chewers or pups with food sensitivities
Supervision note
ALWAYS SUPERVISE FEEDING: Recommendations are suggestions only. Small pieces can become a choking hazard. Feed pieces appropriate for your dog's size, age, health state and eating behavior.