Treats and chews
Are bully sticks high in calories?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Yes, relative to their size, bully sticks are fairly calorie dense, running roughly 6 to 9 kcal per centimeter depending on thickness, meaning a full 15 cm stick can carry 90 to 135 kcal, a significant share of many dogs' daily treat allowance in a single item.
Why bully sticks pack more calories than they might appear to
As a dried, concentrated protein source with the water content mostly removed, bully sticks are calorie dense per gram compared to fresh meat, similar to how any dehydrated protein becomes more concentrated once moisture is removed, which is easy to underestimate given how light and fibrous the finished product feels.
Comparing this to a dog's daily budget
For a 10 kg dog with a treat allowance of roughly 30 to 35 kcal under the standard 10 percent guideline, a full bully stick at over 100 kcal is far beyond the entire daily budget on its own, which is why limiting frequency to two or three times a week, or offering half a stick, is a more calorie appropriate approach.
Adjusting portions to manage the calorie load
Cutting a full stick in half before offering it stretches a single purchase across two shorter sessions while roughly halving the calorie impact each time, which works well for smaller dogs or those already close to their daily treat limit from other sources.
Key takeaways
- Bully sticks run roughly 6 to 9 kcal per centimeter, making a full stick 90 to 135 kcal.
- This can exceed a small dog's entire daily treat allowance in a single item.
- Dehydration concentrates calories, making bully sticks denser per gram than fresh meat.
- Cutting a stick in half stretches its use and roughly halves the calorie impact per session.