Raw bones are considered safer than home-cooked because they don't splinter as easily. Raw bones like chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, or even oxtail can be safer bone options for your pet. Unlike home-cooked bones which are drained of their nutrients, raw bones can be a natural source of calcium and phosphorus.
Don't feed small bones that can be swallowed whole or pose a choking risk, or bones that have been cut, such as a leg bone. Cut bones are more likely to splinter. Don't feed pork bones or rib bones. They're more likely to splinter than other types of bones.
Raw meaty bones (such as raw chicken wings or lamb flaps) help to keep teeth and gums healthy, provide added nutrition and help cleanse your dog's digestive tract. Never feed cooked bones to your dog, as these can splinter and cause internal injury.
Processed animal bones are often brittle with jagged edges and can result in a very sick dog. Dogs who ingest these types of products can develop conditions like gastroenteritis and pancreatitis, both of which can result in vomiting and may even require hospitalization for IV fluid support.
Source your raw bones from a respected, local butcher and follow meticulous food hygiene to minimize the chances of food-borne illness. Thoroughly grind the bones before including them in your dog's meals. Softer options like chicken necks tend to work best.
Many veterinarians say that raw meat bones are the best. But bones that are too hard, even raw bones, could damage your dog's teeth. If a bone is harder than a tooth, the tooth can fracture and your dog will need an expensive dental evaluation and treatment. Give your dog a bone after their meal.
Raw meaty bones such as raw lamb ribs (not lamb chops though), raw lamb flaps, raw lamb tail bones, and raw chicken wings help to keep teeth and gums healthy. Too many raw bones may lead to constipation. Generally 1–2 raw bones may be offered per week with a few days in between each serving.
"If used sparingly as a treat, pig ears are not bad, but they're not 'healthy' either," Sanders tells Daily Paws. Sanders says pig ears are safe for most medium- and large-sized dogs when given as an occasional treat once or twice a month. "Pig ears are best when given sparingly as a special treat," she says.
While dogs want to chew, and most would love to chew on bones, bones are dangerous and they can cause serious injuries.
We would always advise against giving your dog any kind of bones. Lamb bones in particular can be really dangerous for your dog as, due to their size, pieces can be broken off when your dog is chewing, which can easily cause obstruction and damage to their gastrointestinal tract.
For smaller dog's we recommend chicken necks, chicken wings, lamb ribs or brisket bones several times a week. While larger dogs can have chicken carcasses, lamb necks and kangaroo tails.
Hard Beef Knuckle Bones and Beef Marrow Bones are ideal and the safest for dogs. Chicken, Turkey, and Pork bones are too soft and dangerous for dogs. Dogs love the sensation and taste of chewing bones.
Popular Dog Bones and Chews
Some of the most common and healthy chew for dogs that you can find at your local pet store, include: Bully sticks for dogs. Bully sticks are shaped like natural bones, but they have a softer texture that are more palatable and easy to digest.
Kangaroo is an excellent alternative to dog beef bones because it has virtually no saturated fat and a great hypoallergenic choice. In comparison, kangaroo treatments and bones are hypoallergenic and the right choice for dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs.
Whether you give your dog a raw bone, a bone-shaped treat, or a non-digestible chew toy, you should always supervise their chewing. Dogs will chew for hours if you let them, so make sure you remove the chew after 10-15 minutes.
Bones can provide dogs with nutrients and mental stimulation, plus remove tartar from the surface of their teeth. However, bones can break teeth, cause internal blockages, as well as carry bacteria that can make both animals and humans ill.
Adult Dogs (2 - 7 years)
Now that your pup's teeth are fully developed you can venture into the "hard" bones stage and select a bone based on its size and chewing power.
Offer your dog some edible things to chew, like bully sticks, pig ears, rawhide bones, pig skin rolls or other natural chews. Dogs can sometimes choke on edible chews, especially if they bite off and swallow large hunks.
Never give your dog cow hooves! They splinter and sharp pieces have killed many dogs. Better alternatives are pig ears, Nylabones, and American made bully sticks - however always be with your pet when they are eating these as there is always a danger of a piece breaking off and splitting.
Yes, dogs can eat broccoli. Dogs can eat the vegetable both cooked and raw, as long as there are no seasonings or oils added. However, this vegetable should always be given in very small quantities, especially because the florets contain isothiocyanates, which can cause gastric irritation in dogs.
Choking and dental hazards: If your dog eats a small piece of bone, it can be a choking hazard. If swallowed, small lamb bones, such as lamb chop bones, can lodge in a dog's throat or cause blockages in its digestive system. Large bones, like knucklebones, are too thick and can damage your dog's teeth.
Eating raw chicken falls squarely in the "not good for dogs" category as a result of these dangerous bacteria. Raw chicken meat can be a source of certain kinds of bacteria that can lead to gastrointestinal salmonella infections in both humans and dogs.
Dogs love to chew on bones, but frozen ones can be dangerous. If you give your dog a frozen bone, it could break a tooth or hurt their gums. Plus, they might not be able to digest it properly. So it's best to avoid giving them frozen bones altogether.
Never feed your dog leftover cooked bones from your food. Raw bones, on the other hand, are soft, bendy and easy for dogs to chew. The small pieces that break off will easily pass through your dog's system and digest.