Let’s be honest: Dogs commonly experience boredom. They spend the entire day lying around the house waiting for their loved ones to return from work or school. Your pets undoubtedly still get a lot of downtime, even if you work from home.
Recreational bones for dogs come into play here. But, what bones are safe for dogs?
One of the best things your dog can do is rip into a massive bone! It’s a fantastic exercise for your dog to build muscles. It strengthens the neck and spine. In fact, you can see your dog working his entire body as he chews on a large bone.
Additionally, bones serve as nature’s toothbrush. Chewing cleans teeth of plaque and tartar and freshens breath.
Don’t grab any old bone. It matters what kind of bone you offer your dog.
By selecting the appropriate bone, you can provide your dog with a safe, enjoyable activity for the afternoon. If you give your dog the wrong bone, you might have to take him to the hospital!
You must pick a bone that is appropriate for your dog’s size and chewing style.
Choose The Right Bone Type
There are two types of recreational bones for dogs: long bones and flat bones.
Long Bones
The bones of an animal’s legs and wings are called long bones.
Long bones frequently have a smooth, hard exterior and a large, marrow-filled interior. These bones’ ends are often soft and contain a significant amount of healthy cartilage.
Flat Bones
The ribs, pelvis, shoulder, and spinal column are all examples of flat bones. They don’t have as much marrow and are softer than long bones.
Choose The Right Bone Size For Your Dog
The bone’s edibility depends on its size (and that of the dog).
Recreational bones are typically a supplement to a healthy diet. Avoid letting your dog consume too much of the bone. Consequently, he would receive far more calcium than he requires.
Big Kibble: The Hidden Dangers of the Pet Food Industry
The guidelines—or lack thereof—for pet food production are set by a private, non-profit organization that is heavily influenced by the corporations that sell it, allowing them to include ever-cheaper ingredients, and create ever-larger earnings. Therefore, legal ingredients that could be in kibble include poultry feces, saw dust, expired food, and diseased meat, among other horrors. So far, these corporations have been able to get away with it—until now.
In an ideal scenario, the bone would be big enough for him to remove all the meat while avoiding eating too much of the bone.
Recreational Bones for Large Dogs
For big, aggressive chewers, bones from cows, moose, and other huge animals are good. Beef neck bones, beef rib bones, and beef pelvis bones are a few alternatives for large dogs.
If you’re not afraid of being gross (and you’re confident you won’t scare your neighbors), you can even feed sheep, or goat heads, beef, or both (most ethnic markets carry these).
Small And Medium Dogs
Smaller dogs can consume the bones of smaller animals like deer, goats, pigs, and lamb, but larger breeds cannot.
Beef rib bones, lamb neck bones (which are quite meaty), pork or lamb ribs, and heads are all acceptable options.
Most dogs of all sizes can eat poultry bones. However, you shouldn’t feed them to your dog as a treat.
Let’s discuss a little bit more about safety now that you are aware of the many sorts of bones.
Remember to Be Safe
Even if it’s harmless, giving your dog a bone to chew on could cause complications. Here are some additional suggestions to help you make your dog’s favorite activity safer.
Cooked Bones
Never feed cooked bones of any kind!
Cooked bones can damage teeth because they are hard and can splinter resulting in sharp pieces going into your dog’s gastrointestinal tract. If you pick the correct bone, even kibble-fed dogs can enjoy a wonderful raw bone without worrying about diarrhea or bacteria.
Bowel Blockages
Long bones have soft ends that are more cartilage than bone. These types of bones may not be a good choice for large, aggressive chewers as they can tear off a lot of that cartilage. The cartilage can accumulate in the bowels.
If your dog isn’t used to bones or he really overdoes it, he could end up at the vet’s for an enema or even surgery to remove the blockage.
Signs of obstruction can include:
- Bloating
- A hunched-over posture
- Frequent unsuccessful attempts to defecate or vomit
Beware of Broken Teeth with the Wrong Bone Type
Long bones might damage your dog’s teeth because they are extremely hard on the outside. For medium to large-sized dogs, flat bones are preferable since they are more softer and more difficult to choke on.
Flat bones will last longer as well. This is due to their angular surfaces, which conceal the meat more effectively than lengthy bones. They become a much more intriguing chew as a result.
Bones can become brittle when they dry out. Don’t leave your dog’s bones lying about for days; sooner or later, you’ll notice a cracked tooth.
After a day or two of letting your dog chew on them, dispose of them in the trash or the organics container.
If you’re still worried about broken teeth, you can try giving your dog some air-dried or dehydrated bone powder.
Loose Stools
Dogs that aren’t used to eating bones or who consume more bones than usual may get loose stools.
The rich, fatty marrow inside the bone usually contributes to this.
Long bones have more marrow than flat ones, so if loose stools are a concern, flat bones might be a better option.
If you notice loose stools or diarrhea, you can try these home remedies until your dog’s body becomes accustomed to the bone content.
Constipation in Dogs
Constipation may result if your dog consumes a lot of bone. You may notice feces that are white, yellowish, powdery, or even yellow and runny.
Make sure your dog is focused on the meat by keeping an eye on him. He shouldn’t consume too much bone, but if you notice too much bone consumption, reduce the amount of bone you are feeding instead of quitting altogether.
Generally speaking, if your dog consumes more of a chew bone than you had intended. For the upcoming meals, give him more meat and less bone (if you feed him a raw diet). Their minerals, including calcium and phosphorus, will be balanced as a result.
Toxins
Avoid feeding bones from older animals. They are more likely to contain pollutants and toxins.
The best bones to locate are those of young, grass-fed animals. For the same reasons, choosing animals that have been raised organically is safer.
Where To Find Good Bones
You might be thinking, “Wow, those bones at the pet store are pricey.” You’d be accurate, too! But don’t worry, if you look in the areas listed below, you can find recreational bones for dogs that are not only less expensive, but healthier.
Grocery Store
Larger supermarkets will sell complete carcasses without the bones. Make friends with your butcher and don’t be shy about asking; they’ll usually offer you a bag at a very low cost.
Butcher
It’s likely that you’ll have to pay for your bones at the butcher, but if you’re a good client, they’ll treat you well too. Always ask. Don’t assume that your butcher doesn’t have some bones stored aside just because there aren’t any in the display case.
Ethnic Market
Many cultures love bones, so a trip to a local ethnic market could result in some healthy, fresh bones.
Allow Your Dog to Reap the Benefits of Bones
There are many benefits to giving your dog bones, but the most important is that they provide a natural source of calcium. Bones also help keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy. Dogs who eat bones have fewer dental problems than dogs who don’t, which means they’re less likely to need expensive dental procedures later in life.
Bones are also good for your dog’s digestive system because they help grind food down into smaller particles and break up any large pieces that may be difficult to digest. This helps prevent constipation, diarrhea, and other digestive issues.
If you give your dog raw bones (which are softer than cooked), it can help improve his chewing habits as well as strengthen his jaw muscles.
Read more:
6 Reasons To Throw Your Dog A Raw Bone
Raw Bone Benefits | Northwest Naturals
Why Raw Bones are Great for Dogs AND Cats! – Primal Pet Foods
One thought on “Choosing Bones: What Bones Are Safe for Dogs?”