Giving bones to dogs - Is it safe ???

Sezzler

Hi there,

I was reading that giving a dog a bone is beneficial to their teeth. Ive also read that certain types of bones can chip off and cause tears in the dogs guts and so should be avoided.

My questions are : What sort of bones can I get that the dogs eat safely ?

Can I buy safe bones from pets at home ?

Thanks

chris_n_tj

Until a few weeks ago I had never given TJ a bone (due to the conditions he has he is always hungry bless him.) We saw some packed ham bones in Pets at Home so I asked our Vet if they were ok to give.

TJ has had a couple and we make sure we watch him, we dont let him have one if we cant watch. They havnt splinted and he has enjoyed chewing, lol I might be binning them before their time, I only let him chew a bone for a couple of days then it goes in the bin. ( he only chews for an hour'ish after tea)

It might help to know that TJ is only a small dog. Hope that helps, I know others will be along to help with your question x

sivyour

I have an american bulldog and she cant have any bones as she swallows them or bits of them due to being food possesive.
Our last dog could have bones no problem and I know a GS breeder who fed her dogs on raw chicken but said cooked bones splinter.
The farm collies have raw lambs and have done over centuries without issue and all have lived into their late teens.

Caroline_a

I get raw marrow bones from a local supplier which my dogs both love - believe it or not they get them frozen which helps the pup's teething no end! Raw bones don't splinter, but cooked ones do - I would never give cooked bones to a dog. They can crunch raw bones up, but they seem to crunch into pieces that a dog can digest, whereas cooked bones don't seem to (Don't ask me why!!) My GSD also has raw chicken carcasses and wings, which he crunches up to nothing.

I'm not keen on smoked bones or hide ones, and to be honest, nor are my dogs, which are the only ones you can get from Pets at Home. I would try your local butcher to see if he has any going spare.

Sezzler

Thanks for the replys. I dont have a butchers near me to get any raw bones. Are there any shops on the high street that will do them.

fairymoneysaver

Our local pet food specialist also has frozen raw marrow bones, the dogs love them. Our younger dog chews his for an hour or so then buries it in the garden then he goes and steals the older dogs bone, chews it for a while and buries that too until the older dog goes out and digs it back up again, it's quite funny to watch them.
Have you not got an independant pet shop near you Sezzler? they may have bones. If not try Morrisons, I often pick up raw lamb bones for 20p-30p in the meat section or try asking the butcher in there. Hope you find some

Jessw0

We get them from an independent pet shop, they call them Dino-bones, but they are just beef bones with the big knuckle ends. My doberman will have one for a few months, until it gets too small. We leave it with him during the day, any bits that come off are small enough for him to digest.

zaksmum

My last dog used to LOVE bones, with never any ill effect. His favourites were chicken bones...he'd rather have the bone than the chicken.

But neither of my dogs now can tolerate bones. On the odd occasion when they scavenge a KFC bone before I can stop them, I just know they will be sick in the night.

I get them the hide chew bones now and they're quite happy with those.

undaunted

There are all manner of opinions on this.

Some say don't give roast bones as they may splinter - I've never had a problem personally & nor do I know anyone else who has as far as I'm aware.

Some say don't give chicken bones.

Some say don't give cooked chicken bones

In both cases because it's said they may splinter.

However I've also heard it said that the vast majority of chickens sold in this country are so young that their bones haven't hardened & it is in fact therefore safe to give them either way.

Which you choose to believe is upto you I'm afraid.

You may wish to give bones only when you're home as if a piece breaks it can get wedged in the roof of the mouth / between the teeth. I have known this happen - but only twice in 10 years - & all you need do to resolve it is be around to take it out.

If you want to do so you can generally buy roasted bones in pet wholesalers, also the likes of Wilkinsons hardware stores, at some local markets etc

snowman2_2

Don't give chicken or pork bones as they can splinter. Cooked bones tend to set like concrete in the guts causing constipation and often needs an enema or even surgery to relieve. Large, raw beef bones would be OK but personally I never give my dogs bones.

rising_from_the_ashes

Personally, I'd never give a cooked bone.

I get the "shin" bone from my butchers - free but with a donation to their charity box (saves them paying to have them taken away) - is there anyway you could get to a butchers near you and get a few at a time? They freeze really well and have the lovely marrow in the middle which is really good for them (and he loves)!

I don't get the "knuckle" bones as they're too soft, Mr B just chews them away to nothing and eats all the bits - which has a detrimental effect on what comes out the other end!!!