Bones from the Butcher - Help!

sarah*a

My local butcher gives free bags of bones for dogs - and he always has loads available fresh every day.

I would love to get some for my 18 month old collieX - but am a little nervous. What do I do with them? Do I just give them to her or do I have to do something with them? How long will they keep? Can I freeze them?

Thanks for any help - Puppy sems to look longingly at them when we go past everyday (maybe thats just me imagining it?:p )

oh - and I think they are 90% beef bones - does that matter?

Are there any other bones I can give her?

Thanks Again

Sarah :cool:

Justie

I think the general consensus about bones is to freeze them to keep them from getting bug infested (they can be fed to the dog still frozen). You may well find that the dog resource guards as a bone is SUCH a treat so if you have children make sure they're not going to try and play with the dog while s/he has the bone and don't try to take the bone off the dog for the first few times then only do it if there's something great to swap. Beef bones are fine - even chicken bones are apparently fine if not cooked...

nealallen

It doesn't matter what type of bones they are, they conatin Marrobone (sp) which is very good for dog and keeps their teeth clean and healthy.

I'm not sure about freezing though as I've never done it. Someone here will be able to clear that bit up

nealallen

Justie wrote: »

even chicken bones are apparently fine if not cooked...

Be carefull with chicken bones, unlike most other bones it shatters and an get sharp splinters of bones caught in your dogs throat. It happened to one of our dogs years ago.

foreign_correspondent

yes, give your dog a nice meaty raw bone - you will have a very happy dog! perhaps watch out for any little bones that the dog might choke on, give him a nice medium sized chunky bone first till he gets the hang of it!
He will love it and it cleans their teeth and is nutritious too! the only thing I would say is dont give him too many, it used to make my dog a little bit 'bunged up' sometimes if she overdid it IYSWIM!

Raksha

nealallen wrote: »

Be carefull with chicken bones, unlike most other bones it shatters and an get sharp splinters of bones caught in your dogs throat. It happened to one of our dogs years ago.

Chicken these days is generally reared so quickly, the bones don't actually harden enough to splinter like they used to. Chicken wings are frequently fed in this house (and necks are well received too). The only thing I'm a little wary with is leg bones with no flesh on them.

Kimberley

I feel dogs shouldn't be given any raw bone at all, it's not worth the risk. Your dog could choke on a loose bone splinter.

middy60

just pop in and ask him to saw not chop a beef marrow bone in two for if they chop them they will splinter which you dont want dont go for lamb ones either they will splinter too easily pork ones are ok not many butchers have chicken bones as they buy them boneless breasts in already boned anything else just ask i use to be a butcher

foreign_correspondent

regarding the above post that says raw ones are dangerous... I believe that raw bones are fine as they naturally have a bit of flexibility, but cooking makes them more brittle and liable to splintering.

Kimberley

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

regarding the above post that says raw ones are dangerous... I believe that raw bones are fine as they naturally have a bit of flexibility, but cooking makes them more brittle and liable to splintering.

Each to there own, it's a personal choice, I myself wouldn't risk the heath of any dog in my care.

SkylineDriver

Kimberley wrote: »

I feel dogs shouldn't be given any raw bone at all, it's not worth the risk. Your dog could choke on a loose bone splinter.

Totally agree with you there.