Feeding bones to our beloved canine companions is a practice steeped in history, mirroring their ancestral diets in the wild. Done correctly, offering raw bones provides a plethora of benefits for your dog’s nutrition, oral health, and even mental well-being. However, navigating the world of bones for dogs requires careful consideration to ensure their safety and maximize the positive impact. Understanding What Raw Bones Can Dogs Have and which ones to avoid is paramount for responsible pet ownership. This guide delves into the various aspects of bone feeding, from nutritional advantages to potential risks and proper handling, ensuring your dog can enjoy this natural treat safely. For a broader understanding of canine nutrition, you might also be interested in exploring what foods can dogs eat and cannot eat.
The Benefits of Bones for Dogs
Bones offer far more than just a tasty diversion; they are packed with essential nutrients and contribute significantly to a dog’s overall health and happiness.
Nutritional Benefits of Bones for Dogs
Raw bones are nature’s treasure trove of vital minerals, vitamins, and crucial amino and fatty acids. These components are integral to various bodily functions and support long-term health.
- Protein: Bones contain amino acids that are fundamental for maintaining healthy skin and a shiny coat, supporting robust muscle development, and facilitating tissue repair throughout your dog’s body.
- Calcium Phosphate: This compound is critical for bone growth and density, playing a key role in helping the skeletal system regenerate and adapt to your dog’s active lifestyle.
- Magnesium: Essential for optimal muscle function, magnesium is particularly important for maintaining a healthy heart rhythm and overall cardiovascular health.
- Phosphorus: Beyond its role in bone structure, phosphorus is vital for cellular structure and the production of cellular energy, powering all of your dog’s activities.
- Marrow: The rich marrow found within bones is a source of collagen, iron, and B vitamins. Collagen supports healthy joints, skin, coat, and aids in digestion, while iron and B vitamins provide the sustained energy your dog needs for a vibrant, healthy life.
- Vitamin D and Glucosamine: These work synergistically to support a healthy digestive system, which in turn helps to prevent common issues such as leaky gut syndrome and poor gut function.
Health Benefits of Bones for Dogs
Beyond internal nutrition, the physical act of chewing bones offers distinct health advantages.
- Healthy Gums and Teeth: Many dogs are not keen on having their teeth brushed. Fortunately, the natural act of chewing on raw meaty bones and tearing off pieces of gristle and cartilage acts like a natural floss and clean, helping to scrape away plaque and tartar buildup from your dog’s teeth. This contributes significantly to maintaining excellent oral hygiene.
- Roughage: The fibrous, rough texture of raw bone has a cleansing effect on the digestive tract. It promotes healthy faecal motions, which are crucial for supporting the proper function of your dog’s anal glands, preventing discomfort and potential issues.
- Jaw Workout: The vigorous chewing and gnawing required to consume a raw bone provide an excellent natural exercise for your dog’s jaw muscles, keeping them strong and well-conditioned.
Behavioral Benefits of Bones for Dogs
Chewing is an instinctual behavior for dogs, and providing appropriate outlets for this instinct can have profound positive effects on their mental and emotional well-being.
- Healthy Mental Wellbeing: Chewing is a natural and necessary dog behavior. Allowing them to express these innate behaviors is vital for their mental health, reducing boredom and providing a fulfilling activity.
- Happy Hormones: Regular chewing has a calming and stress-reducing effect on dogs. This activity triggers the release of endorphins, which are natural feel-good chemicals that heighten a dog’s sense of pleasure, making them feel happy and helping to alleviate anxiety.
Can Dogs Digest Bones?
The ability of dogs to digest bones largely depends on their diet. Dogs accustomed to a raw diet are generally better equipped to digest small pieces of bone compared to those primarily fed kibble. This is because dogs on a raw diet typically have lower pH stomach acid, which is more acidic and thus more conducive to breaking down bone material effectively.
However, most dogs will struggle to digest large, dense pieces of bone. Such pieces may pass into the intestine, potentially leading to constipation, or could accumulate and cause a severe condition known as impaction, requiring veterinary intervention.
Cooked Bones: A Strict No-No
It is a crucial rule of pet safety: never give dogs cooked bones. The cooking process fundamentally alters the consistency of the bone, making it brittle and prone to shattering or splintering into sharp shards. These dangerous fragments can cause serious harm to your dog’s mouth, throat, and intestines, potentially leading to lacerations, punctures, or internal bleeding. Furthermore, cooking strips bones of much of their nutritional value, making them less beneficial. Cooked bones are also significantly more difficult for dogs to digest, increasing the risk of blockages in their digestive tract.
If you suspect your dog has ingested a cooked bone, it is imperative to contact your veterinarian immediately for guidance and a thorough check-up.
Raw Bones: Safe Practices for Your Dog
When considering what raw bones can dogs have, the primary rule is always to offer raw bones with meat attached. Raw bones, unlike cooked ones, are softer and more flexible, making them less likely to splinter. The meat and connective tissues surrounding the bone provide natural lubrication and make the chewing process safer and more enjoyable.
There is a small risk of salmonella with raw bones, similar to handling raw meat for human consumption. To mitigate this, a common precaution is to freeze raw bones for a couple of days before feeding them. This helps to inhibit bacterial growth and acts as a safeguard against any parasites that might be present. While farmed meat from reputable sources generally poses a low risk for parasites, taking this simple precaution does no harm and adds an extra layer of safety. This careful approach helps ensure your dog gets a healthy treat.
Dog is eating a bone
How to Safely Feed Bones to Your Dog
For your dog to safely enjoy and benefit from a bone, certain precautions and practices must be followed.
- Supervise Your Dog: Always supervise your dog while they are eating bones. This allows you to intervene immediately if any issues arise, such as choking or if the bone breaks into dangerously small pieces.
- Raw, Fresh, and Covered with Flesh: Only offer raw, fresh bones that still have meat and connective tissue attached. Avoid cooked bones entirely, whether they are store-bought or leftovers from your dinner, as their brittle nature makes them prone to splintering.
- Select the Right Type of Bone: The size and type of bone must be appropriate for your dog’s breed, size, and chewing habits. This is a critical factor in preventing choking or dental damage. You might also want to consider what human meat is bad for dogs to round out their diet safely.
Can You Leave a Dog Alone with Bones?
Never leave your dog alone with a bone, regardless of how often your dog has safely eaten one before. Even well-behaved dogs can surprise you. Depending on the bone’s size and shape, there’s always a risk that your dog might attempt to swallow it whole, or a piece could break off and become lodged in their throat.
If a part of the bone starts to break away or becomes too small, be prepared to remove it from your dog. To prevent resource guarding, offer a high-value treat in return when you take the bone away. Once your dog is finished with a bone, they may naturally walk away. If the bone appears to be in good condition, you can wrap it in a food bag and store it in the refrigerator. Your dog can then enjoy another gnawing session in a couple of days.
From What Age Can Dogs Eat Bones? Is It Safe for Puppies?
Puppies can typically be introduced to appropriate bones once they begin to develop their teeth. For young pups, soft, chewable bones are recommended, such as chicken wings and the necks of chickens or ducks. Initially, puppies may only mouth or gum these bones, but they will still benefit from the nutrients and the experience. This early exposure is also excellent for developing their eye-mouth coordination and teaching them proper chewing techniques.
As your pup reaches around 6 months of age, their adult teeth begin to develop, and they can then be given more rigid bones. However, it’s crucial to avoid extremely hard bones, like large cow leg bones, which can cause significant damage to their developing adult teeth and gums.
What Kind of Bones Are Safe for Dogs?
Choosing the right kind of bone is essential and largely depends on your dog’s size. When determining what raw bones can dogs have, consider the following guidelines:
- Small Dogs and Puppies:
- Chicken necks
- Duck feet
- Chicken wings
- Medium Dogs:
- Duck necks
- Chicken thighs
- Turkey wings
- Chicken carcass
- Large Dogs:
- Lamb ribs
- Lamb neck pieces
- Venison ribs
- Extra Large Dogs:
- Venison neck
- Turkey neck
- Chicken/Duck carcass
- Lamb ribs
What Bones Are Dangerous to Dogs?
Just as important as knowing what bones are safe is understanding which ones pose a threat. Avoiding these types of bones is critical for your dog’s safety.
- Weight-Bearing Bones: Bones such as cow and pig leg bones are designed to support the animal’s entire weight and are exceptionally hard and dense. Chewing on these can easily lead to chipped, fractured, or broken teeth in dogs, causing significant pain and requiring costly veterinary dental work.
- Bone Marrow Rings: These large, hollow bones are often found in pet shops. While the marrow inside is highly nutritious, once it’s ingested, the ring itself can become dangerously stuck around the lower jaw or teeth of small dogs. Larger dogs can damage their teeth attempting to bite through or dislodge these hard rings.
- Sharp-Edged Bones: Bones obtained from butchers or supermarkets that have been cut with a sharp blade can have razor-sharp edges. These edges can easily cut into your dog’s mouth, gums, or even cause internal injuries if swallowed. Always ensure any bone you offer has smooth, rounded edges.
What Are the Risks of Feeding Bones to Your Dog?
Despite the numerous benefits, feeding bones to dogs carries inherent risks that every owner should be aware of and actively work to mitigate.
Cooked bones and small raw bones pose a significant choking hazard for dogs. Always ensure the bone you provide is appropriately sized for your dog to prevent them from attempting to swallow it whole. Extremely hard bones can lead to broken teeth and damage to your dog’s mouth, highlighting the importance of selecting bones with a suitable structure. For more on what to feed a sick dog, refer to when dogs are sick what can they eat.
Some dogs may experience digestive issues, such as dry, crumbly stools or develop constipation, a day or two after eating a bone. This is often due to the high calcium content in bones. If your dog becomes constipated, incorporating extra insoluble fiber into their diet can help. Good sources include steamed leafy vegetables or pureed pumpkin or squash, which help to soften their stool. If you know your dog is prone to constipation after eating bones, consider replacing some of their usual food with plain mince on days they receive a bone to balance their diet.
Occasionally, some dogs may throw up bile containing bone fragments if they consume more bone than their digestive system can comfortably handle. If you observe this happening to your dog, try feeding smaller bones or limit the duration they have access to a bone. You can swap the bone for a high-value treat when you feel they have had enough.
For dogs with food sensitivities, it is crucial that any ground bone included in their raw food meal comes from the same animal source as the meat in that meal to prevent allergic reactions or digestive upset. Moreover, understanding what should dogs eat to stay healthy can further help in managing their dietary needs.
What Should I Do If My Dog Is Choking on Bone?
Choking is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when an object becomes lodged in the back of your dog’s throat, blocking their airway. Recognizing the signs quickly is paramount.
If your dog’s airway is partially blocked, they may exhibit the following signs:
- Retching or gagging repeatedly
- Pacing frantically
- Paw at their mouth or face
- Blue or grayish gums and tongue, indicating a lack of oxygen
If the airway is fully blocked, your dog will struggle to make any noise at all, as they cannot breathe.
To help a dog that is choking, follow these steps:
- Check the Mouth: If your dog is responsive and allows it, carefully open their mouth and gently sweep the back of their throat with your fingers, attempting to remove any visible object. Only do this if your dog is calm and you feel safe, as there’s a risk they may bite if agitated or in distress.
- Perform the Heimlich Maneuver: If the object is lodged too far back to remove manually, or if your dog is unresponsive, attempt the Heimlich maneuver:
- For dogs lying on their back: Locate the widest part of their chest. Perform a quick, strong thrust directly over this area to dislodge the object. Immediately check the back of the throat, and if the object is now visible, carefully remove it.
- For larger dogs: Position yourself behind your dog. Lift their front legs off the ground so they are standing on their back legs only. Make a fist with one hand, place your other hand on top, and push firmly upwards and forwards, just behind the rib cage.
If the object does not come loose after a few attempts, contact your veterinarian immediately and transport your dog to them as quickly as possible. Time is critical in a choking emergency. You may also find useful information on what veggies dogs can t eat to prevent other ingestion hazards.
Can You Add Bones to Your Dog’s Raw Food?
For those feeding commercially prepared raw dog food, it’s important to understand the formulation. Many reputable raw food brands, such as Bella & Duke, carefully balance their meals. For instance, their beef and lamb meals contain ground animal bones, while chicken and duck meals incorporate minced whole birds. This ensures that the food composition—typically 80% human-grade meat, offal, and bone, and 20% superfoods and seasonal fruit and vegetables—is carefully balanced to provide your best friend with all the essential nutrients for a happy, healthy, and active life. Therefore, there’s generally no need to add additional bone to your dog’s complete raw food meals.
However, you can still offer raw bones to your dog as a separate treat or as a calming chew, particularly when they might be feeling anxious or need a healthy distraction.
How Often and How Much Bone Can You Give Your Dog?
When considering bone as part of a raw diet, it’s generally recommended that bone makes up about 10% of your dog’s total raw food intake. If you are feeding a whole bone with a significant amount of meat still attached, this could account for around 30% of a dog’s diet, as the meat and bone are delivered together, providing a balanced proportion.
Bone Alternatives for Dogs
If your dog isn’t particularly keen on chewing bones, or if you simply prefer not to offer them, there are excellent alternatives that can still provide some of the benefits of bones. One popular option is to make bone broth from bones you no longer wish to give your dog as a chew. This nourishing broth can be used as a flavorful food topper, adding hydration and a boost of nutrients to your dog’s regular meals. Alternatively, many brands offer ready-made bone broth that is specifically formulated for dogs. These products are often fortified with vitamins and minerals, making bone broth a tasty and beneficial addition to your dog’s regular raw food, supporting their bone structure and immune system without the chewing risks of whole bones.
