We often hear phrases like “give your dog a bone” and see comic strips feature dogs chewing on bones which has naturally led us to associate dogs with bones. Many of us may also have heard about the benefits that come with giving dogs bones. Some say that recreational bones are beneficial as they act like a “floss” for dog’s teeth, breaking tartar down and reducing the likelihood of gum disease. It is also said that chewing on bones provides mental stimulation for dogs and reduces anxiety.
However, is it really all that harmless to give bones to dogs?
Can I simply give my dog any kind of bone?
It is important to note that there are different types of bones, and this distinction is crucial in deciding what we can feed to dogs. Some bones are relatively harmless to dogs, while others could cause serious problems.
1. What type of bones should we NOT feed dogs?
Cooked bones of any kind
- They splinter into small, sharp pieces that can cut your dog’s mouth, throat or intestines. This can lead to a number of health issues, including: choking, fractured teeth, cuts in the mouth or tonsils, vomiting and diarrhea, severe constipation leading to extreme pain for your dog, etc.
- Cooked bones are also not as nutritious as raw bones because beneficial nutrients are lost in the cooking process.
Both raw/cooked rib bones (especially pork rib bones!)
- These bones have extremely high fat content so it is not advisable to feed them to your dogs.
- Dogs lack the mechanism to break down that high amount of saturated fat from such bones and can suffer from pancreatitis (an inflammation of the pancreas often caused by too much fat in their diet). Pancreatitis can show up as vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea and a loss of appetite in dogs. Warning: Severe cases can be deadly! Hence, it is crucial to seek veterinary attention immediately when you notice such symptoms in your dogs.
2. How can I safely give my dog a bone?
Give raw meat bones
Many veterinarians say that most raw meat bones are edible and relatively safe for dogs (e.g. raw chicken, turkey, lamb or beef bones are soft enough for dogs to chew, eat and digest). However, it is still better to practice this with caution as raw bones may contain bacteria and can spoil in just a few days! Remember to give the bone a good cleanse before giving it to your dog.
NOTE: you should NEVER feed pork bones (not even raw ones) to your dog as they easily splinter and crack into smaller pieces which may get stuck in your dog’s throat and cause internal injury
Supervise your dog when giving him/her a bone
It is important to supervise your dog when you give him a bone and take it away when it’s breaking apart and getting too small as it becomes a choking hazard! Never leave your dog to chew a bone alone!
Don’t feed your dog a bone that is smaller than the size of your dog’s mouth
Rule is that you must never feed your dog any bone that it can swallow whole.
Try to give your dog bones that are longer than the length of their muzzle to prevent this, e.g. some veterinarians advise looking for one that’s about the size of your dog’s head! This allows your dog to chew while reducing the likelihood of it breaking and your dog swallowing a large chunk of bone.
Set a time limit
You can try letting your dog chew for 10-15 minutes at a time. Aggressive chewing for an extended period of time could cause injury for your dog and damage your dog’s teeth.
Only give the bone after a meal
A less hungry dog has a lower tendency to chew and swallow a bone too quickly and aggressively. On the other hand, hungry dogs are more likely to swallow pieces of a bone or chew the bone too hard which can cause injury to their mouths.
3. What other alternatives are there?
We all know that dogs naturally love to chew, so it’ll be tough to stop this practice immediately. Furthermore, there are numerous benefits of giving bones to dogs in terms of improving their dental hygiene as well as keeping them mentally stimulated and entertained. Bones can even be a source of distraction for dogs that suffer from separation anxiety! Hence, most vets and dog experts suggest that you provide chew toys (e.g. dental chews for dogs pictured above in both edible and non-edible forms) and simulated dog bones that are made for dogs of all sizes. These are much safer alternatives that will keep your dogs happy and satisfied all the same while still providing many of the benefits that a real bone does.
Whether or not the risks of giving your dog a bone outweigh the benefits is still a highly-debated topic even among experts and veterinarians. Regardless of the kind of bone you end up choosing to give your dog, ensure that it’s done with due consideration for your dog’s safety!
Written by : Alyssa
Image credit:
https://blog.homesalive.ca/dog-blog/raw-bones-for-dogs
https://topdogtips.com/vet-recommended-dog-dental-chews/
