Should I give my Dog Bones?

Bones seem to present a bit of a debate in our society. Some people like to feed them to their pets, and some don’t. In this quick blog, I  aim to provide you with some information about feeding bones, and I  hope to clear up any queries you may have about feeding bones to your pets.

Why do we feed bones?

Raw meaty bones are nature’s toothbrush! There’s a natural scrubbing and flossing action that happens when your pet chews on a bone! They help with teeth and gum health and assist with bad breath. However, if your pet has severe dental issues, I recommend they seek some veterinary attention for this before commencing a diet consisting of bone matter. Canines and felines were designed to use their teeth to gnaw and tear, slicing and crunching whole foods and bone. Their teeth are not designed for eating ground pulp-like food that sticks to their teeth, which can cause tartar build-up and plaque.

• The calcium in the bones assists with keeping the teeth healthy.

• The marrow is a great source of antioxidants and nutrients!

• There is collagen in the cartilage.

• The meat attached to the bone provides protein.

• Bones are also a good source of healthy fats!

• Feeding bones also releases feel-good hormones as your pet masticates their bones, that’s why we recommend feeding bones in a stressful situation if your pet feels anxious about something.

The do’s and don’ts of feeding bones!

DO

Feed bones that are size appropriate for the animal, some can even be crushed to make it easier for smaller pets, or pets that are not used to consuming bones. Larger breed dogs may swallow a smaller bone whole, which would present a choking hazard, and a smaller breed dog may struggle with a bigger size bone.

DON’T

NEVER, under any circumstances feed cooked bones as they have a high risk of splintering, causing the animal to choke. They have to always be fed raw. Any bones that are smoked are also classed as cooked, and smoked bones are usually high in salt.

Also, bare in mind to NEVER feed any weight-bearing bones, (they can still be used in a bone broth). The reason for this is that they are high-risk bone for fracturing, and they can wear teeth down.  

 DO

I also highly recommend that the bones you feed to your pets still have the meat attached, this helps strengthen the jaw and neck by the ripping and chewing action used to pull the meat off the bone. Furthermore, this encourages the animal to slow down when eating. Additionally, while your pet is ripping and chewing the meat off the bone it gives the gut time to activate its gastric juices, which in turn helps the digestion process once the food hits the stomach.

DON’T 

Feed animals together! It is important that you allow your pet to eat their bone in peace, away from other pets that you may have in the household. You don’t want your pet to feel competition from another. Eating alone allows them to eat their bones a little slower and more carefully.

DO

Supervise and Clean up! Remember that raw bones are messy and should either be fed outside or in an area that can be cleaned well afterward.  

Can I feed my puppy or kittens bone?

Definitely! And we encourage it from a young age, however, we suggest you try something that you can hold onto one end yourself, such as a chicken neck, and let your puppy or kitten have a good chew on the other end to safely get the hang of it!

I’m worried about the safety of feeding raw bones to my pet.

We understand that feeding raw bones can be scary, we must stress to people that your pets, (if healthy)  are perfectly capable of digesting raw bone matter due to the high levels of acidity in the gut, which helps them digest and break down bone. Remember that canines and felines were designed to eat bones.

Getting the size-appropriate bone and a bone type that suits your pet’s species and breed is paramount, if you are struggling with this, please consult your nutritionist for advice. 

If you have a pet that is not able to consume bones for whatever reason, or you simply do not want to feed bones to your pet. Please enquire about our calcium powder supplement to ensure that your pet is getting adequate calcium.