Dogs love chewing bones, but not all types are beneficial or safe for their health. Recreational bones (such as femur knuckle bones ) provide minimal nutrition while excessive chewers could fracture teeth or jaws with excessive use.
Bones purchased at feed stores or pet supply stores tend to be safer options, since they’re kept frozen from harvest to sale and may even be rinsed in lactic acid for added safety.
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Chewing
Raw bones provide an effective means of cleaning your dog’s teeth, helping prevent tartar accumulation and other dental issues. Chewing on bones also stimulates saliva production which aids in keeping teeth cleaner for longer; chewing can even be used as a distraction from destructive behaviors like self-licking and scratching!
Raw bones contain calcium phosphate, which aids in the development of your dog’s skeleton and is especially essential for large breed puppies as they rapidly grow and require extra calcium phosphate.
Chewing bones is also beneficial to digestion. The rough texture of raw bones provides a beneficial cleaning/scouring action on your dog’s digestive tract, aiding regularity of bowel movement and stimulating anal gland emptying. When feeding large weight-bearing bones (such as cow femur), however, you should supervise their chewing to make sure no teeth break or pieces of bone lodge in their throat or stomach.
Dental Health
Dogs that chew bones help their teeth clean themselves of plaque build-up while providing mental stimulation – dogs that become bored are more likely to get into trouble in the home by eating inappropriate items or chewing furniture or shoes! This natural activity also provides mental stimulation. Bored dogs are more likely to act up, leading them into mischief or getting into things they shouldn’t!
Raw bones provide puppies with essential calcium phosphate for healthy bone development and growth. By ingesting this mineral source, it will contribute to their wellbeing as they age.
Recreational raw bones such as knuckle and hip bones (essentially beef femurs) can be safely given to most dogs for chewing recreationally, provided they are size appropriate and only given for this purpose. Marrow bones tend to be too large and break apart into sharp pointy shards that could potentially irritate a dog’s throat or perforate their digestive tract, potentially becoming toxic or perforating their system altogether.
Consultation with a veterinary nutritionist and strict food hygiene practices must be observed when feeding raw bones to pets, particularly marrow bones, to minimise any risk of food-borne illness.
Weight Loss
Chewing on bones not only satisfies a dog’s natural urge to chew, but can also assist them in digesting food and cleaning their teeth. Plus, chewing bones provides roughage for digestion which may help prevent bloat.
Bones provide a source of fresh cartilage, glucosamine and chondroitin as well as vitamins C and K as well as minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium. Furthermore, bone marrow provides protein as well as other beneficial nutrients.
Recreational bones such as knuckle bones, wing bones and chicken necks can provide enrichment for dogs while simultaneously discouraging destructive chewing behavior. Furthermore, these uncooked treats are much safer than cooked bones which could potentially fracture teeth and cause digestive issues in their chewers.
Before feeding bones to their pet, they should be thoroughly checked for foreign materials like hair, shells and plastic that could pose risks to its wellbeing. Marrow bones should only be given occasionally as they contain high amounts of fat content if your dog follows a low-fat diet.
Cooling
Bones can help keep your dog entertained while you prepare dinner, clean the house or complete other tasks. As well as providing chew time and strengthening their jaw muscles through gnawing action, bones contain several vital minerals – especially calcium and phosphorous!
Raw bones are safer for pets than cooked ones, which may splinter and lead to injuries in their mouth or throat, as well as cause obstructions of their digestive tract if consumed by accident.
Marrow-containing bones contain high levels of fat, which can put undue strain on your dog’s digestive system and lead to pancreatitis – a condition characterized by vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. You can prevent pancreatitis by including such bones only as part of their regular raw meal or for recreational chewing purposes on an as-needed basis.
