Though most dogs don’t appear to be carnivorous, chewing is still an instinctive behavior and providing your pup with something appropriate to chew on such as a bone can help meet this need and can replace harmful behaviors like chewing up shoes and other inappropriate objects around the home.
Raw bones can provide an abundance of essential minerals and collagen, complementing raw diets perfectly. However, recreational bones may present safety risks; therefore they should only be consumed carefully and safely.
Contents
1. They Help Clean Teeth
Bones provide two important benefits for dogs: teeth cleaning and mental stimulation. Furthermore, bones provide much-needed calcium phosphate which strengthens their bones.
If your pup has an abundance of tartar and plaque build-up, chewing raw bones can help remove it, helping prevent gum disease (gingivitis) that could potentially spread infection throughout his or her body.
Remember that raw bones should only make up a small part of your pup’s diet; otherwise they could provide too many calories and lead to overeating or obesity.
Always select a bone that is appropriate for your pet’s size and breed. Large bones like knuckle bones should not be given to small dogs as these may lead to choking hazards. Instead, look for recreational bones with plenty of meat, gristle and cartilage for optimal use of this source of nutrition.
2. They Help Satisfy Appetite
Raw bones satisfy dogs’ natural urge to chew and provide a non-destructive alternative to shoes, furniture, remote controls or your shoes as chew toys. Chewing on bones also provides enrichment, mental stimulation and jaw muscle exercise – providing all-around entertainment and stimulation!
Dogs enjoy chewing bones for many reasons: their jaw muscles help break them into bite-size shards that can be swallowed easily and digested, providing essential protein, fat, and collagen nutrition to their bodies.
After dinner is the optimal time for giving a dog a bone, which will activate their stomach acid and aid in digestion. If your pup already has existing digestive issues, it is wise to proceed cautiously and only feed raw bones from reliable local sources with stringent food hygiene standards during preparation. Also ensure the bones remain raw rather than cooked as cooked bones can lead to intestinal blockages and impaction in dogs.
3. They Keep Your Dog’s Stomach Healthy
Dogs are natural chewers, and raw bones provide a healthy way for them to fulfill that instinct. Chewing helps scavenge food particles from between teeth while simultaneously reducing plaque and tartar build-up without needing an expensive toothbrush!
Raw bones contain calcium phosphate, an essential ingredient for supporting their skeletal system and helping compensate for an imbalance between calcium and phosphorus found in most commercial diets.
When choosing the perfect bone to give to your pet, take care to select an appropriate size for both breed and age. Bones that are too small may splinter into sharp pieces that could enter their digestive system causing blockages. In order to ensure the safety of all involved parties involved, recreational bones like beef marrow or femur bones should only be given out after being properly stored and inspected for bacteria free storage conditions. Chew toys made of rope fibers or dense rubber provide safer options that provide mental stimulation, jaw exercise and dental health for their canines.
4. They’re Natural
Raw bones provide all-natural nutrition to dogs compared to processed rawhide chews made of processed meat and chemical additives, while satisfying their instinctive desire for chewing by providing protein, calcium and phosphorus. Furthermore, having something to chew on reduces furniture chewing or any other inappropriate behaviors.
Not all bones are safe for dogs to chew on. Cooked bones (such as chicken/pork rib bones and beef knucklebones) can become harmful as they splinter easily, making them hard for dogs to digest and potentially leading to intestinal blockages (impaction).
Your pet’s safety can only be ensured if you purchase raw recreational bones from a trusted source and store them in the freezer, before feeding them under supervision. Selecting appropriate size bones will help avoid GI upset or tooth damage; be sure to clean their paws and muzzle after each chew session is over!
