Dogs love chewing bones for both mental stimulation and dental health purposes, yet with so many types of canine bones on the market it can be challenging to know which ones are safe.
To make an accurate assessment, it’s best to examine several key safety criteria. First and foremost, look for a bone with some give that will break into pieces as your pup chews it.
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Nylon bones
Dogs love chew toys, and a bone is the ideal way to satisfy that urge. Additionally, it may even benefit your pet’s oral health as it helps clean teeth while minimizing buildup of plaque and tartar buildup.
Nylon bones can be safe dog chews as long as they possess some pliability and break into small, bite-size pieces when your dog gnaws at them. Too hard of a bone could fracture teeth or cause intestinal obstructions.
Nylabone provides an assortment of chews designed to engage your pup while encouraging dental hygiene and maintaining optimal oral health. Benebones offer similar chew options made with nylon instead of plastic for enhanced flavorings and long lasting enjoyment.
Nylon bones may provide your dog with some mental stimulation, yet may not match up to some synthetic chews when it comes to providing dental hygiene or digestive stimulation. You should always supervise how often and for how long your dog plays with these nylon toys to avoid mouth injuries or intestinal blockages.
Beef tendons
If you’re searching for a safe chew to satisfy your pup’s desire to chew, beef tendons could be just what he or she needs to satisfy their urge. They contain low amounts of fat while providing essential glucosamine and chondroitin supplements to support joint health in dogs.
Your dog will also benefit greatly from regular treats made of dog food as they provide essential protein to synthesize DNA and hormones as well as maintain muscle strength.
Beef tendons are easily digested and low in fat content, making them suitable for diabetic dogs or those looking to lose weight. However, as they may cause diarrhoea in sensitive digestive systems.
As with any new food item, treats should be introduced slowly into your dog’s diet in order to give him or her enough time to become used to them and avoid any adverse reactions.
Edible bones
Bones can be great ways to engage and entertain your dog, as well as aid dental hygiene. But it is important to remember that not all bones are suitable for dogs.
Bones can splinter and cut through your dog’s mouth and digestive system, leading to injury or even death. This is particularly true of cooked bones such as chicken wings or ribs that may be hazardous.
If you give your dog a bone for chewing, be sure to monitor their progress and discard any that have been worn down to the hard part. These bones pose a potential choking hazard and should be discarded immediately as they could become lodged in their throat or stomach and cause obstruction or irritation.
Raw bones are generally safer for chewing as they don’t shatter into sharp splinters easily, and can be found both locally and online.
Recreational bones
Dogs have an innate instinct to chew, and bones provide them with that opportunity. But using them incorrectly could pose a significant safety risk.
At last, there are safe dog bones for chewing that will keep your pup happy and entertained while offering dental health benefits. These recreational bones come from beef femurs (filled with marrow) or hip bones (knuckles).
Even though some rawbones splinter when your dog chews on them, most should be fine as long as you supervise their chewing and remove the bone once its size has become smaller than your pup’s mouth.
Weight-bearing recreational bones pose another potential hazard to dogs’ health if they chew aggressively or are unable to remove all meaty parts from them. They are commonly found among cow, pig, ox and elk bones – try finding one with only small bits of remaining meat attached so you don’t cause injury to your pup!
