The Do’s And Don’t’s Of Giving Your Dog Bones

With all the health and safety concerns surrounding commercial pet food, it’s no wonder many pawrents introduce real meat and bones into their dogs’ diets.

Animal bones are a delicious treat and an excellent way for dogs to satisfy their desire to chew. However, they are not without risks. Read on to find out the do’s and don’t’s of giving your dog bones.

Do: Choose high-quality raw bones.

No matter your feelings on raw food diets, if you are going to offer your dog bones, raw is the only way to go. In general, raw bones are safer than cooked because they are less likely to splinter. When choosing the perfect raw bone for your dog, follow these guidelines:

• Purchase bones from a skilled, reputable butcher to ensure freshness
• Opt for locally-sourced meat bones when possible
• Choose beef or bison bones; they tend to be safe and less likely to splinter
• Avoid pork bones and rib bones of any kind; they may crack or splinter
• To prevent choking, choose dog bones about the size of your pup’s head
• Store fresh bones in the freezer until ready for use

Don’t: Feed cooked bones.

Even though you know raw bones are safer, an occasional cooked beef bone couldn’t hurt…right? Unfortunately, even heartier bones from cows and bison may still splinter into sharp pieces when cooked. These fragments can cause serious health problems including:

• Wounds to the soft parts of the mouth and throat
• Fractured teeth
• Choking
• Perforations of the intestines

If you are concerned about raw feeding or want to utilize your leftover cooked bones, consider boiling them into a delicious, nutritious bone broth instead.

Do: Monitor dogs when they chew.

If you will be giving your dog bones, be sure you take the time to supervise the chewing. Some people opt to grind bones and add them to their dogs’ food to improve safety. Chicken necks are especially soft and excellent for grinding.

Dogs displaying signs of food aggression should not be given real bones. Highly desirable treats tend to trigger this behavior and make it difficult for you to retrieve them should they become a choking hazard.

Don’t: Settle for commercially available packaged bones.

The FDA continues to warn pet owners about commercially processed bone treats, which have been linked to choking, digestive tract blockages, internal injuries, and deaths in dogs. The agency’s most recent published investigation documented 90 dogs becoming ill and 15 deaths associated with these products.

The ill and injured dogs suffered from symptoms such as gastrointestinal blockages, choking, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stool, and cuts to the mouth.

Some of the bone treats listed in the reports were described as “Ham Bones,” “Pork Femur Bones,” “Rib Bones,” and “Smokey Knuckle Bones.” These products are baked or dried through a smoking process and may contain preservatives, seasonings or smoke flavorings.

Do: Consider offering bone alternatives.

If your dog loves to chew, skipping real bones doesn’t mean giving up on satisfying that instinct. There are plenty of safer alternatives designed to provide the mental stimulation and chewing satisfaction dogs crave without many of the risks associated with real bones.

One option worth considering is ProHide® Chews from PetSmart. For years, many pet parents avoided traditional beefhide chews because of concerns about digestibility. ProHide is different. Made with an advanced process that significantly improves digestibility, ProHide maintains the long-lasting texture and durability dogs love while offering pet parents greater peace of mind. The chews are made with all-natural ingredients and come in a variety of flavors, including Bully & Bacon, Chicken & Apple, and Roast Beef & Sweet Potato.

Do: Weigh the pros and cons when deciding whether to give your dog real bones.

When ground, raw bones offer a wonderful source of calcium and phosphorus. Whole bones also offer some nutrition when chewed from the meat, cartilage, fat, and connective tissue left clinging to them. Despite these benefits, raw bones can also expose your dog and your family to dangerous food-borne pathogens like Salmonella.

Before introducing raw bones into your dog’s diet, consult with your veterinarian to help you decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks.