We all know that dogs LOVE bones! Not only do raw meaty bones provide vital nutrients like calcium and phosphorus, but did you know they also provide a good dose of mental stimulation? Are you feeding your dog raw meaty bones? Here are the reasons you should.
Raw meaty bones are the perfect tool for cleaning teeth and gums. Hard crunchy bones naturally scrape teeth and help keep gum tissue healthy. Your pup will enjoy tearing the meat and connective tissue off the bones and you’ll get to enjoy their fresh breath.
It seems like people have gotten away from feeding real bones to dogs. I see rawhide (please don’t feed your dog rawhide) and synthetic bones taking over pet stores. Fake bones may help clean teeth but there is no nutritional value and many are actually dangerous.
Now, when I say synthetic bones does it make you think plastic? Well, plastic is exactly what you are giving your dog, and I promise some of that plastic will be ingested. We all know plastics should not be eaten, but if your dog is like mine, they won’t care and will devour it anyway.
Do you want your dog chewing on toxic plastics? That’s hard NO for me.
The reason I don’t like rawhide is because it is ultra-processed and goes through a bleaching and drying process. Chemicals like sodium sulphide and sodium hydrosulphide are used to remove the hair and fat from rawhide. More chemicals that dogs do not need in their diets. And these “bones” turn into a slimy, gummy substance that dogs often choke on.
There are better, more enjoyable options. So, are you feeding your dog raw meaty bones yet?
Why Raw Meaty Bones?
The answer is simple, real bones are real food for dogs. Our dogs have very strong instincts and are not meant to eat processed foods and fake versions of what they love. Nature equipped them with very acidic stomachs to digest bones and fur.
Raw meaty bones are exactly what they sound like. Uncooked bones with meat and connective tissues still attached. As your dog tears off the meat and grinds away at the bones, they are getting the perfect teeth cleaning and a dose of important vitamins and minerals.
Raw bones are digestible and can to be fully consumed which is where the nutritional value comes in. In a raw diet you feed approximately 10% bone with the remaining ingredients being muscle meat, organ meats, and veggies if you so choose.
Your dog is receiving all the benefits of natural calcium and phosphorus in raw meaty bones. Getting what they need from whole food sources instead of supplements is a sure way to give your dog the basic mineral requirements they need to thrive.
Safe Bones for Dogs
There are some bones you should avoid feeding your dog. NEVER feed cooked bones. Cooked bones become hard and can splinter causing injury to your dog. Toss those bones after making bone broth, they served their purpose and should not be eaten.
Machine-cut bones have sharp edges and should never be fed to dogs. Make sure if you ask your butcher for bones to let them know you do not want anything that has been cut with their bone saw. These bones are great for bone broth though!
Also, avoid large weight bearing bones from cattle and buffalo. Bones from these animals are super dense and too hard for your dog’s teeth. You don’t want an unexpected trip to the vet for a fractured tooth!
Antlers have become very popular in the last decade or so. These bones are also too dense and hard for your pup’s teeth. I used to give them to Laila before I knew better. Don’t feel bad, we’re all learning here!
So what bones should you feed your dog?
Poultry bones are lightweight and hollow. Very easily chewed and digested by dogs. Chicken wings, chicken legs, chicken feet are all great options, but some dogs are allergic to chicken. Variety is key when it comes to the raw canine diet. There are other poultry bones such as quail, pheasant, and duck.
Laila always gets the raw turkey neck at Thanksgiving. Turkey wings are ok for medium and large dogs but avoid turkey legs as they can be pretty solid.
Also, don’t be afraid to try lamb or pork bones. Bones like ribs, necks, feet, and tails are great choices. Ribs should be fed in groups of two to three bones because some are small and present a choking hazard. It really just depends which bones you can or want to source.
Where Do I Find Raw Meaty Bones?
You can find raw meaty bones for dogs in a variety of places. Your local grocery store is a good place to start. Make sure you speak with someone behind the meat counter, they often have bones they throw away but will give them to you for your pets if you simply ask.
If you are a hunter or know a hunter you can ask them for the bones for your pet. This would be the perfect way to add variety and give bones that you can’t go out and purchase at the grocery store. Think pheasant, quail, and geese and rabbit.
Asian markets have all kinds of things your dog will love! This is where you can find chicken, duck, and even pigs feet. It’s also the best place to find some of the harder to find organ meats like kidneys, pancreas, and brain. Read this post to find out the importance of organ meats in your dog’s raw diet.
Even if you don’t feed a raw diet, you should consider feeding your dog raw meaty bones. Nature intended dogs to chew and eat bones and nothing else can take the place of that. Please let me know what kinds of bones you have tried and what works for your dog!
Wag on my friends…
