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Raw bones are fine. The trick is to give them a bone too large to swallow at once. They're forced to chew it and break it down before swallowing. Chewing is actually a skill a dog learns. I've seen more dogs inhale unchewed kibble than chewed.
Raw bones do not splinter. Yes, they can get caught and choke, and so can unchewed kibble. I feed 3 dogs all raw meat and bones, and when they get bone, I watch them until they're done. The 4th dog gets kibble, and she's the one that inhales it without chewing, so she has to be watched, too.
It's not a good idea to give any part of a weight-baring bone from a large animal (cow, deer, etc), because they're too hard and can break teeth. I made the mistake of doing that once, and my dog's teeth got stuck in the bone. We promptly paid a visit to the e-vet to have it removed.
Raw bones are fine, just make sure they're not too small.
I know some people swear by raw diets and giving the dog a chicken drumstick or whatever. But I've read vet reports that saw raw bones can get stuck in a dog's esophagus or lodge in the stomach and require an operation. Who do you believe? What is safe?
I'd like to hear from the jury please...
W
I wouldn't give the dog chicken/turkey bones, they break too easy but I'v given my dogs beef bones and they (the dogs) were fine.
I've been feeding my GSD raw since he was 10 weeks old, now over 2 years. He usually get 2 or 3 chicken quarters a day, however I also feed other parts organs, fish, turkey necks, etc. He understands how to eat it, I mean to cruch the bone before swallowing. A dog has to learn to eat it correctly. If a dog can't eat raw we wouldn't have any dogs. What do you thing they ate in the wild? What do you think people feed back in the day before dog food existed? What do wolfs eat everyday? DO NOT FEED COOKED BONES! Vet's usually tell you NO, don't feed raw, it can do this and that, here buy some Science Diet from me so I can vacation in Cancun this winter. The larger beef bones, leg bones, etc. can be to hard to break and cause damage to the teeth. The benifits of feeding Raw are many, beautiful shinny white teeth (without the VET bill), proper nutrition, healthy coat, reduced or eliminating allergy problems, the list goes on. Vet's usually only have their wallet in mind when giving advise.
Last edited by fasteddielv; 04-12-2009 at 12:19 AM..
I've been feeding my GSD raw since he was 10 weeks old, now over 2 years. He usually get 2 or 3 chicken quarters a day, however I also feed other parts organs, fish, turkey necks, etc. He understands how to eat it, I mean to cruch the bone before swallowing. A dog has to learn to eat it correctly. If a dog can't eat raw we wouldn't have any dogs. What do you thing they ate in the wild? What do you think people feed back in the day before dog food existed? What do wolfs eat everyday? DO NOT FEED COOKED BONES! Vet's usually tell you NO, don't feed raw, it can do this and that, here buy some Science Diet from me so I can vacation in Cancun this winter. The larger beef bones, leg bones, etc. can be to hard to break and cause damage to the teeth. The benifits of feeding Raw are many, beautiful shinny white teeth (without the VET bill), proper nutrition, healthy coat, reduced or eliminating allergy problems, the list goes on. Vet's usually only have their wallet in mind when giving advise.
Thanks. Makes good sense. I can buy chicken quarters for less than the price of Wellness canned dog food, so that sounds like a good bet. Plus, it's easy to through the dog a bone, and they love it way more than commercial food.
My foo-foo Nelly, who rejects "toy" bones (Nylabone, Kong, etc) but steals objects such as pencils, combs, and prescription glasses, one day found a discarded bone on one of our walks. She gave me some sideways looks, thinking she wasn't allowed to have it, and then carried that thing like a prize for the rest of the hour walk when I told her it was ok.
So I got her the frozen beef "dog bones" the grocery store here sells and does she ever love those things.
We've never had a problem. She can work on them for a long time. Occasionally she even buries them in the yard, a real dog! She also buries them in the couch cushions and in her dog bed.
As I figure, dogs have been chewing on bones from the beginning of time and therefore are supposed to have them. I don't let her lick me for awhile after she finishes working on a new one, but I think her GI tract is evolved to handle the bacteria load, even if mine isn't.
I know some people swear by raw diets and giving the dog a chicken drumstick or whatever. But I've read vet reports that saw raw bones can get stuck in a dog's esophagus or lodge in the stomach and require an operation. Who do you believe? What is safe?
I'd like to hear from the jury please...
W
No, and No again-it is not safe, even people with small fish bone might have problems. Maybe 30 years ago bones we would give, not anymore. What you saw is true, why vets say no.
No, and No again-it is not safe, even people with small fish bone might have problems. Maybe 30 years ago bones we would give, not anymore. What you saw is true, why vets say no.
Your way off here, Vet's have a vested interest in spreading propaganda against feeding RAW.
What has change in 30 years?
Let me guess, since we have been feeding kibble for 30 years their digestive system has adapted for kibble. NOT, NOT!
Last edited by fasteddielv; 04-12-2009 at 09:28 PM..
FYI, for those that want to consider feeding RAW, do an online search, many good refernces out there. It is important to follow a planned diet to get the maxium benifit from feeding RAW. Fish oil is also fantastic for your dog, my dogs coat wnet from dry and dull with lots of dander to shinny, silky and no dander in two weeks. Must suppliment Vit. E with fish oil as in can depleat natural levels of Vit. E. It's so worth it thow.
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