Raw meaty bones are a mandatory part of a correct diet for dogs. It's essential to ensure the bones you provide are suitable for your fur kid. The size and texture of the bones should align with your dog's age and size, and you should always supervise dogs that are new to chewing bones.
Most dogs and puppies love chewing on bones, there are so many benefits of including raw bones in your dog's diet:
Dental chews and dry biscuits do not clean a dog's teeth, and are not effective in maintaining good dental health. Feeding dogs raw meaty bones, is the original way their ancestors maintained oral health and dental hygiene.
Tissues and sinews in raw bones aid in removing plaque from the teeth and the spaces between them. Chewing on bones massages the gums, increases blood circulation to the gums, scrapes away and helps prevent tartar buildup. Raw bones are teh perfect way to provide a natural and healthy dental care option, resulting in fresher breath and better oral health.
The choice of bones for your dog depends largely on their size and age. It's essential to select raw bones only. Do not feed dried or cooked bones, as cooked bones are prone to splintering and can pose risks.
When selecting bones, ensure they are fresh and contain ample raw meat, cartilage and sinew. High-energy dogs benefit from bones with a higher fat content, such as lamb brisket bones. Leaner options like turkey necks are suitable for dogs that require a lower-fat diet but still offer excellent chewing satisfaction.
The size of the bone you choose should match your dog's age and size. To prevent choking hazards and ensure safety, select a bone that is at least the size of your dog's head. For smaller dogs and less aggressive chewers, opt for smaller and softer bones. Here are some size recommendations:
Toy and Small Dogs & Cats (5-10kg):
Medium Dogs (10-25kg):
Large Dogs (26kg and Over):
"Weight-bearing bones," refers to bones like the thick femur leg bones. These bones are exceptionally thick and hard and should not be fed to dogs of any size as it. Feeding large weight bearing bones carries some level of risk. These bones can lead to tooth damage, cracks and major dental injuries in dogs with strong bites For powerful dogs, it's safer to opt for larger, raw meaty bones like goat necks or lamb necks.
Other Considerations
Its important to exercise care and caution when feeding bones, here are some tips to help you.
Digestive Balance: Excessive bone consumption can lead to constipation and bowel inflammation. Feed bones as an occasional treat, and be mindful of the fat and marrow content, especially for dogs with conditions like pancreatitis or colitis.
Multiple dogs: When feeding bones if you have more than one dog we recommend you supervise dogs at meal times when eating bones.Bones are a high value resource and can cause resource guarding aggression between dogs. It’s best to allow older dogs to establish a natural hierarchy with a young puppy as this will avoid future issues. We still recommend supervising or separating multiple dogs when feeding bones.
Shelf Life: Bones can be stored in the freezer. They should fed completely thawed befopre feeding.
Burying Bones: Dogs usually bury bones for storage and later consumption. This can attract vermin and parasites. If your dog is burying bones that could be consumed we recommend reducing the quantity so your dogs eats the entire meal (bones included) in one sitting.
Where to Find Raw meaty Bones for Dogs.
You can find a large variety of dog bones suitable for all sizes and preferences on our website.
Feeding bones is an absolute necessity. If you provide your dog with a complete and balanced diet composed of raw and fresh ingredients, they can obtain the necessary calcium from natural sources like ground bone. Commercial dog food that meets established standards such as AAFCO ensures your dog receives all essential nutrients.
DO NOT FEED GROUND BONE
Eating too much ground bone can cause a blockage in the gastrointestinal tract: the ground bones can build up and create a solid mass that can be difficult to pass, causing constipation that, in the worst cases, could require surgery.
The issue with BARF diets (or patties) is they contain ground bone. This makes BARF patties a soft, wet food.
When you consider wild carnivores – wolves, tigers, lions – do you wonder why they have impeccable teeth? The answer, of course, isn’t Dentastix or Greenies, or other “dental treats” made of wheat and grains. It’s because they chew, rip, and tear flesh, and gnaw on bones. It’s that simple.
This process naturally keeps their teeth clean, free of tartar and plaque.
The issue with ground bone in BARF and patties is that the seller will of course sell you their product because it's commercially profitable to mix food with ground bone. This food does not clean your dog’s teeth or help them stay clean. The meat is minced, the bone is ground, and the food is soft
However, if your dog struggles to maintain clean teeth through chewing, consider. Explore our website to find a wide range of raw dog food options to meet your pet's nutritional needs.