dogs

[kc70]

Hi, does anyone know at what age a dog can eat raw bones from the butcher please.

[jules77]

no age, dont even consider it, far too risky - I really cant see why people think dogs need bones, there are lots of things on the market for dogs to exercise their mouth and clean their teeth without resorting to them - for every person who says they havnt had a problem, there is another who has had, and the dogs dont always survive after getting bones stuck in their throat or chest cavity.

read this article from someone who had fed her dogs bones for years

http://www.collienet.com/health%20topics/bones %20and%20dogs.htm

[jules77]

to back up my previous post

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/0 70218143832.htm

[cruella]

Hi
I would never consider giving my dog a raw bone. They really are too dangerous to take any chances with and can also give your dog the runs. I prefer to give my dog rawhide chews, but I am sure someone else may have a better alternative.

[LottieAnne]

I fully agree with the above but nothing very hard should be given until the dog has all its adult teeth.

[amonty1144]

I always feed bones, dogs are designed to digest them as long as they are good quality, uncooked beef.( knuckle bones are best)
I wouldn't feed rawhide as some dogs struggle to chew them and choke, they form a slimey mass in the throat.
I'm also sorry to say that some chews are actually cat or dog skin.
See this link.
http://www.voice4dogs.org/theskintrade.htm

[thugulike]

All my dogs have had raw beef marrow bones even as small puppies. They don't splinter and are too big to choke on. They love to bite on the bones and strive to remove all the marrow. My butcher cuts them about 3" long so that all the marrow can be removed eventually. Handsome George (16 weeks) spends many happy hours chewing his bone and plays with the empty clean bones afterwards. I don't give knuckle bones as they can splinter and, for some reason, my dogs have been protective of knuckles but not marrow bones. No idea why.

[horsestache1]

If dogs are not meant to eat bones, how come they hunt and eat their prey? Mine certainly does'nt take the bones out of her rat/rabbit!!

[divegirl]

With all respect jules.....your second link is by a bloke who works for Purina.....he's hardly going to advocate a feeding regime that does his company out of money!

I feed Lola bones more or less daily, knuckles and marrows....she loves them, but not as much as she loves raw chicken wings!!!!

Lisa xxx

[chelsea78]

Over a year old coz the bones can splinter

[jules77]

if there was only one person who told me their dog had a problem with bones, i wouldnt chance it, I could be giving my dogs their last supper, and I cant for the life of me understand anyone that feeds them knowing they could choke on them, and there is more than enough evidence to support this on the net.

Although animals in the wild feed on rabbits, and in effect raw bones, we have no idea of knowing how many have a problem and die? I dont use rawhide either as I have had to fetch them out of my dogs throat when they try to chew them when theoretically they are too big to swallow.

Hard biscuits and regular dentistry are sufficient to keep dogs teeth cleaned, it just takes more effort on my part as opposed to throwing the dog a bone! - I dont feel the person from Purina is supporting his company by writing about the pitfalls of bones, as we wouldnt expect a dog to live purely on bones and would give them some kind of regular food in addition?

[garner]

Im with Jules on this one , definitely a no no same with many of my doggy friends .g