Raw Bones For Pet Health

Photo by Janosch Diggelmann on Unsplash

One natural and effective approach to enhance your dog's health and happiness is incorporating raw bones into their raw dog food diet. Not only do raw bones offer a world of benefits for dental health, but they also contribute significantly to overall animal wellness.

These natural chewables are unparalleled in maintaining dental hygiene, effectively cleaning teeth and removing plaque, thereby promoting strong gums and teeth. The enduring nature of raw bones means they provide long-lasting chewing pleasure, sometimes lasting for weeks, ensuring your dog is engaged and stimulated. Rich in essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus, and with added glucosamine from cartilage, raw bones are not just a treat but a comprehensive health booster. They can even serve as a nutritious meal replacement, making them a versatile and beneficial addition to your dog's dietary regimen.

Raw Bones Only – No Cooked Bones

• Raw bones clean teeth like no other chews in the world.

• Raw bones can take a long time to chew and when your dog has eaten all the meat, the bone can last for weeks!

• Raw Bones are rich with minerals such as calcium and phosphorus.

• Raw Bones remove plaque naturally and help to keep gums and teeth strong.

• Chicken cartilage such as wings, feet, and carcasses are great for added glucosamine in your dog’s diet.

• Raw Meaty bones can be used as a meal replacement.

• Raw Bones are a great mental stimulation/chew therapy for your dog or puppy.

Types of Bones

“Toothbrush Bones”: Bones such as knuckles (the knee bones), or ribs are best for cleaning teeth because of their shape and the meat on them acts like floss!

“Recreational Bones”: These bones can also be knuckles, shanks, or femurs that due to their shape and composition, provide hours of chewing action.

“Meal Replacement Bones” aka Raw Meaty Bones: Bones such as necks of all kinds, including lamb, turkey, duck and chicken and beef meaty femurs have tons of meat so your dog’s get a tasty and stimulating meal

What to Watch Out For

• Aggressive chewers should be given softer bones in case they over chew and grind their teeth down. Soft bones include knuckles, chicken bones, turkey necks, rib bones, and other small animal bones.

• Remember to ALWAYS supervise your dog with a bone until you know what kind a chewer they are.

• Dogs will attempt to hide their bones by burying them so that they ferment. This is completely normal and healthy for your dog!

Choosing The Right Bone

Choose the right size bone for your dog: If you are not sure which size of bone to get for your dog, choose a larger size to be safe. A bone that is the size of your dog’s head is a good start and once you know what kind of a chewer your dog is you can head to smaller sizes.

Teach Your Dog To Chew A Bone

First time bone chewers such as puppies should be taught how to eat a bone. Choose a stick shaped bone such as a turkey neck, or beef ribs. Hold one end of the bone and let your dog chew on the other and pull away if it seems like your dog will try to swallow the whole thing! Through this process, much like a mother wolf might, you teach your dog how to patiently enjoy a bone. Given enough time, your dog will eat the whole bone!

Oops, My Dog Ate Too Much Bone

If your dog eats too much bone however, their stools may come out chalky and hard or if the bone was too rich they may have loose stool. If you suspect they ate too much, adding a bit more organ or tripe to their next raw dog food meal should do the trick. To avoid eating too much bone, you can give it to them in several sittings so that they don’t eat the whole thing at once.

NO Cooked Bones!!!

• Cooked bones are dangerous as they become very hard and brittle which increases the likelihood of them breaking and splintering into sharp pieces.

• Cooked bones are also very difficult for dogs to digest as the bones lose all of their nutritional value.

• Smoked Bones are also dangerous as they often have additives such as artificial flavoring and preservatives (like the ones in plastic wrap at the grocery store)

Incorporating raw bones into your dog's raw dog food diet brings substantial health benefits. These natural chews contribute to your pet’s healthy mouth, they are rich in minerals like calcium and phosphorus, along with glucosamine from cartilage, they offer additional mental stimulation and can serve as a nutritious and fun meal replacement. All of which enhances your pet's health.

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