Feeding Raw - Bones?

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#1
I've been feeding a raw diet but have really only been using ground meat/meat without bones. I've heard so many different stories about dogs choking or cracking teeth on bones, or getting bone splinters stuck in they're intestines or puncturing they're insides. It's horrifying to me, as a new puppy owner, to even think of giving him anything with a bone in it. Yet I also hear and read about so many people that do feed bones and never have a problem at all.

So are bones really safe to feed? What bones are ok and which ones should I stay away from? Are the bones digestible?

Has anyone here ever had they're dog choke on a piece of a bone before? Any vet visits for cracked teeth?
 
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#2
Cracked teeth, well technically I guess it could happen on any bone...but can also happen on toys, etc really. I personally stay away from huge weight bearing bones now as I feel they can be higher risk, but did feed even them for years.

But yes, I feed bones. Necks, chicken backs and quarters, ribs, etc. My dogs eat them and never had an issue.
 

SizzleDog

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#3
The only bones that have ever caused cracked teeth here are weight bearing bones from large animals (i.e. beef shank bones) and antlers.

Bone-inclusive raw items such as chicken necks and backs are, IMO, ideal for puppies.
 

Fran101

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#4
I try to stay away from the weight bearing bones.. but other than that (necks, etc..) are ideal. Merlin had those even as a tiny pup!

My family dog is 100% raw and broke a tooth on a nylabone of all things lol
 

SpringerLover

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#5
If you are afraid of bones, Sojos and Honest Kitchen both make "base mixes" to add real meat to (and some organ if you want).

A puppy needs calcium and phosphorus to grow--so please feed a complete diet, not just muscle meat and organ.
 
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#6
The ground up meat includes some extremely finely ground up bone, and I already add one of the sojos mixes to it, as well as include a vitamin supplement suggested by my vet..so I assume he's pretty well covered. But I'll probably try a chicken back or neck and see how he does.

You should always feed raw bones correct? I've alwayd been told cooked bones splinter more. What about boiled bones?
 
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#7
Wings are also good because they are a softer bone. I also like chicken feet a lot. If you're worried about gulping I've noticed they tend to chew more when it's frozen so you could try feeding the stuff frozen.

I've been feeding bones for years and years with no issue. That isn't to say none might ever happen or that they can't. Because they can, and you need to be aware and pay attention when they're eating and watch their poop and behaviors. But, that's what you should be doing anyways.

I am one of those that does feed weight bearing bones like cow legs and heavy duty marrow bones. BUT I only do that because the two I have right now are not chewers, they go for the marrow and the flesh and leave the hard bone. If your dog is a chewer like my Kaylee was then don't because they can hurt their teeth.
 

krissy

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#8
If your dog is a chewer like my Kaylee was then don't because they can hurt their teeth.
Or end up with horrible constipation, blood, straining, and obstruction from the massive shards of bone they have cracked off the bone. We had a case of that recently. Poor dog. Not sure why anyone would allow their dog to demolish a whole bone.

I do feed marrow bones in the summer (when the dogs can eat outside) but like Linds, only because my dogs are not chewers and once the marrow and meat is gone they are done with the bone.
 

Devika

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#12
I've been feeding a raw diet but have really only been using ground meat/meat without bones. I've heard so many different stories about dogs choking or cracking teeth on bones, or getting bone splinters stuck in they're intestines or puncturing they're insides. It's horrifying to me, as a new puppy owner, to even think of giving him anything with a bone in it. Yet I also hear and read about so many people that do feed bones and never have a problem at all.

So are bones really safe to feed? What bones are ok and which ones should I stay away from? Are the bones digestible?

Has anyone here ever had they're dog choke on a piece of a bone before? Any vet visits for cracked teeth?
I feed boil chicken bones to my 5 years old Labrador and had no issue till now. In fact my dog loves it and is in good health.
 

naturalfeddogs

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#14
I've been feeding a raw diet but have really only been using ground meat/meat without bones. I've heard so many different stories about dogs choking or cracking teeth on bones, or getting bone splinters stuck in they're intestines or puncturing they're insides. It's horrifying to me, as a new puppy owner, to even think of giving him anything with a bone in it. Yet I also hear and read about so many people that do feed bones and never have a problem at all.

So are bones really safe to feed? What bones are ok and which ones should I stay away from? Are the bones digestible?

Has anyone here ever had they're dog choke on a piece of a bone before? Any vet visits for cracked teeth?
Bones are essential to a raw diet, it's just a matter of feeding correct bones. You want to feed edible bones, NOT weight bearing bones of large animals like cow, elk, moose, deer etc... Those are the ones that can crack or break teeth.

If you are feeding meat only, no bones or organs then you are feeding a very unbalanced diet. Lacking tons of vital nutrients.

Large cuts for the dog to really work on and chew is also beneficial, over anything ground.
 

Miakoda

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#15
I think everyone is different. I've had two different dogs choke, one on a turkey neck and one on a chicken neck. I refuse to feed those pieces. I almost lost my girl that choked on the turkey neck. I won't ever forget this instances, especially since one required surgery after the fact.

But everyone has different opinions, and there's always an inherent risk no matter which bones you feed. Just do your research, know your dog's eating style, and keep an eye out for any issues.
 

Dizzy

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#16
Just try and avoid weight bearing bones :)

We feed necks, ribs, chicken backs, chickens feet, wings etc.

They so occasionally get larger bones but are supervised. They CAN snap shards off weight bearing bones.
 
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#17
Has anyone here ever had they're dog choke on a piece of a bone before?
Ironically, the only dogs I've ever personally experienced choke on anything, choked on kibble. That being said though, I wouldn't have fed my dane drummettes or wings because she could, theoretically, easily choked on something that small, while they were perfectly sized for my little bitty feist.

Also, take into consideration your dog's eating style. My dane would've happily gulped a pig down if she could've figured out how to get it in her mouth, so I had to choose things that forced her to chew and not instantly swallow without effort.
 

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