Raw Meaty Bones

By: Michelle Yaglowski

Ever heard the term, give your dog a bone? You should! Bones are an excellent addition to our pet’s diet, providing calcium and phosphorus, which brings many benefits to our dog’s health. Adding bones can help with firmer stool, cleaner teeth, and an overall happier (and less bored) pet. But, where to start when introducing bones?

Always monitor your dog when feeding them bones. Although dogs usually know what to do with a bone, it is important to ensure they are not going to swallow it whole. 

Before your first introduce bones, evaluate your dog’s eating habits. Is your dog a “gulper”? Then bones may not be an ideal choice for your dog. Most dogs, when fed an appropriate size bone, will chew the bone well before swallowing. If bones are not the best option for your dog, don’t worry, there are calcium supplements available that can give your dog some of the same benefits that bones offer.

You will find turkey necks and duck necks frozen or freeze-dried, at local pet stores! These are softer bones, so we recommend serving them frozen. As an added benefit, it takes a little longer for your dog to eat it. You will also find raw beef bones, which are considered recreational bones. These bones provide mental stimulation and a delicious treat. Bones shouldn’t be fed everyday though, just like us, our pups don’t need a treat everyday.

Bone size is dependent on the size of your dog. As a general rule of thumb, it is appropriate to feed a bone the size of your dog’s head. Although larger bones don’t appear to be an issue, smaller or narrow bones should be avoided as dogs are less likely to chew them into smaller, digestible pieces. However, if you have questions, our staff can help you decide which bones may be appropriate for your dog.

Know the DON’Ts

Never feed a cooked bone. Cooked bones can splinter and cause intestinal obstructions and perforations (not good!). Therefore, always ensure the bones you are feeding come from a reliable source. There are certain bones that are safe for all dog sizes, and others that shouldn’t be fed to smaller or larger dogs. Obviously, there are many types of bones out there and most pet owners are surprised at what their dogs can handle.

Do not feed weight bearing bones of heavy animals. What does this mean? When you think of a large animal, think of the bones that allow them to stand properly.. and don’t feed them. Weight bearing bones can be too hard on your dog’s teeth.

Get whole prey or raw bones here: Raw Feeding Miami

also, local grocery stores have bones too— chicken feet, turkey necks, duck feet are all a great source of calcium!