Hello, everyone. We’re one week closer to Christmas. With that said, there are many pet parents who buy their dogs bones for Christmas, or who want to buy their dog a bone.

You might be reading the beginning of this article thinking “I just give my dog a bone and that’s that.” Or “I already know all there is too know about dog bones. What else could there be?”

But here’s the problem: some bones can be extremely dangerous to your dog.

Bones are Important

Chewing comes naturally to your dog and it’s important to encourage your dog to chew (on the right things obviously). Bones provide your dog with mental stimulation and keep her teeth clean. So, there’s mental and physical benefits here.

Absolutely No Cooked Bones

Most pet parents know chicken bones aren’t good for their dogs. But any cooked bones can be dangerous because they break and splinter into sharp pieces and can cause a number of health issues.

You may now be thinking, “my dog does fine with cooked bones.” That is one concern with cooked bones; injuries to the mouth, tongue, and/or teeth, choking, and cuts in the mouth. But, those aren’t nearly as dangerous as the worst risk.

Cooked bones can cause severe constipation or an intestinal blockage that requires surgery. Or, may cut your dog’s intestines on their attempt to pass through (also requiring surgery).

Cooked beef bones are even hazardous. They’re not as hazardous as chicken bones, but is it really worth the risk?

If you want to use your bones from your meal, I wrote an article about bone broth that can be found at dogcancerblog.com that includes a delicious recipe. Simply visit that website and type “bone broth” in the search bar. It will come right up.

Encourage Raw Bones

Raw bones, generally, are much safer than cooked bones. But there are still risk factors involved with raw bones. Dogs shouldn’t have pork bones (due to splintering/cracking), rib bones (crack), or any bone that’s smaller than their mouth because we want them to chew their bones.

Raw bones from cows are encouraged in most cases if you’re looking for a suitable raw bone. Make sure you know where the bone came from. Usually, pet parents will go to the butcher and grab a bunch. They’re easily stored in the freezer and you can thaw them one at a time.

From the Store

The only ‘from the store’ item I can truly encourage is the Greenie dental chew. I worked for Nutro Products Inc. as a Canine Nutritionist and studied Greenies extensively while I was there. Greenie dental chews are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, most dogs absolutely love them, and they’re easily digestible.

The Bottom Line

Here’s the bottom line. No cooked bones. Raw bones are generally acceptable from a cow (highly encouraged to purchase from the local butcher). Make sure the bone you choose is larger than your dog’s head at minimum. And, keep an eye on your furry companion to make sure all is well.

It all depends on the dog, and you know your dog best, but some dogs are able to splinter bones you wouldn’t even think they could (or other items). My brother’s dog chewed through a Kong Extreme. If you’re not sure what this is, it’s the toughest, most durable dog toy on the market for fetching and chewing. I’ve never seen that done before.

Anyway, I hope all of you had an awesome week and enjoy your weekend.

Until next time.