Raw meaty bones - yes or no??

[danisgoat]

I would never give mine cooked bones. All the research I've done it all says bones should be given raw otherwise they can splinter. Cooking changes the bone's composition - making it brittle. My vet and various dog nutritionists that I've talked to all say to feed it raw. May I ask what your vet's reasoning was to have you boil the bones first?

Definitely should be raw. I also read/heard/been told that any type of cooking of the bones can cause them to splinter. My friend who feeds raw, doesn't even use hot water if she needs to thaw her food.....she is afraid that the heat could change the composition of the bones.

 

[RetiredProf]

Ania and friends: I believe the vet is concerned about bacteria or some pathogens on the raw bones. That's my guess, anyway. I've never had a marrow bone split, though, even cooked.

UGGH! Now what? Should I switch to raw?

 

[Caro]

Mine are back on small raw bones for breakfast (get the weight down). I only give larger bones (like marrow and shanks) occassionaly because Deska will actually crunch them open - yep, even the big ones. I stopped giving the smaller ones after Tully got a couple caught in her back teeth. But it makes a huge difference to their teeth and breath.

I will say, the vet said a couple of Deska's diarrhea episodes could be from digging up old bones and them upsetting his internal bacteria (mainly because of the microbes from the soil)

 

[Katniss]

Okay, so really stupid question. If I am feeding raw bones, to be sure that their is no bateria should I serve them frozen and then disguard as they get too warm? I live in Vegas and although it's nice right now (hovering at about 40 Degrees in the day) I would not want a raw bone in my backyard for more than 15 minutes or so in the Spring/Summer/Fall heat.

Should I be overly concerned about this?

 

[romeosangiovese]

I give pork knuckles on weekends. I just leave it out until Romeo's done (and tries to hide it around the house), then I'll take it and throw it out. I don't usually serve it frozen coz I find he doesn't like it quite as much and the thawing leaves pools of bloody fluid on the ground.

It's about 30 degrees C/85 degrees F here year round. Hotter outside, maybe a bit cooler inside with the fan on. Haven't had problems with bacteria and what not. The dog's stomach is usually very acidic if it's been on raw and can deal with that level of bacteria.

 

[Ania]

Dogs saliva and stomachs are equipped to deal with the bacteria that we are not. Mine have never had an issue. Sometimes I give it to them frozen and othertimes I don't. I don't worry much about it going 'bad' as they get through them quite quickly. The larger knuckle bones are around much longer, but they don't have any meat left on them - my two like to gnaw at the cancelous bone. They aren't aggressive chewers, so I am not worried about chipping any teeth.

 

[Caro]

Once the bones have no meat on them I try to throw them out (if Deska lets me at them) so they dont sit around the yard for days collecting flies.

The problem with the burying bones ws not the bone going off - it was the microbes in the soil.

 

[lukabear]

Okay, I really want to start giving the boys some raw bones...

They're on TOTW kibble once a day, and veggies in the morning with some cooked liver around once a week.

They'll be a year old in april so I have some questions for yall that feed raw bones.

1. What's the best bone to start with, for dogs that have never eaten raw?

I mentioned it to my mom, but she's convinced that raw chicken = salmonella = death, lol. We have a good butcher nearby, so variety shouldn't be an issue.

2. Silly question, Do yall just take the raw bones with meat out of the package and give it? Is there any other prep I need to do?

 

[danisgoat]

Okay, I really want to start giving the boys some raw bones...

They're on TOTW kibble once a day, and veggies in the morning with some cooked liver around once a week.

They'll be a year old in april so I have some questions for yall that feed raw bones.

1. What's the best bone to start with, for dogs that have never eaten raw?

I mentioned it to my mom, but she's convinced that raw chicken = salmonella = death, lol. We have a good butcher nearby, so variety shouldn't be an issue.

2. Silly question, Do yall just take the raw bones with meat out of the package and give it? Is there any other prep I need to do?

I am not sure about the age thing. Maybe someone else can help you. I buy marrow bones from the butcher and freeze them. I give them the bones straight from the freezer.

 

[Abby's Dad]

Okay, I really want to start giving the boys some raw bones...

They're on TOTW kibble once a day, and veggies in the morning with some cooked liver around once a week.

They'll be a year old in april so I have some questions for yall that feed raw bones.

1. What's the best bone to start with, for dogs that have never eaten raw?

I mentioned it to my mom, but she's convinced that raw chicken = salmonella = death, lol. We have a good butcher nearby, so variety shouldn't be an issue.

2. Silly question, Do yall just take the raw bones with meat out of the package and give it? Is there any other prep I need to do?

If your as concerned as I am about bones I would find a local store and go visit with them and see what they sell and what they recommend. I visited a store yesterday and decided to only go with turkey necks because the chicken raw meaty bones looked small and Abby eats fast so it was not recommended. If your dogs eat slow then they can have any of them. The owner of the store also does not recommend larger bones with small dogs because they could chip a tooth. You need to be comfortable with what you feed your dogs and trust who you buy bones from so thats why I suggest visiting a store. I feed Abby Primal raw chicken food and the local store i buy her food from does not carry bones so i did a search on primal website and called around till i found a store that sells raw bones. Hope this helps.