The best alternatives to bones for dogs
Dogs and bones go together like Tom and Jerry right? Well, many vets are actually moving away from recommending bones for dogs because they can cause more harm than good if care is not taken, and the benefits to their dental health don’t outweigh the risks.
If you still want to feed your dog bones, here’s what you need to know.
Say no to raw bones
NEVER ever feed your dog cooked bones. When bones are cooked, they become brittle which can lead to them splintering. This can be a choking hazard or could even pierce your dog’s throat. While cooked bones are certainly not safe for dogs, neither are all raw bones and there is always a risk when giving a dog ANY type of bone. However, if you want to give your dog a bone, these are the best bones to give:
Knee joints
Ribs
Chicken necks
If you have to, give large bones
Choking is the leading cause of dog-related fatalities. Just like humans, dogs can choke on food or other objects that are too big for them to swallow. It's important to choose safe bones for your dog and only give them bones that are appropriate for their size and chewing ability. One way of seeing if a bone is big enough is to make sure it's bigger than your dog’s head.
Bone safety tips
Always supervise your dog when they have a bone
Bones are for chewing - strip the meat off the bone before you feed your dog
Don’t let your dog bury their bone - bones will dry and if they are chewed again, can splinter
Don’t let your dog chew their bone for more than an hour because it could also dry up and splinter
Don’t let your dog chew through their bone
Avoid artificial bones like rawhide as these can contain nasty additives
The best alternatives to dog bones
Here’s what our vets recommend instead of giving a bone:
Carrots - low calorie and super safe
Dried chicken or fish - still crunchy and can be scattered around the garden for enrichment
Greenies or Oravet - will keep your dog’s breath fresh
Pigs ears - give sparingly as they can be too rich for some dogs
Frozen peanut butter-filled Kongs - will keep them entertained for hours