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Katelou1980 · 25-10-2016, 07:10 PM

Hello all

It's been a while since I've been on here but have recently seen loads of articles people have posted via Facebook etc about new warnings on the dangers of feeding raw bones to dogs.... I thought you weren't supposed to feed COOKED bones but raw was ok?

Monty has a couple of chicken wings or pork ribs once a day and I'm now wondering if this poses a danger to him?

Have a read and tell me what you think
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...-not-to-do-it/

**JohnW** · 25-10-2016, 07:46 PM

It's a case of your wrong if you do and your wrong if you don't.

So, the facts. Cooked poultry bones are a big No no, end of statement. By and large these are small easily broken bones which when cooked are hard and brittle. These bones can easily pierce the throat, stomach, intestines or bowel. THEY ARE DANGEROUS!!!

Fed raw these bones are relatively soft and chewable, particularly chicken wings which many people feed. But they are still not without risk, although the risk is not from the bones themselves, rather from what they may carry. Salmonella is the biggest risk here.

Possibly the same thing applies to other bones. Cooked chop bones are brittle like chicken bones and should never be fed. Beef marrow bones are probably better raw, although in the days of my first dog at the time of food shortages at the end of WW2, if there was any meat on the bone they went into a beef stew along with any other meat we had before my dog got a look in. Again there is a risk, but not as great as poultry.

But then, bones are not needed in a dog's diet. Yes they are great for keeping a dog amused, but food value is minimal. I've not fed bones to my dogs for the last 50 years.

Regards, John

**JohnW** · 25-10-2016, 07:51 PM

"Latest figures from the PDSA showed that last year its hospitals treated 59 dogs who swallowed bones, although no figures for injuries or fatalities were available."

Considering the several million dogs in the country I'd say the risks are rather low! Particularly when they cant even tell us how many of that 59 were serious cases. I'd guess the Telegraph was running short of news to print that day!

John

Canoe Dog · 25-10-2016, 09:01 PM

The article mentions a ham knuckle bone and I wonder if it was smoked? Here, Canada, knuckle bones (don't know if ham or beef) can be found smoked at butcher shops and pet stores and I've found some sales staff think that equated to raw. I tried one, it splintered as my dog was gnawing on it, no more smoked for us. I cannot find a raw knuckle bone.

Coco-Loco · 25-10-2016, 10:49 PM

I got my two a little treat yesterday (free from the farm shop)

PS, sorry if one pic is on its side, it wasn't before I tried to upload it.

Katelou1980 · 25-10-2016, 11:25 PM

Wowser-that looks like a dinosaur bone!!

John, it would seem as you say, you can't do wrong for doing right. We feed raw mixed with dry diet purely as we'd read the benefits to clean teeth (especially with chicken wings) and we've found bones help firm up his stools. Perhaps we're wrong?

So far, no issues apart from one mishap where a bone got stuck between his teeth (easily fixed). We do watch him and he adores his evening bone!

Perhaps a bigger bone that can't be ingested but just gnawed at would be better?

Hmmm, smoked could be the case-we never feed cooked for all the dangerous things we've read

phoboe · 26-10-2016, 12:29 PM

I never fed my dogs bones (raw or cooked) just to be safe. I wouldn't want taking risks.

PhilG · 26-10-2016, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnW

But they are still not without risk, although the risk is not from the bones themselves, rather from what they may carry. Salmonella is the biggest risk here.

Take a look at this, small numbers I know and from one side of the fence so probably slightly biased too!

http://www.rawfeedingrebels.com/can-...-raw-dog-food/

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnW

But then, bones are not needed in a dog's diet. Yes they are great for keeping a dog amused, but food value is minimal. I've not fed bones to my dogs for the last 50 years.

Great for keeping the teeth clean! And coming from a different angle, what do you think is in your chicken kibble, finest chicken breast?

LHR_Tim · 26-10-2016, 02:40 PM

I suspect more dogs are taken in for kibble related issues

I feed raw. However, my George will tear though a huge raw bone -- and end up bunged up. So I get what the French call "os à moelle" (sliced marrow bone). They get a chop but not enough bone to bung him up. That said, no issues with Alfie.

Canoe Dog · 26-10-2016, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnW

But then, bones are not needed in a dog's diet. Yes they are great for keeping a dog amused, but food value is minimal. I've not fed bones to my dogs for the last 50 years.

Regards, John

Don't you need to feed bones, whole or ground up, for the calcium content if you feed a raw diet?

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