Bones

[Suzy]

I know about the BARF diet, but the vet recommended a bone for Emma's teeth-does anyone have any advice on specifically what cut/size/type I should get for her? I feed raw homeprepared food, but not bones/meat right now. Emma is a POWER CHEWER, and cannot have things like rawhide, bully stix, or anything else like that because she gets mean and protective of her chewies, and if she thinks we're going to take it from her, she will swallow it if it's too small. I'm nervous about giving her a real bone, but if it's best for her and safe, I will try it.

Any advice?

[bjh]

I have read on here where some people get beef femur bones that are cut 1/2 to 1 inch thick. You would just have to check with the butcher in the meat department and maybe they could help you. I just let mine chew on cow ears and I have never had any problems with them.

[Suzy]

I got some marrow bones tonight-they are big enough that Emma can't get the whole thing in her mouth-and boy did she love it! I gave her one-but have another 2 lbs frozen. Are these ok to give every other day or so? How long at a time should I let her have one? When should I throw them out?

[abbie's mom]

Most beef bones are too dense for dogs' teeth. Weight-bearing bones - recreational (better known as "wreck" because of the damage to teeth) marrow bones are definite no-no's. Otherwise, any consumable RAW bone is fine. Chicken, pork ribs, rabbit, squirrel.

[Suzy]

Hmmm...I'm confused-weight bearing bones are recreational only? Marrow bones are no-no's? They are raw. I really don't want to give her a raw chicken bone, and I thought pork was definite no-no for yorkies. Where do you go about getting rabbit and squirrel bones short of hunting them yourself?

the vet said to give her something that would clean her teeth. Plus, she will swallow anything that she can break or get small enough to fit in her mouth, so I'm more comfortable with something she CAN'T fully consume.

[abbie's mom]

Suzy,

I'm just giving what advice I have gleaned from 5 years' experience of feeding a RAW prey model diet, and what I have learned from many other prey model feeders. You might consider joining this group, to read and ask questions about acceptable bones. Also, the link in my sig is a good source for learning about prey model feeding - which includes acceptable/unacceptable bone sources.

You can pick up rabbit in your local supermarket. It's rather pricey, but it can be found. An asian market might have squirrel, or some folks do have friends who hunt.

[Suzy]

I want you to know I truly appreciate your advice and sharing your knowledge with me. I don't feed a raw prey model diet, but I do feed raw meat/home prepared. I keep mostly vegetarian, so even the raw meat and the occasional bone is a lot for me But, I do it because I believe it's best for my dogs. (Though, I don't know what I'd do if I saw squirrel in a supermarket!! Now that you mention it, I have seen rabbit. Hopefully they won't have any around Easter though-talk about traumatizing kids! ) I'll keep an eye out, and head to the larger, more "gourmet" grocery stores and see if I can't find some other types of bones.

Can I give her the occasional marrow bone as long as she doesn't chew too long? She REALLY liked the meat that was in/on it. She ate all that off first, and didn't really chew the bone until all the meat was gone.