Eating whole joint bones?

[stacwase]

I brought two great big soup bones home yesterday and boiled them up for the dogs. They look like maybe they're hip bones - big joints. Jake just chewed the meat off his and left the bone - but before I even knew it, Max had eaten his entire bone and almost finished Jake's!

Since the bones were fresh and not old and splintery, do you think it will be OK? The calcium must be good for him, but I'm worried about sharp edges in his intestines.

[Logan]

If you boiled them long enough to make them soft, I would imagine they would be fine, but I can understand your concern. I'd just be on extra diligent "poop patrol" to make sure everything passes through as it should!

[Christiansmommy]

Actually, you really should never boil the bones for the dogs...they splinter that way. MY breeder couldnt stress that enough to me (he has been breeding large breed dogs for 20 years and has a great deal of knowledge...but other than him, anyone who does the barf diet will tell you to never cook the bones)...If you give it to them raw and they eat it all up...they would be fine. Part of the raw food diet is eating raw food as well as the bones (raw, not cooked)...you can look up info on this about the BARF diet online. They always say to never give a dog a cooked bone...

I know to some people the idea of giving a dog an uncooked bone is gross, but it is really the only safe way that they can eat it...

Anyway, i just thought i would let you know. I would just keep an eye out when they poop.

[Christiansmommy]

Here is a piece i found online about cooking bones... it's from a Raw Diet website...questions and answers...RMB stands for Raw Meat Bones...and here is the question...

Can I use my microwave for thawing RMBs?

When using a microwave to thaw RMBs, you must be extremely careful, as the microwave can begin to cook the food from the inside (the bones) out. Thawing RMBs in the microwave is NOT the recommended method. NEVER, EVER give your dog a cooked bone, as it can splinter and cause severe internal complications. The safest method of thawing is room temperature or, if you're in a bit of a hurry, soak the RMBs in cold water in the kitchen sink.

here is the link where i found it...

http://www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm#micro

I wouldnt worry too much, i just wouldnt do it again...i wasnt aware about not giving cooked bones until my breeder told me about and then i researched it...anyway, i wouldnt worry, i am sure your dog chewed it well...just keep an eye on the poops...

Robyn

[Logan]

My dogs have regularly enjoyed beef rib bones, after they have been cooked. They are so hard, they can't even break them. I have also had pork rib bones that crumbled to the touch and they have enjoyed them. But I do agree with Robyn that you definitely have to be careful where cooked bones are concerned, especially chicken.

Logan

[stacwase]

Oh, boy! I thought I was doing the right thing by cooking it. He ate two huge ones! I'll watch out for blood in his poop. I hope nothing happens.

So - it's OK to eat whole bones raw, though? I was thinking that if they like eating bones they must be getting something they need from them. If it's OK to do it, maybe I'll give them raw joint bones every 2 weeks or so.

Thanks for your help, everybody.

[Christiansmommy]

Yes, they can eat whole raw bones ( i guess the size could determine if they would be able to eat the whole thing or not). But if you want to be sure and feel confident about it...you can give your vet a call and ask there opinion on raw vs. cooked. My breeder told me to go to the butcher and get the knuckle bones (infact my grocery store sells them pre-package for like $1.50 each, since so many people have requested them)...and he suggets that we give it to the dog outside, b/c they are raw...and that way you dont have to worry about it getting all over the house. If they dont eat all of the bone (depending on size of bone), throw out after a few days (maybe sooner)...b/c since it isnt cooked, bacteria could grow. You may just want to ask your vet if you have any concerns.

BTW, my dog has only ever eaten bones from a chicken back...so they are relatively small. The large bones, i would guess, could be hard on your dogs teeth after a while. When in doubt, call your vet.

I would also always monitor the dog while they are chewing the bones...don't leave unattended.

[binka_nugget]

Cooked bones are a no-no. Raw bones...well, different people have different opinions. I gave them daily to Kai for dinner. He did fine, nothing went wrong in those 4 months. I took him off (for now) because we don't have much storage space for the bones..and buying in bulk is wayyyy cheaper.

I gave Kai mainly chicken or turkey bones. He got chicken wings, chicken backs, chicken thighs, turkey necks, duck necks and some beef bones for chewing. His daily bones, he ate. But for the beef bones, I'd take them away after a while. I'd maybe give it to him for 20 minutes in his crate then take it away.

[stacwase]

Thank you, everybody. Max has apparently survived this without complications, luckily. I think in a week or so I'll give him a raw knuckle bone.

[lv4dogs]

My dogs eat them all the time, but about 95% of the time they are raw. Done this for 25+ years & never had a problem. My dad used to be a butcher so they do & did get a lot of bones. Knock on wood

[stacwase]

Wow! My dad was a butcher, too! I don't know many people who have that in common with me.

[wolfsoul]

All bones can splinter, cooked or raw (though cooked bones will be softer and therefore easier to break). Check out these pictures.

[cali]

uh no, cooked bones are brittle thats why they break, raw bones are soft and plyable, that is why they are safe, they can be bend without breaking, a cooked bone will snap in half like nothing.