I would like to start giving my lad bones to keep his teeth clean.

He is 16 months old and weighs 32 + kg I feed him dry kibble and tripe, are raw marrow bones safe to give him, or are their any others you would recommend?

I do clean his teeth, but getting the back ones done are not easy! LOL

Thanks in advance.

Donna

My dogs all love their raw bones,chicken wings,pigs trotters,ears etc.I get a couple of large bags a week from my butchers and especially in the summer the woos love them frozen.I don't give small lamb bones as these splinter.We brought a 12 year old Malamute into our family at Christmas who had dreadful teeth and had never seen a bone in his life.But now enjoys a munch on a marrow bone and even after 2 weeks we noticed a big difference in his teeth.

That's odd, I've had the opposite information - ie large weight bearing bones are more likely to splinter, such as marrow bones, yet smaller bones from younger animals are less likely to splinter, confusing??  I only feed chicken carcasses/wings and lamb bones, and haven't ever had a problem.  I have however heard of problems with marrow bones, so don't give mine them any more, and always suggest if anyone asks, that you supervise them with these types of bones.  Someone I know very nearly lost their bitch when a large piece splintered off and lodged in her oesophagus. 

I usually get a tray of lamb bones from the butchers each week, my two love the neck and backbone, and it keeps them busy for at least five mines, chuckle! 

I thought it was load bearing bones that have the likelyhood of splinters as well. I would also expect lamb bones to be more pliable due to the fact the animals will be younger and so the bones would be softer ?

I give my crew all bones from most animals you can get from a butcher. There is always a risk with feeding raw but weighing up the pros and cons I am happoy to carry on feeding bones to my girls.

Their favourite is turkey legs !

My Butcher gives me mixed bags,I throw the small bones away (as I have large breed dogs this would cause a choking hazzard),I have found that smaller lamb bones splinter,but they enjoy breast of lamb,they will have pigs trotters and part legs,and despite some concerns with pork they enjoy spare ribs etc.They will have some bones that contain marrow,and it really frustrates them when their tongues aren't long enough to reach all the tasty bits,but it keeps them amused for ages.I have fed my dogs raw bones for 27 years and haven't had any issues,but unfortunately problems can occur.My friends large breed dog recently had a perforated bowel due to chicken wings/carcasses,so it can happen.

I also find if they do have marrow bones we have a very misty smelly house from the effects it has on their tummies ! :-D

The large marrow bones are the ones most likely to fracture a dog's molars.

The large marrow bones are the ones most likely to fracture a dog's molars.

I gave my girl who weighs 40kg a large marrow bone to keep her occupied after her cruciate op.  She ended up back in the vets two days later having all the bone splinters  flushed out.  She was screaming in pain when she tried to poo because of the bits of bone.
I will never feed any bones again.