hello there ,
can someone please clarify this for me ? I have looked at old threads and I'm still confused ( easily done ) I have a 11mnth dobe (murphy )and I,m still confused over bones . I,ve tried marrow bones - they upset his stomach too much . I understand about chicken and pork bones but what about lamb and is cooked ok ? I,ve tried the filled bones from the petshop but he,s not really interested I,m sorry if this is going over old ground but Ijust need it clearing up
thanks
LIZ

I have not given bones for the last 30 years or more and have never had a dog loose a tooth from decay. Bones are not necessary to the well being of a dog.

Regards, John

They sure keep Jake quiet though for an hour at a time in the garden, thus giving me a little rest ;)

Glad you're back John, where you been ??????

Beth

Hiya Beth ,
What kind of bones do you give him and are they cooked ?I know they don't need them as such but the ones he has had he does enjoy it's just that as he gets older and his jaw is more powerfull I want to make sure I don't give him anything dangerous
liz
ps .read alot about you john !!!!!!!

Hi Liz, I have mostly very large dogs, so I only ever give raw knuckle bones (ox hip bones) and then under supervision. I've never given cooked bones of any sort or pork or chicken bones. With one exception I don't have problems with teeth. The exception is an 18yo shetland sheepdog who is now down to two teeth (though he manages fine with those :-)), and old shelties are well known for having teeth problems. The only problem I've ever had with a bone was when a wolfie managed to get a splinter off a knuckle bone and get it stuck between two teeth so that it jabbed up into her palate, but I was there, so it was sorted in short order and without damage.

Hi Liz , i only ever give raw marrow bones , knuckles , that i get from the butchers . after 1-2 days of my dogs chewing them i throw them out , as they start to get chucks off ect as i don't want them to choke on any smaller parts . If i give any other bones ie: pet shop ones it tend to give them the runs so i don't bother now.

Whatever you've read about me Liz it's all lies!!!

Back in the old days, (pre Supermarket!!!) when the butcher called twice a week there were always plenty of bones available. Knuckle bones delivered twice a week and more than we really needed! Those were the days!

Then I read an article about the abrasiveness og bones wearing the enamel or dogs teeth and that was the point I stopped giving them.

Regards, John

As to where I've been Beth, had a bit of thinking to do so I took time out to sort things in my mind. Decided yu will have to put up with me for a bit longer yet. ;)

Hurrah Hurrah !!!!!!!!!!!! Pleased to hear it my friend :)

Beth x

-Ditto - :D :D

Raw Marrow bones Liz. I wouldn't give him any other type as I don't trust his demolition skills with them :p I used to give him deep fried lamb shanks and they kept him quiet for ages, but at 6 months, he started demolishing them and they splinter quite badly so I gave up on those. :(

I give him a marrowbone a week and pigs ears (twenty minutes in the garden with running about, pleased a p**s time - two minutes in the house!!), and 18" beef basted rawhide knots from Pets at Home - he loves those but you have to watch when they pull the knots off !!!!

Beth xx

P.S If his stomach is EVER slightly dicky, I give him none of any of the above !!!

I agree with John Liz.,

I never give my dogs bones, they have hyde chews, and that's about it..

Not had a problem yet with their teeth...

JMO

Natasha

I've stopped giving my dogs hide chews after a few bad experiences of my sisters dog getting them stuck down her throat. I just stick to those munchy rolls.

Helen

O.K. thanks for all the replys ,Murphy has hide chews and pigs ears ,( although not on his head :) ) he goes through them at a tremendous pace, marrow bones give him the trots and he won't entertain those nylobone things . I think I'm just looking for an alternative now and again
thanks
liz
( ha ha first face )

Steve have you tried Pedigree Denta Rask "bones". Supposed to clean their teeth too. My two love them they come in different sizes too
Gina

Hi Gina
yes thanks tried those ,they have a lifespan of approx 2mins but thanks anyway .It,s nice to hear what other people feed their dogs
LIZ

My dogs are the same Helen, I have to watch them eat it, can't leave them alone as they will fight, have to watch them so they don't choke when they try and eat 3/4 of the chew in one go !! :D

Natasha

Just a piece of useless information.
In the past we gave our dogs straight marrow bones from the butcher but I've not been able to get them anymore. The butchers I've tried say they're really difficult to get now because they no longer cut up the carcasses in the shops, they're all cut up at the abbatoir nowadays.
Dot

Don't give bones either, but because it is the only thing that makes my dogs aggresive to one another and I always had to go round taking them back so now I give hide chews, never had a problem but I use the large hard cigar type. 2 of my dogs have broken teeth but they both sort out their own chews, house bricks & lumps of concreat, which I remove but they will go find something else to damage themselves on, And after all these year must admit I take less notice, else you would be forever on a high of worry. Ja:)kie

Hello Steve I would never ever give my dogs bones, having had a bull terrier
get one lodged in her throat and near to death operation never again "
and the Vets I use are the big teaching hospital in london and they state never any bones of any kind .but each to there own choice really .

Pat xx

thanks for all the replys
I think I'll stick with the hide bones and pigs ears ,just didn't like to think the boy was missing out on anything
thanks
Liz

Liz

D'you give the boy ice cubes. Jakes loves them and they USED to keep him occupied for a while, but having said that, he gets soooooooo excited over a bit of frozen water, it's worth it for comedy value.....And who said mutts were clever........;)

Beth x

I give bones huge meaty bones , that will keep them occupied for hours . When they have finished pulling and tearing the meat away I throw the bones in the bin [in a bag] .
It is not the bone that gives the excercise to the head and jaw and cleans the teeth it is the tearing off the meat .
Marie