I was wondering if bones from cured meat is suitable for a dog?

I know cooked/roasted bones are a big no-no, but I was wondering where cured meat bones stand? They are uncooked, and in the case of Parma Ham, are often kept in the meat during the curing process and then cut out so the meat can be sliced (well, this is how it's done in the region of Italy where my partner comes from, although technically it isn't Parma Ham, as this can only come from Parma!)

I was wondering if they would be suitable for my puppy/dog, as I can get these bones easily from my local Italian supermarket (in the UK). They smell delicious (I have bought one I have had to hide form my partner incase he wants to have a go with it!) and are still technically raw, but without the wet meat you get on fresh raw bones.

What do people think?

What would worry me is do the bones dry out as well? If the bones are dry then they may well be prone to splintering and that is what you don't want ....

The bones are still 'moist', as is the meat. The bones certainly appear to be 'raw' as you would expect to buy from the butchers, but the meat is just a darker colour from the curing process. The bones and the meat is still moist enough that I would have to wipe up after it!!!

It is a difficult call isn't it??

Also would the curing not make the bone salty??
Anne

I am not sure without tasting it myself... !

I am going to ask my father-in-law (who is from a farming community in Italy) to ask exactly how these bones are treated during the curing process, to find out about salt etc. I am also going to start looking for butchers in my area who will sell me raw bones (moved here a few months back and haven't seen a butchers at all!)

Thanks for the comments. I am new to dog ownership, so need all the help I can get!

If there are so many doubts about these bones why not just get normal raw meaty bones which we know are the safest type of bone to feed a dog.

I was only asking because I was given one of these bones by an Italian relative for my puppy - it was supposed to be a kind gesture.

I will use raw bones.

I would, until your father-in-law can give you some advice anyway. Nice of your relatives though. The only dog related present my family has ever given me was a hair removing brush! ;) :p

And whatever you end up trying can I suggest watching the pooch most carefully with the first ones?  My soft-mouthed Lab devoured half of a 10" real dried bone in about 15 minutes.  I'm sure it went down in chunks so no more of those for her.  It was a Christmas present from her Grandma.

My main concern would be that the cure will almost certainly contain a very high level of salt, which will not be great for your dog.

Have spoken to my partner's Italian relatives, and the salt is used only around the meat and not on the bone at all. The meat straight off the bone is dry in texture but not salty. The salt is used on the outside, and the bones remains encased in the meat until the curing process is over, when it is cut out and disgarded, given to the farm dogs, used for stock and the 101 other ways Italian women make minor miracles in the kitchen.