Healthy Dog Bones

Healthy dog bones may be fed to your pet and come in many forms, from natural bones to artificial products. It is important to consider the benefits and the risks of the different bone types and choose the right product for your dog.

Bones Are Important for Your Dog's Health

There are many health benefits that dogs get from chewing bones:

  • The dental health in dogs is maintained by their natural habit of chewing on various hard objects or food. Chewing on a bone will help remove plaque off the teeth. The gums will be healthier due to the removal of bacterial plaque. Many dental problems and visits to the dentist can be avoided by giving a dog something to chew on.
  • Chewing healthy dog bones helps exercise mouth joints and muscles.
  • Chewing bones is a form of entertainment for dogs. A dog that has nothing to chew on can more easily become nervous or bored, and start chewing on furniture and shoes out of boredom.
  • Bones are a good natural source of calcium and protein.

Risks of Bones for Dogs

Chewing is a great pleasure for a dog; however, there are some things you should consider:

  • Cooked bones should be avoided because they tend to hinder digestion. Never give sawed or cut bones to your dog, as there is a high risk of bone splinters.
  • More and more dog owners are considering raw diets for their dogs, and bones are often included in this diet. However, you should know that there is a chance of choking on a bone, or a bone fragment can block the dog's intestines or cause organ puncture.
  • Rawhide bones taste like beef, because they're made of cow skin. As rawhide becomes sticky when chewed, it may become stuck in the dog's intestinal tract, just as chewing gum would. Also, as pieces of the rawhide are torn, they can scratch the dog's esophagus. If you decide to give rawhide bones to your dog, you should also check the preservatives used. Compressed rawhide bones are a better option.
  • Cow hooves can also be dangerous. Because they are very hard, the dog can break a tooth while chewing on them. Small pieces broken from the cow hoof can perforate the bowel walls.
  • When it comes to pig ears, the first thing you should be aware of is the danger of salmonella. Pig ears can also cause intestinal blockages, just as rawhide.

Recommended Healthy Dog Bones

Artificial bones which are made of nylon eliminate the risk of choking or organ punctures, because only small bits can be broken off these bones. These really small parts travel through the digestive tract and are eliminated without harming the dog. However, your dog might not enjoy them as much, so you will have to observe his reaction and whether he enjoys these bones.

Cornstarch bones are the safest for dogs to chew on, provided that the dog does not have food allergies.

 

Comments