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I have a border collie and am new to raw feeding. Have a question about bones. When feeding raw beef rib bones, do I let him swallow the bone once all the meat is gone or do I take it away? I've given him chicken drum sticks and he takes the entire thing down. I'm now starting him on beef ribs and want to know how to do it safely. Thanks!
You can feed RAW chicken and other bird bones to dogs. My dogs get Chicken or turkey necks, Chicken backs, chicken feet, drumsticks all fed raw as raw bones do not splinter. You just need to make sure they are chewing them and not swallowing them whole.
Beef bones are ok BUT Never Feed a dog Chicken or any other Bird Bones!!
I know what you mean about feeding them chicken bones. One dog we fed chicken bones (like we do both our dogs now) every time we had chicken and he finally died...of old age at 15.
I understand about the chicken bones being ok, as long as they're raw. As far as beef bones, not to feed weight bearing bones (marrow bones) as it can crack their teeth. Beef ribs can be a concern if they swallow it whole as it will be stuck in the throat and not reach the stomach acids to digest. I'm still on the fence about giving my border collie beef rib bones, and leaning toward beef neck bones. Anyone have a good source for goat or lamb bones? That would be the safest.
I understand about the chicken bones being ok, as long as they're raw. As far as beef bones, not to feed weight bearing bones (marrow bones) as it can crack their teeth. Beef ribs can be a concern if they swallow it whole as it will be stuck in the throat and not reach the stomach acids to digest. I'm still on the fence about giving my border collie beef rib bones, and leaning toward beef neck bones. Anyone have a good source for goat or lamb bones? That would be the safest.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BCC_1
Do you have a local butcher? That's where I get all my bones. Tell them what you want they'll set it aside.
Availability of some of this stuff may vary by state, due to state regulations. FYI.
I'm a firm believer in good bones for dogs. Keeps their teeth nice and clean. However, even with appropriate bones and supervision, all may not be well in puppy-land. I gave my previous hounds beef neck bones, among others. They are a good meaty chew. I gave the same to my current two: English Shepherds, a cousin farmcollie breed to Border Collies. BC are typically a bit lighter in weight and frame. My ES are ~50 lbs, give or take. And they both broke teeth. The 1st broken tooth was on beef neck bones. The 2nd broken tooth was on chicken - which - as you know - is much less substantial than beef bones.
Anyway, they don't get any bones anymore. While I think my two's teeth are just weak, any vet will tell you when they see broken teeth, it is most commonly associated with chewing on bones. If my two had otherwise good dentition, I might continue to give them bones. But they don't, so I don't.
All that is just to say YMMV!
As for letting the dog eat the beef bones? First off, I would avoid giving my dogs any beef bones that were small enough to swallow whole. If the dog can chew the bone down small enough to swallow, shouldn't be a problem. Dogs have bigger gullets (throats) than people, because they typically don't chew their food much. Bones do digest, so that isn't usually a problem, although under some rarer circumstances they can contribute to blockage. They may poop white tomorrow! All that calcium, you know.
Availability of some of this stuff may vary by state, due to state regulations. FYI.
I'm a firm believer in good bones for dogs. Keeps their teeth nice and clean. However, even with appropriate bones and supervision, all may not be well in puppy-land. I gave my previous hounds beef neck bones, among others. They are a good meaty chew. I gave the same to my current two: English Shepherds, a cousin farmcollie breed to Border Collies. BC are typically a bit lighter in weight and frame. My ES are ~50 lbs, give or take. And they both broke teeth. The 1st broken tooth was on beef neck bones. The 2nd broken tooth was on chicken - which - as you know - is much less substantial than beef bones.
Anyway, they don't get any bones anymore. While I think my two's teeth are just weak, any vet will tell you when they see broken teeth, it is most commonly associated with chewing on bones. If my two had otherwise good dentition, I might continue to give them bones. But they don't, so I don't.
All that is just to say YMMV!
As for letting the dog eat the beef bones? First off, I would avoid giving my dogs any beef bones that were small enough to swallow whole. If the dog can chew the bone down small enough to swallow, shouldn't be a problem. Dogs have bigger gullets (throats) than people, because they typically don't chew their food much. Bones do digest, so that isn't usually a problem, although under some rarer circumstances they can contribute to blockage. They may poop white tomorrow! All that calcium, you know.
Wow, breaking a tooth on a chicken bone! I've never heard of a dog doing that. I'm sure it happens, I've just never heard of it. The lamb neck bones I get from the butcher are perfect. Plenty of cartilage.
There are regulations in the US on the sale of bones? Seems like everything needs some bureaucrat making up laws and regulations.
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