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It is fine to give your dog raw bones. There are
lots of benefits to this. Its a natural tooth brush so to
speak. It is a great way for vigorous chewers to have a
constructive way to vent that energy. It gives the dog
something to occupy him/her. And most importantly, it is
healthy and natural for them.
I have done this with my three dogs for
years without incident. I don't adjust the food amount
because the marrow doesn't amount to much of a meal. I don't
wash the bones, and I throw them out when they start to
wear...by that time all of the "meat" and marrow is off of
the bones. It is dry and it looks like a plain old dog toy.
Here are a few tips:
1. Get bones from some one reputable so they
are as fresh as possible.
2. Freeze them when you get home.
3. When you give one to your pooch, do it in
a place where they are confined. This makes the cleaning up
process easier for you. Try giving them the bone in the
kitchen, outside, or in their crate.
4. When the dog is finished, wash the
crate/floor with a bleach cleaner, or some vinegar and
hydrogen peroxide to kill off any bacteria that may make us
humans sick. I only have to do this a couple of times, if
that, because my dogs CLEAN the bones with pleasure. After
they have had their bones for a day or so, they are a
relatively clean.
5. Throw the bone out as they get smaller.
You don't want Fido choking on a small piece of bone.
The subject of raw feeding and bones, etc,
is a very misunderstood subject. It is making its way to the
mainstream now though. Dogs and people have different
digestive systems. I personally wouldn't eat a raw bone, but
my dogs tell me that they are great....for four years
strong.
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