Dogs and bones go together like peanut butter and jelly. It seems as though the two are an inseparable attraction, as if there’s no other treat that would make a dog so happy. Canines have been enjoying bones in their natural habitat for forever, but are bones actually good and safe for dogs?
Bad Bones
It’s true, there are some dog bones that the FDA warns can be extremely dangerous, even deadly, for dogs. These bones are cooked bones, and should be avoided at all cost. When bones go through the cooking process – whether baked, boiled or heated in some other way, they become much more brittle and prone to break and splinter easier. This is dangerous as your dog will continue to chew on cooked bones as if they’re raw, the result being one of many terrible issues: mouth or tongue injuries, broken teeth, bones that get stuck in the throat or windpipe, bones that get stuck or splinter in the stomach, bleeding from the rectum, or a devastating infection caused by bone fragments that poke holes in the lining of the stomach.
Good Bones
Raw bones are actually safe in regards to your dog’s health, and can actually be a healthy treat for them to enjoy. Dogs actually love bones and crave chomping on them because they enjoy the stimulation, they like to exercise their jaws and because, quite frankly, some of them taste great.
In order to treat your pet with a healthy treat that he’ll enjoy, give him recreational bones. Recreational bones are the big bones that are entirely too large for your dog to actually eat, rather, he’ll get lots of enjoyment from simply chewing. There’s little to no nutritional value in these larger recreational bones, but they are great for mentally stimulating dogs and keeping their teeth and jaws in great health. Chewing on a good recreational bone is the equivalent of a human brushing and flossing teeth, helping to prevent gum disease and to break down tartar and bacteria.
So – some dog bones are bad, some are good. The important thing is that you learn the difference and stick to what’s healthy for your pet.
What is your puppy’s favorite kind of dog bone? For more on dog safety, click the links below!
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