10 Reasons NOT to give Your Dog a Bone What kind of bones are safe for dogs? What is the best bone for a dog? Is it safe to give a dog a bone? Are bones for dogs real bones? Which Bones Are Safe for Dog? Dog Bones Safety Guide Chewing Dog & Puppy Bones Dog B.O.N.E Dog and Puppy Bones & Treats Buy Dog Bones and Treats Online Dog & Puppy Chew Toys Dog Bones Variety, Types and Comparison Dog Bones: Raw, Edible, Treats, Dental, Rawhide
DOG BONES ARE UNSAFE ! This article proudly presented by Bill Hendrick WebMD Pet Health News
Pet owners commonly give their dogs bones as a reward, but the FDA says in a new consumer warning that it's not good for dogs to chew on bones because they can cause serious injury or even death.
"Some people think it's safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast," Carmela Stamper, DVM, a veterinarian in the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, says in an FDA Consumer Update. "Bones are unsafe no matter what their size. Giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to your veterinarian's office later, possible emergency surgery, or even death."
Stamper says pet owners should throw away bones from meals and make sure dogs can't sniff out and find discarded bones. She suggests putting bones in the trash immediately, or out of the dog's reach until you have a chance to dispose of them safely.
And when you are walking Fido around the neighborhood, pay attention to what the dog sniffs and "steer him away from any objects lying in the grass."
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
10 REASONS WHY ITS A BAD IDEA TO GIVE YOUR DOG A BONE This article proudly presented by WWW.DOGICA.COM
Broken Teeth. Bones can break teeth, requiring expensive veterinary dentistry.
Mouth or tongue injuries. Bones can break and become sharp, causing bloody, messy injuries also requiring treatment by a vet.
Bone gets looped around your dog's lower jaw. This can be frightening or painful for your dog, and potentially costly because a veterinarian's help is usually required.
Bone gets stuck in esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that food travels through to reach the stomach. If a bone gets stuck here, your dog may gag and drool. Removal of the bone can be difficult, requiring endoscopic equipment or a complicated surgery. If the bone is not removed promptly, the esophagus may rupture and cause a life-threatening infection in the chest cavity.
Bone gets stuck in windpipe. This happens if your dog accidentally inhales a small piece of bone and can be an emergency if your pet has trouble breathing. When this happens, the FDA says, get the dog to the vet immediately.
Bone gets stuck in stomach. The bone may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. When this happens, invasive surgery or an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy may be required. An endoscopy is a procedure in which a veterinarian uses a long, flexible tube with a built-in camera to find the bone and then remove it with special grabbing tools.
Bone gets stuck in intestines. This causes an intestinal blockage, requiring prompt surgery.
Constipation due to bone fragments. Dogs may have a hard time passing bone fragments, because they are sharp and can scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move toward the outside world. This can cause severe pain and may require a trip to the vet.
Severe bleeding from the rectum. When this happens, it's not only messy but dangerous for your pet, which will need to see a veterinarian.
Peritonitis.This is a hard-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen, caused by bone fragments poking holes in the dog's stomach or intestines. Aggressive and expensive care is needed to manage this problem. Left untreated, peritonitis is fatal.
GOOD DOG BONES: THE SAFETY GUIDE This article proudly presented by WWW.GALLANT.COM
Dogs and bones are a classic combo. But after years of trial and error, we now know that bones are not always safe for dogs. In fact, some bones can be fatal to our furry friends. On the other hand, some bones can give your pup wonderful health benefits! The wrong bones can shatter and splinter in your dog's mouth, posing serious health threats. Bones are extremely sharp when broken and will slice through your pup's mouth easily. And if your dog manages to swallow any remanence of the bone, the shard can damage internal organs and gastrointestinal processes. Luckily, you can prevent injury by knowing which type of bone is best for your dog.
In past years, there have been reports of dogs getting sick from bones purchased in pet stores. These bones were all commercially available and had seasoning and preservative content present. It is best to check with your veterinarian before purchasing a dog bone for play. They will have a good grasp of current industry standards and know what products to avoid.
SAFE BONES TYPES
Raw Bones Raw bones are much safer than cooked bones. These bones can be classified into two types: recreational and nutritional. Both types should be boiled before giving them to your pup to eliminate salmonella and other food poisoning concerns. Recreational raw bones are meant for play. These are the ones you see at pet stores in large bins. Recreational bone toys usually come from cows or sheep because they are strong and extremely hard to shatter. It is still imperative to monitor the condition of the bone you give your dog to make sure no parts are chipping off. Nutritional dog bones, on the other hand, are to be mixed into a pup's diet. These bones are small and brittle so they can be ground up into a fine dust. Once ground, adding them to a dog's meal is a great way to supplement calcium and phosphorus intake. You will usually find nutritional dog bones that come from chicken. It is recommended to grind your dog's bones in a meat grinder to avoid any oversized pieces. If any of these symptoms are present, call a vet and mention that your dog was recently chewing on a bone. Avoid bones all-together if your pup has a history of stomach problems, as these can be heightened with a bad bone.
Signs Your Dog Ate a Bad Bone There are a few telltale signs indicating your dog ingested a bad bone. All of these symptoms are usually caused by stress in the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of mal-bone ingestion include:
Diarrhea Vomiting Cuts in the mouth Bloody stools Bleeding of the rectum.
If you are going to feed them a bone whole, please follow the guide below:
Safe Raw Bones Cow Lamb Beef
Unsafe Raw Bones Chicken Turkey Pork
Cooked Bones are UNSAFE! Cooked bones are always off-limits to dogs. No matter how large a bone is, it will become brittle after cooking. Never feed your dog cooked bones - whether you cook them or find them in a pet store. In addition to being a choking hazard, cooked bones are rarely prepared with dogs in mind. Stews and BBQs include spices that can be harmful to your furry friend. This can upset their stomach and even lead to life-threatening sickness. Never give cooked bones!
Rawhide Rawhides are the most popular type of bone for dogs, but extreme supervision is required. Rawhide is meant to be chewed on for 1-2 weeks. After a while, it will become weak and break apart into chewy snacks for your dog. When your dog is playing with rawhide it's essential to be there with them the entire time. If your dog has a particularly strong bite, usually associated with rottweilers, dobermans, german shepards, etc. - rawhide can be even more dangerous. It can turn into a choking hazard if your dog breaks the bone before it's chewy. Think of rawhide like a sucker with chocolate in the middle. If you lick it long enough, you can easily get to the chocolate in the middle. But, if you bite too hard and it shatters, you can choke and hurt your teeth.
If you catch your dog eating a bone from human food, stay calm. Getting worked up will put unnecessary stress on your dog and could lead to further implications. Try to take the bone away from your pup if there is any left. Especially with toys and food like this, they may be reluctant and attempt to eat it all at once. If this happens, take a deep breath and call your vet. Pending their instructions, monitor your dog for 72 hours. Check their stool for pieces of the bone and if none are present, take your dog to the vet to be sure no bits are stuck in their gastrointestinal tract. When in doubt about a bone toy for your dog, ask a vet. As mentioned, they will have the most up-to-date information on what the safest options are and point you in the right direction. It's also important to note - sometimes it's ok to buy fake. Fake bones provide just as much fun and exercise as real bone, without the worries associated with them. These bones will usually be made of plastic and will have information on their tags. With both and real fake bones, choking should be your main concern. Ensure you purchase a toy for your dog that is relative to their size. A good rule of thumb is to always give your dog a bone longer than their muzzle. A beef shank is a great option for large dog breeds. Remember, never leave your dog alone while they are playing with a bone. Let them play for 10-20 minutes, then put it away until the next play session - too much wear and tear all at once can break the bone down quickly as it gets saturated in saliva. Lastly, toss a used bone in the trash after about two weeks. Sometimes you will have to do this sooner if it's starting to look well-played with. This helps to prevent shattering.
DOG BONE BENEFITS This article proudly presented by WWW.DOGICA.COM
Whether you have a brand new puppy or a faithful old friend, one of the best things you can do for your dog is to provide him with a chew bone or chew toy/treat of his very own. Aside from being just plain fun, bones provide important benefits:
Bones help improve dental health by helping to scrape away plaque, control tartar buildup, and maintain gum health. This diminishes bad breath, keeps teeth whiter, and reduces the risk of potentially serious dental problems.
Bones provide stimulating activity by entertaining your dog for hours and keeping his mind stimulated. This is especially important for older dogs who may not be as active.
Bones satisfy your dog's innate urge to chew, helping you to avoid destructive (and frequently expensive) chewing behavior from both puppies and adult dogs.
Bones relieve your puppy's teething pain and stimulate the growth of adult teeth.
DOGS BONE HEALTH This article proudly presented by
Your dog's skeletal system is a dynamic organ composed of bones and connective tissues, which includes tendons, ligaments and cartilage. When most people think about the function of their dog's skeletal system, they focus on how the bones and joints provide structure and movement. While these are two of its prominent functions, the skeletal system does so much more. In this post, we will share some of the key functions of your dog's skeletal system, so we can not only understand its importance, but also take a proactive role in its preservation.
Lets examine structure - if a dog loses a limb, aka "structure", can he or she still function? Time and time again, we have witnessed amazing feats of physical power, endurance, and grace performed by amputees - both humans and dogs alike. However, what would happen if a dog lost excessive blood? Or if a dog's immune system stopped working? Or if a dog's body became too acidic or alkaline? The reality is that these are all life-threatening situations, and your dog is protected from it, by his or her skeletal system. So to highlight the importance of your dog's bone and joint health, below are 8 of its vital functions:
1. Mineral Bank. Bones serve as storage reserves (aka "bank") for calcium, phosphorus and other essential nutrients. These nutrients are continuously deposited (bone formation via osteoblasts) and withdrawn (bone resorption via osteoclasts) from the bone to support vital body functions (such as maintain osmotic balance, fire nerve impulses, etc.).
2. Blood Production. The bone marrow of long bones and the inner space of spongy bone produce blood cells via the hematopoiesis process; in other words, your dog's bone marrow acts as a "blood factory". The bone marrow is also the site where certain immune cells (B cells) are produced.
3. Protection. Bones protect vital organs. For example, your dog's skull is like a helmet, protecting the sensitive brain from impact. Similarly, your dog's rib cage shields the lungs, heart and liver from physical damage.
4. Acid-Base (pH) Balance. For organs to function normally, your dog needs to maintain physiological pH. It is actually the bone in your dog's skeletal system that works to buffer the blood (against extreme fluctuations in pH) by absorbing and releasing alkaline salts as needed.
5. Detoxification. Your dog's bone tissues are involved in absorbing heavy metals and toxins. These resilient tissues remove undesirable compounds from the blood by forming complexes with them, and then disposing of them via the circulatory system - thus minimizing toxic side effects.
6. Sound Management. Sense of hearing is possible in part because of the auditory ossicles ("hearing bones"), three small bones that work collectively to transmit sound stimuli to receptor cells in the brain for interpretation. They help detect several aspects of sound such as pitch, loudness and direction.
7. Movement. Your dog's bones, tendons, ligaments, and skeletal muscles work together to facilitate movement of individual body parts, as well as the whole body, whether it is for the purpose of catching a ball, going on a walk, or running to greet you at the door when you come home from work.
8. Structure. Bones provide the structural framework on which your dog's body is built - they impart distinct shape (which we can use to identify similarities and differences between breeds) and also influence posture and gait.
As you can see, your dog's entire skeletal system (both the bones and joints) play an undeniable role in preserving your dog's quality of life. The canine skeletal system is the foundation on which many other organs and functions depend on; so if there are "cracks" (literarily and figuratively), it will slowly cause the entire body to deteriorate. Two major factors that influence your dog's skeletal health are nutrition and lifestyle - therefore, make sure your furry best friend eats right and gets regular exercise!
TYPES OF DOG BONES This article proudly presented by
Bone-Hard Chew Toys & Treats If your dog is a "power chewer" whose strong bite chews through bones in a flash, extremely long-lasting, durable Bone-Hard Chews are a great choice. They are designed to wear down slowly rather than break or splinter, and they provide important dental benefits. Nylon-based Nylabones are virtually indestructible.
Healthy Chews When you want to give your dog an all-natural, low-calorie chew, a Healthy Edibles Natural Chew is a good choice. Made from healthy ingredients, these natural, completely digestible chews taste great and are ideal for dogs on weight-loss plans.
Natural Beef Bones Real, long-lasting natural beef bones are heat sterilized for your dog's safety, wear down slowly, and provide superior jaw exercise and dental benefits. Hickory-Smoked Meaty Bones & Knuckles have delicious real meat attached. Because all natural bones pose a minimal risk of splintering, we recommend supervising your dog's chewing sessions.
Rawhide Bones A long-time favorite among all dog breeds, Rawhide Bones are beneficial to dental health and available in a variety of shapes and sizes to satisfy every chewing habit and dogs of all sizes.
Dental Bones Dental problems can take a toll not only on your pet, but also on your pocketbook. Dental SmartBones provide an inexpensive approach to prevention and ongoing dental health, and are often flavored to prevent "doggie breath." Nylabone Durachews and Dental Chews offer even the most aggressive chewers raised dental nubs to help teeth and gums stay clean and healthy.
DOG BONE COMPARISON CHART This article proudly presented by Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff
The right bone can make all the difference Choose a bone that matches your dog's chewing rate and chewing habits. If your dog chews for short periods of time with a soft bite, a smaller rawhide bone that softens easily will be enjoyable. Harder bones such as Natural Beef Bones will last longer and be more satisfying to the aggressive chewer. Keep in mind that dogs may be choosy about their bones. If at first you don't succeed, try other bones until you find the perfect chew. Your dog will thank you with a healthy mouth, constructive chewing behavior, and near constant interest in the bone you've chosen.
SAFE DOG BONES This article proudly presented by WWW.DOGICA.COM
Raw bones can be both safe and healthy providing you follow some guidelines which I will discuss shortly. You're probably aware your dog's ancestors and counterparts in the wild have been eating bones forever.
Canines in their natural habitat eat prey, including the meat, bones and stomach contents. In fact, your pup has a biological requirement for the nutrients found in bone marrow and the bones themselves.
Dogs love to chew raw bones for the yummy taste, the mental stimulation, and also because all that gnawing is great exercise for the muscles of the jaw.
TWO TYPES OF RAW BONES This article proudly presented by WWW.DOGICA.COM
Edible bones Recreational bones
Edible bones are the hollow, non weight-bearing bones of birds (typically chicken wings and chicken and turkey necks). They are soft, pliable, do not contain marrow, and can be easily crushed in a meat grinder.
These bones provide calcium, phosphorus and trace minerals which can be an essential part of your pup's balanced raw food diet.
Recreational bones - big chunks of beef or bison femur or hip bones filled with marrow -- don't supply significant dietary nutrition for your dog (they are not designed to be chewed up and swallowed, only gnawed on), but they do provide mental stimulation and are great for your pup's oral health.
When your dog chews on a raw recreational bone, especially a meaty one with cartilage and soft tissue still attached, his teeth get the equivalent of a good brushing and flossing. This helps to break down tartar and reduces the risk of gum disease. Dogs in the wild have beautiful teeth and healthy gums. This is because the prey they eat requires a lot of chewing, and the sinewy composition helps to clean each entire tooth.
A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO RAW DOG BONES This article proudly presented by WWW.DOGICA.COM
If one of the above conditions prevents you from offering raw bones to your dog, consider a softer alternative: a high quality, edible dental bone.
A fully digestible, high quality dental dog chew provides mechanical abrasion to help control plaque and tartar, and is similar to the effect of eating whole, raw food in the wild.
Many popular chew bones cannot be broken down, and if your pup swallows one whole, or a large enough portion of one, there's always a risk of intestinal blockage. In addition, most traditional dog chews contain unhealthy ingredients like gelatin, artificial sweeteners, and other additives and preservatives that are potentially cancer causing.
Whether you go with raw bones, a high quality dog dental bone, or a combination, the important thing to remember is your canine family member is designed to chew. She needs your help to insure she gets regular opportunities to brush and floss as nature intended, and to exercise those jaw muscles.
HOW TO CHOOSE A SAFE GOOD DOG BONES This article proudly presented by
Dog Bone Features to consider:
Chewing style - what is your dog's chewing style? Does he voraciously consume a rawhide treat like it is candy? Or, does he gently nibble, turning the dog bone around and around? Some dogs will turn their nose up at artificial dog bones, like nylon or rubber, while others will destroy anything of natural ingredients so fast that it would break the bank to buy enough of them to keep him supplied.
Size - the right dog bone will be big enough to not be a choking hazard, but small enough that your dog can get a good purchase with his molars.
Safety - If your dog likes to break off pieces to eat, be sure that the dog bone you choose is made from digestible material. And always throw away dog bones that have been chewed down to a size that would be dangerous for choking or ingestion.
Ingredients - Consider where your dog will spend his time chewing. If he will be in the house or car, you will want to be sure that the dog bone will not leave stains on carpet or fabric when it is wet with saliva.
Real bones - Most table scraps are not safe as chew toys. Cooked bones that have been cut by the butcher can splinter and cause serious problems in a dog's intestines. Chicken bones are especially hazardous. However, for larger dogs, an uncut beef leg bone (occasionally available at the meat counter for soap making) can be a real treat, either uncooked or only lightly cooked.
Desirable Dog Bone Features:
Palatability - a dog bone should be tasty and enticing to your dog. Indestructibly - a dog bone should last long enough to satisfy the need to chew. Not too messy - unless your dog is going to do all his chewing in the back yard, you will want to choose a dog bone that will not create stains or leave bits and pieces around the house.
Dog Bone Features to Avoid:
Avoid dog bones that chew up too fast. Not only will it fail to satisfy your dog, but it may also become hazardous to his health. Ingesting a large quantity of rawhide can cause a dog to become bloated or impacted.
For voracious chewers avoid materials or ingredients that are not digestible.
Resist giving your dog chicken bones and cut pieces of bone from your own meal. The cooking time necessary to cook meat makes bones brittle and weak so they will tend to splinter into hazardous pieces. Dogs are meant to chew on uncooked meat and bones that have not seen the butcher's saw.
Avoid chew toys that resemble household items or are household items. Don't expect your dog to discern between the old shoes that are acceptable for him to chew and your new Italian designer shoes that may cost him his hide to chew.
Ideal Dog Bone Choice: For small dogs and dainty chewers, a smaller rawhide or cloth dog bone is your best choice.
For medium size dogs and typical chewers, a larger rawhide or nylon dog bone will like provide good chewing satisfaction.
For large dogs and voracious chewers you may want to skip the rawhides all together and give them indestructible nylon or rubber dog bones. These types of dogs may also deeply enjoy a real leg bone from the butcher, so long as it is fully intact and not well cooked.
DOG BONE SAFETY TIPS This article proudly presented by WWW.DOGICA.COM
Safety should always come first in choosing the right dog bone for your dog. Many dogs end up in the vet's office because they were left unsupervised with an inappropriate dog bone.
Choose a size of dog bone that cannot be swallowed.
Choose a material that will provide your dog with chewing satisfaction, but not break off into dangerous sized pieces.
And finally, always supervise your dog when he's busy with a dog bone, especially if you are not familiar with his chewing habits and desires. Accidents happen and if he were to choke, you would definitely want to be there to help him.
BUY DOG BONES ONLINE This article proudly presented by WWW.DOGICA.COM
DOG & BONE (Art) This article proudly presented by WWW.DOGICA.COM
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