Can Dogs Eat Bones? A Comprehensive Guide

Bones play a vital role in a dog's overall diet, but there are important considerations to keep in mind. These bones and cartilage are an excellent and completely digestible source of calcium, phosphorus, and glucosamine (especially cartilage). Raw meaty bones are an essential part of a dog's fresh raw diet, with chicken backs, wings, necks, and legs, as well as turkey necks, beef and pork ribs, lamb, beef tails, and backbones being commonly recommended.

How Dogs Chew on Bones

The ideal choice of bones depends on the size of the dog and its method of chewing. It's essential to make actual choices, adjustments, and experiments. Dogs typically gnaw at the bones with force a few times before swallowing them. It's wise to keep an eye on your dog while it's eating bones. If you notice it swallowing a large piece, promptly remove the bone and try a different type.

Should it accidentally swallow a large, indigestible piece, it will usually vomit it up.

Three Important Rules for Providing Bones

1. Fresh and Raw Only

Always provide your dog with fresh, raw bones. Dogs can easily digest fresh raw bones, and digestive juices can soften them up, provided that the pH level of the stomach acid is around 2. This pH level is typically found in dogs that consume a lot of raw food, with minimal carbohydrates, except for some vegetables. Therefore, if your dog isn't accustomed to eating raw bones, it's best not to give them bones, as they may not be able to safely digest them due to insufficiently acidic stomach acid!

2. Beware of Heat Treatment and Drying

Be cautious when feeding cooked, roasted, smoked, or dried bones to your dog. Always inspect the food carefully, as these bones can pose certain dangers—sharp, hard to digest, and may cause mechanical damage to the digestive system.

3. Stay Away from Hard Femur Bones

Avoid large, very hard bones like femurs, as they can damage a dog's teeth, especially for those who enjoy a rough and "greedy" chewing style. You can also use bones to make broth, which is an excellent laxative.