What are chicken bones for dogs made from? Can dogs have bones? Boiled or raw

WITH early childhood we are taught: “The bunny eats carrots, the goat eats cabbage, the cat eats fish, and the dog eats a bone.” But is everything really so clear?
Today I invite you to discuss an important topic:

Bones for dogs

Bones in a dog's diet have probably been and remain one of the most controversial products. Dog owners long years There is a heated debate about whether dogs can be given bones, and if so, what kind.

What are bones for and what are their benefits? The benefits directly depend on the type of bone.

Types of bones for dogs

Useful spongy bones – sternum, pelvis, spine bones (including necks and tails).

IN tubular bones(animal limb bones) only the heads are good for dogs. Butchers cut them up and call them sugar pits.

The former are eaten by dogs as part of a portion of food, and the latter can only be crushed by very powerful jaws; all others can only gnaw them. But any bone suitable for a dog consists of whole or divided joints, their heads are covered with hyaline cartilage, the joint itself is covered with a capsule, and there is synovial fluid inside. Tendons are attached to bones.

Benefits of bones for dogs:

Bones are a source of calcium, phosphorus, minerals, so necessary for animals of all ages, glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen, which dogs will absorb in at its best and without side effects, unlike commercially synthesized drugs.
Bones train masticatory muscles, strengthen gums, promote mechanical cleaning teeth, prevents the deposition of tartar and plaque.
The dog chews on a bone and produces saliva and gastric juice, which are necessary for good digestion of food. For this and not only reason, bones should be given after meals, but we will come to this later.
Bones contain spongy substance and are a hematopoietic organ. And this very substance is very useful for dogs. Bones also contain bone marrow, a source of unsaturated and saturated fats.
Bones contribute to the formation of feces and facilitate its passage through the gastrointestinal tract and mechanical emptying of the paranal glands.
Gnawing bones, the dog gets a release and calms down.
And finally, bones are simply delicious! Dogs love them!

So, the benefits of bones for dogs are obvious.

What bones can you give to dogs?

All spongy bones can be used: necks, backs, tails, spinal bones, sternum, scapula and heads of long bones.
Dogs eat relatively soft bones completely, but they rather gnaw off the heads of large bones, and if they are cut, they eat away the bone substance.
Dogs can also be given bones as part of fish carcasses, fins, salmon ridges, and fish heads.

What bones should dogs not eat?

All tubular bones of large animals, bones of soup chickens.
Bones outside a piece of meat, bare bones, are especially dangerous.

If you give a leg of a 35-day-old broiler, the dog will not be able to swallow it without chewing. She will turn it into a cutlet with bones inside. And in this form, the bones are completely digestible and safe for the gastrointestinal tract.

The ribs aren't the best. While the cartilaginous ends of the ribs are very useful, they themselves can crumble into long, sharp pieces.

How to give bones correctly?

Bones are given raw, as part of a meal or after it. The necks of chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, quails, rabbits, lambs, beef tails, as well as the backs of chickens, quails and the like contain quite a lot of meat and can make up up to half of the entire meat and bone portion of a dog’s diet. They are given with food or immediately after. Animals eat them without leaving a trace. Bones large joints and others, practically devoid of meat, are given after the main portion of food. It is good to periodically give bird and rabbit heads. They are rich in brain, one of the sources of unsaturated fatty acids. Depending on the meatiness, bones occupy from 5% to 50% of the total protein portion of a dog’s diet. When feeding fish with a soft spine and small fish (herring, herring, capelin, etc.), there is no need to pull out the spine and remove the head. It is better to grind the hard and sharp spines of large fish through a meat grinder.

It is important to balance the dog’s capabilities and habits with the bones given. For voraciously swallowing dogs, those who do not know how or cannot chew due to age or weak teeth, it is safe to give soft bones beaten with a hammer or rolled through a meat grinder. In this form they retain all their beneficial features, but will never cause any harm. Dogs that are effective bone chewers will do well on the heads of large bones. But it is important to ensure that they do not bite off or swallow large and sharp pieces and do not eat more than 10% of the food in order to avoid too dense feces and/or coprostasis. It is also worth taking away the remains of any bones to avoid swallowing them whole. A puppy, for example, in excitement can swallow a whole rib or a piece of neck, but will not be able to digest it.

Always keep an eye on your pet's mouth. It happens that a bone can get stuck, a tooth can break off or become damaged (by the way, not necessarily from the bones, but still). Usually large bones serve as a good “brush” and there are no tartar deposits, but monitor the process and condition oral cavity, gums and teeth makes sense.

Any bones that are boiled, fried or baked are strictly prohibited! The dog is not able to digest them in principle. Neither big, nor small, nor spongy, much less tubular. Bones from jellied meat or fried chicken, stewed rabbit or baked goose belong in a garbage can, not in a dog bowl! Seen scary photos and a video of how they operate and remove deposits of bones from a dog’s stomach? This is exactly what they are, sharp fragments of bare tubular boiled bones, which were given without any measure.

Who can and should be given bones?

You can absolutely safely give bones to dogs that eat raw natural food. The acidity in the stomach of such dogs is pH 1 or lower. In such acidic environment bones are digested by gastric juices and of hydrochloric acid highly successful.
Bones are shown to puppies from the moment of weaning, even with their milk teeth they perfectly gnaw out the spongy substance from the severed strong heads of the bones, gnaw the heads, eating cartilage and attached tendons.
Even old dog or with an incomplete set of teeth will receive their pleasure and benefit from bones. To obtain useful substances, it is better to grind the bones, and give larger ones purely for pleasure without taking into account the bone component in the total amount, if the dog can only grind the bone, but does not eat part of it.

Who should you not give bones to?

First of all, these are dogs that eat industrial food. These foods contain a lot of plant components that lead to changes in stomach acidity. Instead of pH1 typical for carnivores, it has pH4 and higher values. In such an environment, bones cannot be processed effectively, which leads to problems. Often this is vomiting of eaten bones or feces with pieces of undigested bones. This threatens the health and life of the animal. A similar situation can arise in dogs that eat a mixed diet - dry food/canned food and meat. Bones are also contraindicated for dogs with gastrointestinal diseases, especially those taking medications that reduce gastric secretory activity (for example, omez).
Bitches should not be given bones when they are starting to feed their puppies.

Many dogs can regurgitate food, and in this case, sharp pieces of bone that would be safely digested in the mother's stomach can cause significant harm to the puppies, who are unlikely to be able to digest them. This is especially true for bitches who eat dry food or have a mixed diet. Pregnant bitches who eat raw foods are also not given bones in the last week of pregnancy.

This measure reduces the risk of developing hypocalcemia and related conditions and facilitates the activity of the gastrointestinal tract during later. Essential for fruits and labor activity Calcium during this period will come from the mother’s bones under the influence of parathyroid hormone, the activity of which is activated at the end of pregnancy.

How to safely introduce bones into your dog's diet?

The first thing to do is switch your dog to raw feeding. Only animals with low value pH1 can eat bones well, animals that eat industrial feed have pH4. Acidity will decrease after 2-3 weeks of feeding raw meat, poultry and fish. You should start with rolled or beaten soft bird bones. As a rule, from the 10th day the dog can assimilate them well. If you observe vomiting of bones, it means it’s too early, or the pieces are too large and the stomach returned them. You can give bones from the necks and in the carcass of poultry, backs, and chew beef bones 3-4 weeks after transferring to raw food. Always watch how the dog eats; many need to be taught to work with their jaws, holding the neck or wing by the tip, so that the dog learns to chew and not swallow greedily. Don't rush, there is no need to force the process. Each animal is individual, and if one dog easily and quickly switches to raw food and can digest bones within a week, another may require 2 months or half a year. It is convenient to make mixed meat preparations by grinding soft bones into it. Especially for small, toothless dogs and during the transition period for puppies. You can grind the necks and backs of birds or rabbits and freeze the balls.

Add these balls to the meat, gradually increasing their quantity to the prescribed amount. Cartilage is the most difficult to digest. Therefore, at first they are appropriate in ground form, and then dogs will be able to successfully chew and digest them.

We give all bones to the dog only in raw form.
Meat bones - up to 30-50% of the meat part of the diet, “naked” - no more than 10%.
We give bones to gnaw after meals and never on an empty stomach.
We take away sharp fragments from the dog and those large enough pieces of bone that it can swallow.
We do not give sick bones to dogs with gastrointestinal problems.
We do not give bones to bitches in the last week of pregnancy and during the feeding period of puppies.
Avoid bones that can produce sharp fragments.
Dry, crumbly stool white speaks of excess bones in the diet. Reduce their number.
We monitor the condition of the animal’s oral cavity.
If it is difficult for you to consider the bones in the legs and wings of a 30-day-old broiler to be soft, we do not give such bones.
In general, if you personally think a bone is unsafe for your dog, don’t give it. There is always an alternative - ground bones.
Bones in the diet are the privilege of dogs that eat meat and other raw foods. Do you want your dog to crunch too? useful bones– switch to a raw diet and only then will she be able to get the maximum benefit from the bones.

I wish your pets a healthy and happy life!

Continuing the topic of dog nutrition, I would like to bring to your attention a few more useful articles:

— What to feed a dog on natural food: 33 recipes
— 30 foods prohibited for dogs

The vast majority of sources of information about dogs contain information in one form or another that animals love bones. Children's books depict a happy puppy with a bone in his teeth. And in response to complaints from the new dog owner that the animal chews things, he is advised to give the pet a bone. Moreover, many are sure that bones are not just a treat, but a complete meal for a dog. But there is still very little reliable information about what bones can be given to dogs or whether they should be given at all.

Predators or no longer

In nature, canids (wolves, coyotes, jackals, foxes) eat the flesh of their prey, along with the skin, entrails and bones, without subsequently suffering from digestive problems. Females bring hard parts of dead animal carcasses (bones, hooves, horns) to their cubs - games with these parts constitute important stage development of the hunting instinct in young animals. But modern dogs so lost in the process natural evolution and artificial selection from wolves and jackals in eating behavior, morphology, formation of reflexes, that for some of them, eating bones becomes dangerous to health.

Bones as a treat

A bone is a treat or tasty toy for a dog. Yes, the dog gets calcium, phosphorus, and iron from them, but at the same time they are not nutritious at all, since they do not contain carbohydrates, are not included in the amount of food eaten, are not considered food, and especially cannot be the basis of a dog’s diet. With any feeding system, a raw bone can be regarded as a toy, which the dog engages with pleasure and profitably, without spoiling the owner’s things, shoes, furniture, and as a delicacy due to its pronounced aroma and taste.

Animal bones have a number of disadvantages: they are fatty, bone marrow leaks out of them, and they smell unpleasant. If a dog is kept in an apartment or house, then it can dirty the floor, carpet, sofa - depending on where it wants to chew its toy. This does not suit the owners, who then have to wash off stubborn grease stains.

There are industrial analogues to raw bones - products made from tendons, ligaments, and animal skin. Such substitutes are sold in pet stores. They do not stain the surrounding space with the contents contained in them bone marrow, do not deteriorate and do not have a repulsive odor for humans. You need to choose a store-bought delicacy without a large number of artificial colors and flavors, an unattractive color (tendons cannot be beautiful pink, light green, lemon colors), consisting of natural ingredients: skin, veins, cartilage, tendons.

Bones are like a “toothbrush” for a dog

Plaque forms on dog teeth over time. Its excessive accumulation leads to the formation of tartar and premature bacterial destruction of teeth. Chewing on hard objects cleans teeth and removes plaque. Toys made of special plastic, which does not crumble, but softly springs when chewed by a dog, are successfully used as a “toothbrush”: shredders, rings, balls. This good alternative bones.

Does a dog need bones?

The question should be posed not even as to whether dogs can be given bones, but whether they need them? Fresh, raw bones are needed by dogs that are natural nutrition. In this case, gnawing on bones helps cleanse the dog's teeth of plaque and massage the gums to improve blood circulation.

If your pet receives high-quality industrial dry food, then it “cleanses” its teeth while eating, and the hard granules help massage the gums. The more often a dog chews bones, the faster his teeth wear down. Therefore, you can pamper your pet no more than a couple of times a month. Those who like to chew something are constantly offered carrots, apples, and branches of fruit trees.

Bones for dogs depend on the size of the animal, the condition of its teeth and gastrointestinal tract, the presence or absence of allergies to certain types of meat, and its nutritional system.

Small dogs like Russian Toys, Lapses, Pekingese, Dachshunds, Spitz can be offered raw chicken necks without skin, bird keels, chicken and turkey ridges without skin.

Larger dogs - most terriers (bull terrier, Staffordshire, Irish), bulldogs, most hunting dogs - can be offered beef shins, forearms, metatarsal bones and tarsus bones.

For large dogs - like Russian black terriers, giant schnauzers, Great Danes, boxers, most shepherd dogs - the hips, shoulders, and shoulder blades of cows are suitable.

Well, the giants are the bullmastiff, Tibetan mastiff, Great Dane, Newfoundland, Irish Wolfhound, Caucasian and Central Asian Shepherd Dog- can effortlessly handle a sheep or goat skull, pelvic girdles and ribs of cows, goats and sheep.

Which bones a dog can eat also depends on its health. If she has few teeth or they are heavily ground down, partially destroyed or do not sit firmly in the sockets, then the harmful bone will worsen their condition. It is even recommended for such dogs to slightly soak dry food so that they do not damage their teeth even more and absorb it normally. To massage the gums of animals with weak teeth, you can offer apples, carrots, and pumpkin pulp.

Solid treats are contraindicated in animals prone to constipation, who have had abdominal operations within the last couple of months, or have undergone surgery to remove part of the stomach or intestines. Before puppies change their teeth, they do not need bones. Before six months of age, they should not receive excessive solid food at all.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the question: can a dog eat chicken bones? It is possible, except for tubular ones - in the bird’s wings and hips. They break into sharp pieces that can puncture the esophagus, stomach and intestines, causing constipation or internal bleeding. It is not recommended to feed bones from turkeys, geese, birds, rabbits and small game. When chewed, they break into pieces that a dog can easily choke on. The only one bone fragment with a sharp edge capable of piercing the soft muscles of organs digestive tract. In this case, the only way to save the animal is emergency surgery which involves removing part of the damaged organ.

Pork bones should not be given to dogs due to high risk infection with helminths, which simply infest pork carcasses. Get rid of worms and pathogenic bacteria, mushrooms and viruses, only heat treatment helps.

Fish bones are not discussed at all: they are so thin and sharp that a dog cannot swallow them without choking. You need to select bones from slaughtered, not dead, birds and animals, scald them with boiling water and only then offer them to your pet. Boiled and fried bones from any animal clog the stomach and cause constipation, forming dense “plugs” in the intestines. Therefore, you can only give raw and fresh ones.

What do you prefer to feed your pets?

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Porridge with various additives 46%, 8376 votes

A properly designed diet for a dog is the key to its health and beauty. The owner immediately wonders what exactly to feed his pet. Offal has always been a question: is it possible to give chicken necks, paws, and heads to a dog? In this article we will try to find answers to these questions.

Which chicken by-products can be given and which cannot?

First, let's figure out what by-products are. By-products are by-products of the body that remain when cutting the carcass: head, neck, bones, skin, etc. They are stored for no more than four months, even at low temperatures. After the expiration date has expired, they should not be given to your pet. But if your dog eats it, take it to the vet immediately.

There is a BARF feeding system that involves the use of chicken by-products, but only in raw form.

However, most veterinarians believe that chicken bones should not be given. For gnawing, there are beef (muscles) or cartilage. In no case should you eat boiled bones, because just when cooked they become dense and sharp, and are not digested in the stomach, and can also damage the stomach and intestines. In addition, they are in no way a source of calcium, as many people think, since they contain it in a modified form.

When feeding puppies, you must not forget about dry food, because pure form by-products can be harmful for babies. You also need to carefully monitor your pet's behavior. If diarrhea or vomiting begins, you should immediately remove the food that the dog ate from the diet.

Bones

Whether to give your dog chicken bones is a very tricky question because the answer can be yes or no. Under no circumstances should you give your pet boiled chicken bones. If you ask why, the answer is simple: when cooked, the bones become so soft that they almost turn into a homogeneous mass. This is all very, very harmful for the pet.

Boiled bones clog the stomach, where only in some, very in rare cases everything will work out without problems. More often, surgery may be needed to remove bones from the stomach.

After this, the owner will face a difficult struggle with peritonitis and other horrors. You will have to have an operation where best case scenario the dog can be saved after hellish torment, but in the worst case, it won’t. Therefore, it is always worth thinking carefully about the lengths to which kindness can take you.

If your dog has already eaten bones, you need to keep a close eye on his feces. And don’t wonder why the bloody marks appeared, but immediately take your pet to the veterinary hospital.

Of course, you shouldn’t give up chicken bones, as was said at the beginning of the article. Chicken bones do help form and strengthen joint cartilage. The bones will be a nutritious addition to the main feed.

Heads

You can feed your dog chicken heads. This should be done with caution and not overdo it. Before adding chicken heads, previously cut into pieces, to porridge or vegetables, you should get rid of the beak. There are no beaks useful material, and they are not digested.

When decocted, the head loses half of its energy value, so the portion should be doubled. And make sure that there are no bone fragments, for example, from the neck.

Necks

With necks everything is exactly the same as with bones. It is not advisable to boil necks, as this will lead to intestinal obstruction and loss of nutrients. You can give it whole, because there are no tubular bones in the necks. Thanks to this, even two-month-old puppies can eat the necks.

The necks can also be scalded with boiling water and added to the main diet in the form of minced meat, as a top dressing. Your pet will happily chew on chicken necks.

Paws

Paws, like other offal, are questionable. If you ask dog lovers, opinions are as different as heaven and earth. Some are for, others are categorically against. Let's dig deeper.

So, if you decide to feed your dog with its paws, there are a few rules you need to know:

remove bones;
remove claws;
Pour boiling water over your paws.

Why should you do all this? Claws can injure the stomach, as well as the bones that make up the paws. The bones in the paws are tubular and if a dog chews them, a splinter can rip open the esophagus. This is why you need to remove all the chicken bones. Of course, you can soften them if you cook them for a long time, but then they will clog the intestines, and this is of no use to your pet.

A good option to avoid problems with intestinal tract– cook jellied paws, removing all bones and fragments. Jellied meat, in fact, is not difficult to cook; any owner can handle it. But not everyone knows that it is in the bones that toxins and other harmful substances accumulate.

Jellied paws are good to use in limited quantities During the growth period of the animal, it contains natural gelatin, which helps strengthen and support the joints.

Therefore, you cannot constantly give your dog paws. It's better to do this less often than more often. Paws should be a bonus to the main more nutritious and healthy diet. If the dog has eaten its paws and begins to demonstrate bad feeling, she should be taken to the vet immediately.

Regarding chicken bones, necks, heads, paws and other offal, veterinarians have different opinions. Some allow the possibility of feeding them, others do not.

By-products should be given to your pet raw, because this way more nutrients remain. If you are not sure that they are of high quality and do not carry infection, it is better, of course, to boil them. And remove the bones.
Always monitor the reaction of your pet's intestines and skin to avoid problems. It is not advisable to feed chicken skin.
To help your dog eat more nutrients, you can increase the portion of cooked offal. Why? Because during cooking all energy value gets lost.
It is recommended to feed your pet by-products no more than 1-2 times a week, together with the main food.
If you decide to switch to natural food, you need to give your pet time to get used to it. Possible side effects such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Offal products should not be given at the same time different types: fermented milk and meat.

By-products should only be purchased from trusted people and in trustworthy places. You should not buy food for your pet in suspicious places where bacteria can spread.

Video “What to feed a dog”

In this video you can learn about the foods you can feed your pet.

Biologically, canids are active predators, hunters of large game. In order to grab, hold and tear prey, their ancestors needed to have powerful jaws and well-developed jaw muscles, which require constant training.

So when a well-fed homemade Ralph or a mongrel Sharik begins, rumbling in his corner, to handle a strong bone with his paws, it’s not just a habit or fun. This is an ancient instinct that is written in dog genes over millions of years of evolution.

Should I feed them?

From what has been said, it is clear that a bone for a dog is not a “minor food product” at all, but only “ sports equipment", and edible is quite relative. But, like any sports equipment, it must meet safety requirements.

Do chicken bones meet these requirements?

If we're talking about about the tubular bones of various legs and wings, the answer is clear - no, they don’t answer. And that's why.

A raw beef bone, not boiled white in a saucepan, that a dog can chew leisurely and tastefully for hours will not do it any harm.

Tubular

Thin tubular chicken bones are a different matter. The dog will chew them instantly and immediately swallow them, like regular food. He will not get any pleasure from the process of “working on the bone”. Even the actual muscles of the dog’s jaws will not have time to properly feel the load from this fleeting work. What kind of “training” is that?

But when a dog bites into tubular chicken bones, they crumble into long and sharp fragments that can cause trouble. Dogs, like all canine predators, swallow food without chewing.

At the same time, bone fragments that a dog has swallowed can very easily injure the animal’s esophagus, stomach and intestines. Besides digestive system dogs are not very adapted to processing bird bones - after all, their ancestors hunted mainly hares and deer, and not chickens and quails.

Consequences from swallowing sharp bone can be the most severe - up to intestinal perforation, to peritonitis. And not always even, which will most likely require surgery, can save the dog.

Is there any benefit?

We've found that the potential harm that chicken bones can cause to your friend is enough to remove them from your dog's diet once and for all. Now a few words about some benefits.

In general, bones, especially raw ones, are a complete source of calcium and phosphorus for the animal’s body, as well as protein - that is, associated cartilage and meat residues.

But two or three random chicken bones, even raw ones, cannot bring practically any tangible benefit. Moreover, they are digested quite poorly. But they can easily serve as a source of infection brought from an unknown poultry farm.

Advice. Exists nutritious product, which could easily be classified as chicken bones. These are chicken necks. They contain quite a large amount of animal protein, as well as calcium and phosphorus.

The only thing to remember is that during long-term storage, all offal products lose their beneficial properties. Frozen chicken necks should be stored for no more than 2-4 months.

Boiled or raw?

We have already found out that the tubular bones of chicken legs or wings are not suitable as food, either raw or cooked.

As for chicken by-products, which also contain bone material, then you don’t need to cook them specially. Moreover, it is undesirable. Boiled chicken necks completely lose all their nutritional value.

When their bones enter a dog’s stomach, they are not digested, but simply crumble into dust. Such trash in large quantities sticks together into lumps, and this can cause intestinal obstruction.

For a puppy

This is especially dangerous for a small animal. It is enough to scald the product with boiling water and cool. These scalded chicken necks are quite safe to give even to a puppy.

Advice. Another option is to cook porridge for your dog with the addition of raw meat products. The addition of minced meat and bones is good - so to speak, “for the smell.” Your friend will eat this porridge with great pleasure.

By the way, you can put regular tubular chicken bones there for cooking during cooking. When the porridge is ready, such bones, of course, should be thrown away. Any cereal is suitable for porridge - wheat, barley, oatmeal, pearl barley, rice.

Which ones are better?

Most veterinarians firmly believe that chicken bones are not good for dogs at all. The benefits of them are very doubtful, and possible harm- quite real. Therefore, the question of which chicken bones to give to an animal is “better” and which are “worse” should be closed once and for all. None.

Of course, there will almost certainly be no harm from accidentally intercepting a small chicken bone. But if, due to illiteracy, you feed the dog the leftovers of a whole chicken, and even do this regularly, it can turn out to be sad.

Unusual and difficult to digest food naturally leads to digestive disorders, diarrhea, constipation and even more sad consequences described above.

Besides large dog chicken bones will not bring any pleasure even if she intends to simply “gnaw on the bone.” For jaw training and just for fun, it is better to offer your pet something different, more substantial.

Minced bone

According to most dog breeders, any minced meat and bones offered for feeding their dogs is, although a cheap product, useless at best. The nutritional value its minimal. There is practically no meat in it. It consists mainly of ground bones with a small amount of cartilage and bone marrow.

It should be remembered that no matter how these bones and chicken frames are ground at the factory, the minced meat from them will still contain a certain amount of sharp fragments that can easily damage the mucous membranes and intestines of your pet.

Even if in this case we are not talking about intestinal perforation and peritonitis. But even minor injuries, even scratches of the gastrointestinal tract still remain injuries.

Bacteria will begin to actively develop in the damaged area, and the matter may end intestinal disorder. So you shouldn’t be surprised that the dog suddenly developed diarrhea after “regular minced meat”.

What kind of bones can you give?

What should you give your dog to chew INSTEAD of chicken bones? After all, this is not just fun and necessary training of the jaw muscles?

Give her a good sugar beef bone. If a dog chews on a high-quality raw bone, he not only gets pleasure from it. At the same time, your pet cleans its teeth and strengthens its gums.

Many dog breeders believe that it is especially beneficial to give bones to young dogs, from four months to six months, when their teeth are changing. Although there are other opinions, often directly opposite.

Important: A bone as a treat should only be given to a FULL dog!

Soft, raw bones can be given after the dog has been fed in the evening. A well-fed dog will not gnaw its bone greedily, echoing everything around with a loud crunch. She will savor the tasty bone for a long time and thoroughly, prolonging her pleasure.

Conclusion

So, neither adult dogs nor puppies need to be given chicken bones. Of course, if your dog accidentally pulls off a chicken bone, don't immediately grab your heart and beat the drum. But in such cases, you should pay special attention to the dog’s activity, its behavior while walking and its general well-being.

At the first change in dog behavior or the slightest sign of indigestion, immediately contact a veterinarian!

Most people think in stereotypes: they say that all cats drink milk and eat fish, but dogs should mostly be offered bones. Although many bones are dangerous - their fragments can accumulate in the intestines and stomach for many years, harm the health of the pet and even cause death. From the article you will find out whether it is possible to give bones to a dog, and if so, what kind.

It is impossible not to mention the benefits of eating bone products for domestic dogs. Allowed bones should be given to puppies from 6 months of age, as they have a need to chew on something. When choosing beef hip bone The baby will be able to get carried away by the process and enjoy it. Meat and cartilage are sources of protein and amino acids responsible for regulating growth muscle mass and bones. Protein is not only construction material for the human body, but also for dogs. If you feed your pet occasionally acceptable raw bones, the body will receive enough phosphorus, as well as calcium.

Video “What bones can and cannot be given to a dog”

In this video, a specialist will talk about the types of bones that are allowed and prohibited for dogs.

Possible dangers of use

Many, based on their “grandmother’s” experience, when the dog regularly ate chicken bone product and lived to a respectable age, do the same with their pet.

However, it is worth talking about the consequences of feeding dogs bones belonging to different animals and birds.

These are pharyngeal injuries when bones damage numerous vessels vocal cords. More dangerous damage trachea, which can lead to blood loss and even death. Asphyxia is also possible, especially if the bones get stuck in the spaces between the chewing teeth, and the unfortunate animal chokes on saliva. Vomiting and further dehydration if your pet swallows a large bone stuck in the stomach. Usually in such cases the only way to help is through surgery.

It is also possible that bones accumulate in the stomach, which can cause many deaths. stray dogs. If the fragment passes through the pharynx and stomach, they speak of perforation small intestine. This dangerous injury, fraught with severe blood loss and necrosis. You should also be wary of blockage of the large intestine, as a result of which the process of defecation is accompanied by pain and possible bleeding.

What bones should not be given?

Tubular chicken

If we talk about the tubular product obtained from chickens, then it will be harmful if the animal, through the fault of the owner, decides to eat the bones of both domestic and factory birds. Bones of this type are found in the thighs and wings. When gnawing on tubular bones, dogs are dangerous because they produce sharp fragments that can pierce the intestines and cause perforation and even peritonitis. Sometimes in such cases, dogs are saved by undergoing surgery on time.

Turkeys

The turkey is large poultry, released for slaughter at the age of 2 to 3 years. This explains why dogs should not be offered its bones - they already have time to get stronger. The tubular bones of this bird are located in the paws, wings and hips. If your pet decides to eat turkey bones, he is guaranteed to damage his teeth and get a perforation, that is, damage to the intestinal walls.

Goose

Just as it is dangerous if a dog eats a chicken bone at home, eating a goose bone can also harm its health. Since goose bones are comparable in danger to duck bones - they are well-formed, large, and when chewed, fragments with sharp edges appear, injuring the animal’s intestines. Birds are also prone to diseases that infect their limbs.

A rabbit

If you really want to treat pet rabbit meat, it is recommended to use meat with elements of cartilage. Rabbit bones are not given to dogs; they are small and have dangerous sharp edges, especially those obtained from hind legs, as well as ribs and spine.

Also, dogs do not need to be fed boiled beef or pork bone product. Such bones tend to form a dense lump and clog the intestines. There is no need to include softened bones from aspic into the diet, otherwise the pet will have to be saved on the operating table.

What can you feed in moderation?

We’ll tell you separately which bones can be given to dogs.

Boiled ones are rarely used and only soft and ground into minced meat. So that the pet’s body receives useful elements, it is recommended to add vegetables and vitamins to the dish.

Just don’t offer your dog a whole cooked neck or the spine of a poultry.

Beef heads will also work hip joints. When the dog gnaws the meat, the butter is taken away so that when trying to gnaw it the dog does not dislocate its jaw. You can allow the dog to gnaw the meat from the ribs, but do not allow the dog to gnaw on the bones or swallow them. The following types of food are allowed and healthy: dried tripe, dried deer legs, trachea and purchased bones, that is, sticks. The diet may contain tendon treats, as well as pig ears and heels.