Dog Bones: Yes or No
Posted on June 4, 2010
Filed Under Dogs and Puppies | Leave a Comment
The feeding of dog bones is a controversial subject with many supporters and many detractors on each side of the subject. There are clearly advantages and disadvantages to providing your dog with bones. We will discuss some of each in order to help you make an informed decision on what to do.
Some veterinarians say that most dental problems seen in dogs are a result of not having something hard to chew on. When your dog chews on a chew bone the hard bone erodes away dental plaque, which can be the cause of tooth disease and halitosis. The scraping of the bone against the teeth helps to reduce tarter formation thereby reducing the risk of gum disease and discoloration of the teeth.
Many of the synthetic bones like rawhide and nylon will remove even the most difficult plaque and smooth the teeth. The smoother tooth surface is much less likely to form new plaque. Dogs seem to have an inborn propensity to chew on something.
In addition, providing him with a chew bone is a better alternative to having him chew up a chair leg or maybe your new tennis racket.
For small puppies whose adult teeth are just coming in chewing on a bone will facilitate this process. As the new teeth emerge from the gums, your puppy experiences a level of discomfort. Chewing on a bone can help reduce the discomfort.
Now for a few words of caution about the feeding of dog bones. If your dog is an aggressive chewer he may break a tooth on a bone. If the bone he is chewing on splinters and he swallows some of the splinters a number of problems can result. The splinter can become lodged in the esophagus, the windpipe, the stomach, or the intestines. Sharp fragments can puncture the stomach or intestines and result in an infection. There are many differing opinions among vets, dog trainers, and breeders as to the advisability of feeding dog bones.
Picking the right dog bone means observing your dog’s chewing habits and strength. When he is being allowed to chew be sure to supervise him. Discard any bones that have become small enough to swallow or have splintered. The right kind of bone will provide a very enjoyable experience for your pet. The wrong kind of bone can cause all sorts of problems including costly vet bills.
Here are some ideas on picking the right dog bones. It is generally thought that cooked bones splinter more easily so choosing raw bones over cooked bones is probably the wiser choice. Marrowbones found in pet stores are large diameter bones filled with marrow and are very durable and will not splinter.
Rawhide dog bones are very common but be sure to supervise him and remove any small pieces that break off.
Another good choice is a bone made of nylon. These bones for dogs wear down very slowly and he cannot swallow large amounts of the nylon at any one time. Any small piece of nylon would not have sharp edges thereby greatly reducing any risk of puncturing the stomach or intestines.
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