Can dogs have beef ribs? What bones can be given to shepherds?

From 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 the diet of dogs have perhaps been and remain one of the most controversial foods. For many years, dog owners have been heated debates about whether it is possible to give dogs 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, and minerals that animals of all ages need: glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen, which dogs will absorb in the best possible way and without side effects, unlike commercially available synthesized drugs.
• Bones train chewing muscles, strengthen gums, promote mechanical cleaning of teeth, and prevent the deposition of tartar and plaque.
• The dog chews the 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 of large joints and others, practically devoid of meat, are given after the main portion of food. It is good to periodically feed 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 properties, 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 it makes sense to monitor the process and condition of the oral cavity, gums and teeth.

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! Have you seen scary photos and videos 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 an acidic environment, bones are digested quite successfully under the influence of gastric juices and hydrochloric acid.
• Bones are shown to puppies from the moment of weaning, even with their milk teeth they perfectly gnaw out the spongy substance from the chopped strong heads of bones, gnaw the heads, eating cartilage and attached tendons.
• Even an old dog or one with an incomplete set of teeth will 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 shouldn't be given bones?

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 in later stages. Calcium necessary for fetuses and labor 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 a low pH1 value can eat bones well; animals that eat industrial feed have a 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, the back, and gnaw on beef bones 3-4 weeks after switching 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 white stools indicate an excess of 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. If you want your dog to crunch on healthy bones, switch to raw food and only then will he 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 natural dog: 33 recipes
— 30 ​​foods prohibited for dogs

Improper feeding of an animal can lead to dangerous consequences, including injury to internal organs. The dog may swallow a sharp bone fragment that can damage the throat or become lodged in it, blocking the airway.

Is it possible to give a dog natural bones?

The animal's stomach juice does not completely digest and soften the bone, and once in the intestines, it gets stuck there, causing the dog constipation, diarrhea, sometimes even mixed with blood. In the most dangerous cases, sharp parts of the bones pierce the intestinal walls.

Large fragments that get into the stomach may not pass into the intestines at all. As a result, the dog begins to vomit violently. Only a veterinarian can help remove the fragments.

To prevent dangerous situations from occurring, you should remember which bones are contraindicated for dogs:

1. Tubular chicken bones from both factory and poultry. Painted into small fragments, chicken bones easily get stuck in the teeth, causing pain to the dog.
2. Rabbit bones are sharp and small.
3. Turkey bones are very large and can get stuck in a dog's intestines.
4. Broken goose and duck bones. They are very dangerous as they have sharp edges.
5. Fish bones - injure the larynx and can cause suffocation.
6. Boiled poultry vertebrae - in the intestines they unite into one dense mass and cannot come out, causing problems with bowel movements in the dog.
7. Lamb bones - when bitten, they become very sharp.

Raw beef bones are good for dogs. Cartilaginous veal ribs can be given to a puppy and an adult dog, but under supervision. It is acceptable to feed the dog moss, but it is advisable that it contains remains of meat and not fat (as it causes intestinal disorders).

Pets also enjoy chewing dry beef bones, but they are not very useful. As soon as your pet has eaten meat and cartilage tissue, take the bone away from him so that he does not chew or swallow the fragments.

During the period of formation of baby teeth, at 4-5 months, you can give sugar beef bones to your puppy (raw). After six months, it is useful for dogs to gnaw on these bones to clean their teeth and prevent tartar.

Tendon bones are useful for the same purpose. They are sold in any pet store and are considered the safest for dogs of any age. Many dog ​​owners prefer Denta tendon bones from the manufacturer Bin1: they do not contain food additives or dyes.

It is generally not recommended to give small breeds bones. Their weak teeth can suffer from trying to bite through hard food.

Bones are strictly contraindicated for show dogs. Because of their gnawing, teeth are worn down and the bite changes, which is evaluated in competitions.

Industrial bones

Dog owners still disagree on whether they should give their pets artificial bones. On the one hand, they have a number of advantages:

1. Chewing bones is useful for preventing tartar and plaque.
2. Busy with a chew toy, the dog will not damage your furniture and objects in the house. He will have the need to chew in any case, but if you buy a bone for him, you can save the things that are dear to you.
3. For puppies, chewing helps relieve discomfort from teething molars and stimulates their growth.
4. Artificial chewing bones put stress on the muscles and teeth, developing and strengthening the dog’s jaw system.
5. They can serve as an additional nutritional supplement due to their collagen and protein content.

The disadvantages of chewing bones include the fact that they are treated with chemical materials, and dyes and flavors are used to give them a “tasty appearance.” Many of these toys are made of vinyl and do not contain warning labels. Vinyl bones contain phthalates, which increase your dog's risk of liver, kidney, and reproductive organ disease.

Many manufacturers claim that they make bones made from non-toxic materials, but check with your veterinarian before giving your pet a new chew toy.

How to choose a chewing bone

When choosing a bone to use, pay attention to size, shape and smell.

Before purchasing a toy, determine whether it is the right size for your pet's mouth. A bone that is too small is easy to choke on; it should be at least 10% larger than the dog’s open mouth. Dogs can sometimes be very picky: while small breeds prefer smaller toys, large ones may not even pay attention to large bones.

Hardness and texture are also important factors when choosing. Those who like to chew on everything will very quickly deal with a toy, even a fairly large one. Pressed rawhide pits are suitable for this - they will last longer, as they are denser and harder.

If your dog is a biter rather than a chewer, he will likely enjoy knobby bones that are easy to soften, as well as ox vein chips or sticks. Synthetic toys are worth buying for those who chew for a long time.

Before purchasing, test the item as follows: press it with your finger. If there is no dent left, then such a toy is not entirely safe. For puppies and older dogs, a softer surface is needed to avoid damaging the teeth.

Taste is very important for dogs, and everyone's preferences are different. Try different options: over time you will understand what your pet likes most.

Among the well-known manufacturers of such bone toys is Happy Dog (for large and medium breeds). They make bones based on veal and beef with the addition of a vitamin-mineral complex, which helps strengthen gums and cleanse tooth enamel.

Ferplast offers a line of non-toxic GoodBite Natural bones, available in six different flavors and sizes. Pedigree DentaStix X-shaped bones are not only designed for play, but also have a positive effect on your dog's health. Their special shape helps remove plaque from the dog’s teeth even in hard-to-reach places. In addition, they contain special components to prevent the formation of tartar.

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 a beef hip bone, the baby will be able to get involved in the process and enjoy it. Meat and cartilage are sources of protein and amino acids responsible for regulating the growth of muscle mass and bones. Protein is not only a building 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 danger 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 the bones damage numerous vessels of the vocal cords. There is also dangerous damage to the 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 causes the death of many stray dogs. If the fragment passes through the pharynx and stomach, they speak of perforation of the small intestine. This is a 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

Turkey is a large poultry that is slaughtered 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 your pet to 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 the hind legs, as well as the 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. To ensure that your 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 hip heads also work well. 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 include tendon treats, as well as pig ears and heels.

A dog chewing bones is not surprising. However, many dog ​​breeders are seriously wary of feeding their pets bones, believing that such food can cause serious harm to the health of the animal. Let's figure out whether it is possible to give bones to a dog, and how safe they are for your pet.

Many people believe that bones are good for dogs because the animal sharpens its teeth on them. This is not entirely true. In fact, after changing baby teeth to permanent teeth, a dog's teeth no longer change - in fact, over time they become dull. However, no bone can sharpen a dog's fangs.

On the contrary, when gnawing on a hard bone, the animal risks damaging the enamel, or even breaking the fang. But dogs really love to chew on treats - it’s good for the gums, teeth, and it just entertains the animal. The main thing is to know which bones are considered acceptable for pets.

Tubular chicken

Tubular bones pose a huge danger to dogs. Let's find out why.

When an animal chews a bone, it crumbles into small fragments with sharp edges that can injure the walls of the stomach or intestines, in some cases causing peritonitis. In this case, only surgical intervention can save the situation, and a positive result is not always likely.

Turkey bones

Turkey bones are no less (if not more) dangerous than chicken bones: they have a similar structure, but are much harder. The fact is that this bird is slaughtered when it reaches two or three years of age, so the skeleton has time to become significantly stronger. In addition, the turkey is a fairly large bird, so its bones themselves are much larger.

Gusin

The story is similar with goose bones - they are large and hard, so they can significantly injure the animal’s mouth and intestines, causing serious health problems.

Rabbit bones

Some dog breeders are not afraid to give their pets rabbit bones, believing that since they are small, they are not dangerous. In fact, a broken rib bone, spine or limb has extremely sharp edges.

Dangerous Consequences

By chewing hard bone, dogs inevitably injure tooth enamel, which negatively affects the general condition of the teeth. In addition, sometimes the pulp can also be damaged - then an open wound will form at the site of injury over time, which sooner or later will lead to the development of pulpitis.

Bone fragments that an animal swallows can not only injure the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract, but also simply get stuck in the pharynx, esophagus or intestines. It is impossible to get them on your own, and a pet that has eaten such a “delicacy” will definitely require surgical intervention from a veterinarian.

And it also happens that small fragments form a dense lump that clogs the intestines, and then the animal will need a cleansing enema.

What is allowed

The only option for what kind of bones can be given to dogs is beef. An animal can “eat” a large beef femur (the so-called mosli), or rather, gnaw off all the meat and cartilage tissue from it. The callus itself must be taken away from the pet in time to avoid possible troubles.

If we are talking about a puppy, you can pamper him with young veal ribs, offering him to gnaw on the soft cartilage, and selecting him when only bare bone tissue remains.

To protect your pet from health problems, sometimes it is enough to limit its diet. Almost complete elimination of bones will help the dog live a long time.

Can dogs have bones?

By their nature they have no nutritional value. Cartilage, leftover meat, connective tissue - all this is eaten with pleasure by the dog, without harming it. The bones themselves, if eaten or swallowed, will, at best, complicate the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Due to their size, they may simply not pass through it. A dog's gastric juice is highly acidic, however, this does not guarantee complete digestion of rough bone tissue.

Bones don't do anything good for a dog.

It can be dissolved to a certain state, but no more. At best, the matter may end with the use of Vaseline oil and an enema. Small, non-hollow bones with blunt edges can come out painlessly, but this is clearly not a reason to take risks. The body of a young animal is able to cope with their digestion, dissolving them to a rubber-like state. Puppies, lactating bitches, and older dogs are no longer able to do this.

It should be remembered that the benefits of such a risky type of feeding are very small, and given all the possible risks, they are doubtful. Bone tissue contains a large amount of calcium and phosphorus, which can be provided to the dog’s body in a safer way - by giving vitamins, by adding bone meal. This will help avoid injury to the throat and walls of the stomach, constipation, and possible surgical intervention.

Which bones will harm dogs?

First of all, tubular ones. Turkey, chicken, and duck meat are good for dogs, but this statement does not apply to their bones at all. When chewed, they easily break into small fragments with sharp edges. They can get stuck in various places: between the teeth, throat, trachea, anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Such bones should be categorically excluded from your pet’s diet, avoiding even accidental consumption.

Completely eliminate medium and small bones

Pork bones must be completely excluded. By itself, pork can be a source of various diseases. The immunity of these animals is not resistant to many diseases that can be transmitted to dogs (helmitiasis, toxocariasis, rabies). Remains of meat and connective tissue will be the source of these threats; there is no benefit from pork bones. Even if they undergo heat treatment, due to the gluten they contain, they will complicate the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, causing constipation.

This pattern regarding boiled bones applies to all types, regardless of origin. The reason lies in the same gluten, which turns them into a difficult-to-digest mass, which does much more harm than good.

What bones can you give to dogs?

Raw beef bones that do not have sharp edges (so-called mosles). They are safe for all animals and are very difficult to chew. When your pet has nibbled the meat and is satisfied, it is best to throw them away. The usefulness of such bones also lies in the fact that they help the dog reduce itching in the gums during the period of teeth change. For adult dogs, constant consumption of such bones is more likely to cause harm. Their teeth may begin to wear down and their bite may change. This is unacceptable for dogs participating in competitions and exhibitions.

Large beef bones are safe

Beef offal can serve as a painless replacement: trachea, dried tripe, dried ears. They will not harm the walls of the larynx and gastrointestinal tract, delivering beneficial calcium to the pet’s body. On the shelves of veterinary pharmacies and supermarkets you can find a lot of sticks for chewing. They can be used as a safe alternative. If you still couldn’t keep track and the dog ate the bone, then it’s better to contact a veterinarian. Timely treatment will help to correctly assess the threat, and possibly avoid surgery.