How to choose the best recreational bones for your dog?

Let's face it... most dogs suffer from boredom.

They stay home all day and wait for their humans to come home from work or school. Even if you work from home or work from home, your dog will probably still have some downtime.

This is one of the reasons why dogs get anxious at dinner time. It’s the highlight of their day!

But for most dogs, mealtimes are short-lived and then they’re back in relaxation mode. That’s where recreational bones come in…
Chewing on a large bone is one of the best activities your dog can do! It's a great muscle-building activity for your dog... This exercise makes the neck and spine strong.
Bones, too, are nature's toothbrush... Chewing removes plaque and tartar from teeth and freshens breath.

Does it matter what type of bone you give your dog?

Choose the right bone and you'll give your dog an afternoon of fun activities... Choose the wrong bone and your dog could end up in the emergency room at the animal hospital!

Don't be alarmed, it's just a warning... in fact, bones are your dog's best friend!

But you will need to choose a bone that matches your pet's size and chewing habits.
We'll help you choose the safest (and most enjoyable) bone for your four-legged friend.

How to choose the right bone?

There are two types of recreational bones for dogs: long bones and flat bones.

Long Bones

Long bones are the bones found in the legs and wings of animals.
These bones are great for weight bearing, so they tend to have a hard, smooth surface with a marrow-filled center. The ends of these bones are soft and contain lots of cartilage.

Flat bones

Flat bones are the bones found in the spine, ribs, pelvis, and shoulder. They are softer than long bones and do not contain as much marrow, and they usually have more intricate surfaces.

Choose the right size bone for your dog

The size of the bone (and the dog) determines how edible the bone is.
In general, recreational bones are an addition to a balanced diet. In fact, your dog shouldn't eat too much bone... that would give him much more calcium than he needs.
The bone should be large enough for him to tear off all the meat, but not eat too much of the bone itself.

Big dogs

Bones from cows, elk, and other large animals are good for large, aggressive chewers. Some options for large dogs include beef neck bones (my favorite), beef rib bones, and pelvic bones.
If you're not weird (and you're sure you won't scare your neighbors)... You can even offer beef, sheep or goat heads (you can ask at the butcher or at ethnic markets).

Small and medium dogs

Bones from smaller animals like deer, goats, pigs and lambs can be eaten by smaller dogs, but... not by larger breeds.
As a safe choice you can choose beef rib bones, lamb neck bones (which are very meaty), pork or lamb ribs and heads.
Poultry bones are generally edible for dogs of all sizes...but you should not give them to your dog as recreational bones.

Now that you know more about the types of bones, let's talk a little more about safety...
When it comes to recreational bones... Safety should always come first.

Chewing bones, while generally safe, can create problems for your dog if your choice of bones is not the best.

Some tips to help you increase the safety of your dog's favorite pastime...

Cooked Bones

Never offer your dog cooked bones of any kind!
It is very important to make it clear that cooked bones are dangerous for dogs, as they can lead to intestinal perforation or a blockage in the throat. This happens mainly because during the cooking process the bones become more fragile, causing them to splinter and damage the walls of the digestive system. In addition to being harmful, cooked bones have lost all the nutrients they could have.

Intestinal blockages

Long bones have soft ends that are more cartilage than bone.
These types of bones may not be a good choice for large, aggressive chewers, as they can tear off much of the cartilage that will build up in the intestine.
If your dog isn't used to bones or if he overindulges, he could end up at the vet for an enema... or even surgery to remove the blockage.

Signs of an obstruction:

- Swelling
- Slouching posture
- Frequent, unsuccessful attempts to defecate or vomit
Be aware of these signs, or better yet... don't offer these types of bones (like femurs) to dogs.

Broken teeth

Long bones are quite hard on the surface and can break your dog's teeth. Flat bones are a better choice for medium to large dogs because they are much softer and harder to control.
Flat bones also last longer. This is because they have irregular surfaces that hide the meat better than long bones. This makes them a much more interesting chew.
As bones dry out, they can also become brittle. Don't leave your dog's bones sitting out for several days, or you could end up with a cracked tooth sooner or later.
Let your dog chew on them for a day or two, but then put them in the trash or organic waste container.

Loose stools

Dogs that are new to bones or that eat more bones than normal may suffer from loose stools.
This is usually caused by the rich, fatty marrow inside the bone.
Long bones contain more marrow than flat bones, so flat bones may be the better choice if loose stools are a problem.

Constipation

If your dog eats large amounts of bones, it can cause constipation. The stool may appear white or yellowish in color, powdery, or even yellow and liquid.

It is important to check your dog to make sure he is focused on meat. Avoid letting him eat too much bone.

Toxins

Stay away from bones from older animals...they are more likely to contain toxins and pollutants.
It's best to find bones from young, grass-fed animals. Organically raised animals are also a safer choice for the same reasons.

Where to buy your bones

You can find recreational bones for dogs for free or very cheap. Talk to your local butcher or the butcher at the supermarket where you regularly shop. Don’t be afraid to ask because most of the time, they will offer them and it’s more common than you think.

Recommended consumption

The recommended consumption of raw bones should be once a week and you can offer them to your dog directly or grind them with a meat grinder. In addition, it is important that the bones are frozen for a minimum period of 72 hours to eliminate any parasitic agents present.

Alternatives to recreational bones

If you don't have the time or patience to look for recreational bones at the butcher's, you can always resort to natural products with the same effect, such as Deer Shanks, Goat Shanks, Cowhide Bones, etc. Visit our Snack Market in our online store and find several options (all 100% Natural) to entertain your dog .

Avoid packaged, salted, manufactured ham bones, which are very common in the animal section of supermarkets and some pet shops. If you have tried them, you may have noticed that your dog drank a lot of water after eating the bone... Salt is one of the things that simply should not be in your dog's diet, so avoid it!

Don't forget, whenever you offer bones to your dog you should (whenever possible) supervise him while he eats so that you can act quickly if he chokes or hurts himself with the bone.

It is also essential to obtain fresh, quality food. If you have any doubts about the type of bone you can offer your dog, consult your veterinarian and ask for help in making the best choice.