The reason why dogs eat bones is very simple: their ancestors, wolves, foxes and jackals, had the instinct to tear their prey and scrape even the smallest piece of meat that was attached to their prey. bodies.
A gesture that they maintained when, eight million years ago, they evolved into the animal they are today, and began to hunt in packs to be able to deal with animals much larger than themselves.
Although there is very little left of those first wild dogs, the truth is that dogs still enjoy biting, gnawing and licking all kinds of bones.
But is it good for them to eat bones? What bones can dogs eat?
Let’s see what the experts say about it.
Can my dog eat bones?
Taking into account the evolutionary theory validated by the Department of Biology of UNAL (National University of Colombia), there is no reason why you should not give your dog bones.
This does not mean that you can give him any bone, since there are several bones that present risks to the health of your furry dog , and would fall within the prohibited foods for dogs .
For this it is important that we know the different types of bones that a dog can eat.
What bones can dogs eat?
Some of the most interesting bones for canine consumption are:
duck neck
Duck neck bones are among the most recommended for several reasons. The first and most important because, when they break, they break cleanly and do not splinter .
The second, due to the large amount of nutrients that it houses both in the cartilage and in the bone marrow.
Femur and knee of cow
The most recommended beef bones are the femur and the knee. Two areas full of meat and that have a most interesting cartilage at a nutritional level.
pig’s knee
The pig’s knee is another ideal bone to feed your dog, both for the presence of meat remains inside and for its extensive cartilage.
large chicken bones
When giving chicken bones to your dog, you must be very careful, since some, such as those of the thighs, contain sharp pieces that can perforate or damage their intestine.
Others like those of the trunk are, however, completely safe.
large lamb bones
As with chicken, when giving your dog lamb bones, remember to offer only large pieces such as the neck or the skirt.
Also give them raw, since when cooked they can present splinters.
☝️ Remember: In case you have doubts about how to make dog bones, never cook them.
There are many of you who have written to us asking if dogs can eat rib bones .
Well, the answer is clear: NO, since it is a bone element that, when perforated, tends to disintegrate into sharp fragments that can cause gastrointestinal problems of various kinds.
In addition to the pork rib, other dangerous bones for dogs are:
- Chicken neck bones.
- Turkey neck bones.
- Cooked lamb bones.
- Cooked beef bones.
➡ You may also be interested in: False myths about feeding dogs
What types of bones can a small dog eat?
If choosing a bone for a dog is a delicate matter, it is even more so if it is a small or miniature dog.
If this is the case of your four-legged friend, you have to know that the most recommended are chicken carcasses and wings, yes, as long as you remove the fibula and eat them in front of you.
Bones are in the top 1 of dog accessory lists , so other bones you can give him to chew on are cow scapulae and calf brisket.
How many bones can a dog eat?
The answer to the question of how many bones should a dog eat is: it depends. First of all, from the food you give him, since if it already contains crushed bone, it will be enough for you to offer him some bone for recreational purposes.
In the event that you are the one who prepares his menu, avoid giving him more than 20% of his food in the form of a bone so that he wants to eat foods with fiber, keys to avoid constipation.
Taking into account how many times your dog should eat a day , and in an orderly manner, the ideal is that you give him a bone a day or, if they are small, two, either incorporated into his food bowl or separately.
In the event that you have doubts about whether or not to give your furry a bone, consult with the veterinarian.👩⚕ No one better than him to tell you what is best for your four-legged friend.
What is your furry’s favorite bone? We read you in comments. 👇