Don’t Feed Your Dog Weight Bearing Bones From Large Hooved Animals
I don’t feed weight bearing bones from large hooved grazing animals such as beef and bison (knuckle and femur bones). Neither should you! They should be avoided because of their density, which can fracture teeth.
It makes sense when you think about it – they have to hold up hundreds of pounds of animal weight after all! In comparison, poultry bones are considerably less dense because they only hold up a few pounds of animal.
I also don’t feed deer legs, but I do let Wally rip the meat off of them. I can do this because he’s OK with leaving the bone alone and he accepts me taking it away when he’s done with the meat. It’s important to know your dog’s chewing habits!
Grind Your Dog’s Raw Meaty Bones If They Have Trouble Chewing Due To Age Or Poor Dental Health
Dogs suffering from tooth decay or those that might have had the majority of their teeth pulled should not be offered raw meaty bones for obvious reasons – they can’t chew them.
But that doesn’t mean that those dogs have to miss out on the health benefits of bone content. You can buy a meat/bone grinder and grind your own bones and then add them to your pup’s raw diet.
If no teeth are left you’ll have to grind the entirety of the meal, to include the muscle meat and organs.
They offer raw, balanced meals that have been put together following the 80/10/5/5 raw feeding formula and that have been completely ground. Some brands like Darwin’s add veggies and fruit to their formulas.
Be aware that those meals are more expensive than purchasing the individual components of the raw diet and putting them together yourself. You’re paying for the convenience factor!
That said, every now and then I buy pre-made raw as well, but usually only when I can get a good deal on it. That’s why I recommend browsing Raw Feeding Miami’s Monthly Specials section and Raw Paws Pet Food Sales section on a regular basis.
Raw Meaty Bones I Feed My Dogs
My former Boxer mixes Missy (50 lb) and Buzz (75 lb) ate duck frames/heads/necks/wings & feet, turkey wings & necks, as well as chicken leg quarters and feet. They also had the occasional rabbit head, (stuffed) quail, and beef oxtail.Missy eating a duck frame
Raw Feeding Miami carry whole quails. A 4 pack of those is $14.
My current pup Wally is a 38 lb Feist mix and eats duck heads/necks/wings & feet, turkey wings and necks, as well as chunked rabbit and raw rabbit heads.Wally eating a raw duck head
There are a few raw meaty bones I don’t feed him like a) duck frames (they’re a bit too large for him), b) quails and c) any raw meaty chicken bones. The reason why he can’t have quails and chicken is because he’s allergic to both.
Raw dog food featuring a stuffed quail
Raw Meaty Bones for Dogs and Cats
As I explained in my last post, raw meaty bones are an essential part of feeding your dog a balanced, raw food diet because they contain everything that’s needed to maintain your pup’s skeletal and dental health.
While that’s good to know, you might wonder where to buy chicken leg quarters, duck heads and the like at affordable prices?