They help to minimize destructive chewing
The last thing you want is your shoes or furniture to be the object of your pup’s need to chew. Similarly, dogs can take excessive paw licking and other unwanted behaviors. This is especially true for anxious dogs and stressed dogs.
Bones are a safer chewing outlet to keep a dog occupied for a while and help them settle down. It’s a good idea to exercise your dog and then give them a bone to chew on for a while to help calm them before they need to settle for a nap or some crate time.
Step 2: Supervise your dog while they chew
All bones are choking hazards if they break apart. For this reason, you should monitor bone deterioration and take the bone away from your dog as soon as the size gets too small. Watching your dog closely as they chew also ensures that they don’t exceed the recommended 15 minutes of chew time.
What kind of bones can I give my dog?
The best bone you can give your dog is a fresh, meaty hard marrow bone or spongy femur bone from a large animal like a cow or bison. The bone should be too big to swallow and removed before your dog gnaws it down.
Cooked bones and smaller bones are prone to splintering. Pig bones are more likely to carry pathogens, and poultry bones tend to be brittle and splinter. This is especially true of turkey bones that are highly hollow and sharp.
Bone shards slice your dog’s gums and cause vomiting or gastrointestinal damage. Dogs that eat cooked bones or poultry bones are likely to suffer from windpipe, gastrointestinal, or esophagus blockage upon the accidental swallowing of the bone.
Other health hazards associated with splinter consumption are rectal bleeding, choking, peritonitis (bacterial infection in the abdomen from stomach punctures), and mouth or tongue injuries.
How often should a Dog chew a bone?
Watching a dog wag his tail and happily run off with a fresh bone to chew is one of those small amusements that make most people smile. Licking and chewing are natural habits for dogs of all breeds. It starts in early puppyhood out of curiosity as well as for teething purposes.
As they get older, chewing on hard objects like bones becomes a pleasurable pastime that removes plaque from the teeth while adding valuable calcium, vitamins, and minerals to a dog’s diet.
Some dogs enjoy chewing more than others and may chew unsafe objects if they aren’t given a healthy alternative. Many pet owners spend a considerable amount of money on chew toys and bones, but what are the limits for dogs and bones? It’s time to explore how long a dog should chew various types of bones.
