Can i give bones to my puppy

If you have had the pleasure of having a wisdom tooth grow through, you know how uncomfortable it is to grow new teeth! I would argue that bones are not the best candidates for this purpose, as softer rubber chew toys are much gentler on sore gums, but some owners do opt to give their puppy bones to help with their teething. Lamb and beef bones are very popular for this reason. Bones are extremely tough.

The fear of giving your puppy a bone is that they may become a bit overzealous and attempt to break the bone. This will almost definitely hurt them rather than make a single scratch on the hard shell of the bone. This is why vets often report broken or cracked teeth in dogs and puppies who have been given raw bones to chew on.

I have had the unfortunate delightful experience of swallowing a shard of bone as a child. The bone is not digestible at all, so it can cause an obstruction down the windpipe which chokes them. Or it can stay lodged in their stomach. It is as nasty as it sounds. Some vets have had to operate on puppies with bones stuck in their insides.

So, there are pros and cons to giving your puppy a bone at their tender age or at any point in their lives. What could be good alternatives to the raw bone life? It depends on your intentions in feeding your dog bones in the first place. Is it for the nutritional benefits or just as a chew toy? I have recommendations for both. It is important not to underfeed or overfeed puppies. Research indicates that overfeeding puppies particularly large and giant breeds can predispose them to muscle and bone problems.

Your vet will be able to advise you on how much and what to feed your puppy. If your vet advises that it is appropriate to feed raw bones to your puppy, they should be introduced gradually. The bone must be large enough so that the puppy cannot fit the whole bone in its mouth or swallow the bone whole.

Fresh drinking water must be available at all times but do not offer your puppy milk as this can cause gastrointestinal upsets. Between four to six months of age, the permanent teeth appear and grow rapidly. Introducing fresh raw meaty bones at around 12 weeks of age ensures they are chewing actively around the time the permanent teeth erupt.

Some examples include raw lamb ribs and flaps but not lamb chops , and raw chicken wings. Too many raw bones may lead to constipation. One raw bone per week is generally well-tolerated. Never feed your dog cooked bones as these can splinter, causing potentially fatal internal damage or intestinal obstruction. Bones must always be raw. A small amount of finely-cut vegetable matter may be offered, such as cooked pumpkin or carrots.

Raw bones should be introduced gradually. Obstructions are very serious and can quickly lead to severe illness and death. A bone and its marrow can make diarrhea , irritable bowel syndrome, or just plain sensitive stomachs even worse.

Even dogs that are friendly can be very protective of their bones. Offer raw meat bones. Many veterinarians say that raw meat bones are the best dog bones. If a bone is harder than a tooth, the tooth can fracture and your dog will need an expensive dental evaluation and treatment.

Take the bone away from your dog after to minutes, and put it in the refrigerator. Dispose of a bone after three or four days. Bacteria can grow and cause intestinal problems for your dog. A beef shank bone is a good example of the type of bone to give to a large dog. Do supervise your dog when you give him a bone. Be an educated consumer. The Food and Drug Administration FDA publishes information about dog bone treats, which are processed and sold commercially as dog treats.

Keep in mind that experienced and knowledgeable veterinarians disagree about bone chewing and many advise owners to play it safe and only provide commercially available chew toys and simulated dog bones that are made for dogs of all sizes.

We do know that dogs love to chew, and chewing on a bone can keep them busy and happy. It can even reduce anxiety and serve as a big reward for good behavior. Should you give your dog a bone?