Can dogs eat bones?
There is nothing more iconic than the image of a dog with a nice bone in its mouth, right? Almost all of them love it, and if allowed, they would spend hours tirelessly gnawing away. But, after all, can a dog eat bones? That’s what we’re going to find out!
At first, knowing whether you can give a dog a bone is very important, even though none of them would reject that beautiful “afternoon snack.” This is because many foods other than kibble can be very harmful to them. Therefore, seeking information is essential!
After all, why do dogs like bones?
At first, the main reason that explains why dogs like bones is due to their natural hunting instinct. In nature, before being domesticated, dogs lived mainly from hunting. Therefore, they took advantage of the protein and nutrient source from their prey, including bones.
Although they may not seem nutritious or healthy, bones were used as a way to compensate for the lack of fat in the meat of animals that suffered from territorial and climatic adversities.
In other words, these prey that were killed did not always have a good amount of necessary fat to meet the hunters’ needs. Thus, they were forced to gnaw on the bones of the prey.
Can a dog eat bones?
The answer is no, you cannot give bones to a dog! This is because bones, like chicken bones, for example, can splinter and cause intestinal injuries, internal organ damage, or damage to the pet’s gums.
“But I heard that bones bring many benefits to dogs, is that true?” Yes, they can provide benefits, such as:
- Contributes to teeth cleaning (eliminating famous bacterial plaques, canine tartar)
- Reduces stress
- Stimulates canine instinct
- Provides entertainment to the pet
- Develops jaw muscles
“So, how do they promote all these benefits and are still forbidden?” In fact, there are types of bones for dogs that serve as treats for them.
What bone can a dog eat?
Basically, the only allowed bones are those specifically produced for dogs, such as nylon bones, natural bones (from cattle, without having undergone heating processes), synthetic bones, knotted bones, among others. At Petlove, you can find all types of dog bones that help satisfy their natural instinct, promote entertainment, and assist in oral health.
From what age can I offer bones?
Ideally, wait for the puppy to have its teeth 100% complete so that there is no risk of breaking any baby teeth. This period should occur from four months of age. From that moment on, you can turn to a specific bone for puppies, which are a bit softer and pose no health risks.
Always supervise playtime!
It is important to emphasize: avoid leaving the pet with the dog bone unsupervised, as there is a risk of choking or injury. Also, always prefer models that are not much smaller than the dog’s mouth to prevent choking. Be attentive also to any pieces that may come loose.
Today you learned that dogs can eat bones, as long as they adhere to the rules we saw in this article. So, enjoy the tips!
