Bones For Your Dog - Delicious Treat Or A Deadly Snack?
There
is a difference
of opinion
among canine experts
as to whether bones
should be given to a
dog raw,
cooked, hard, or soft,
and even whether
they should be
given at all. On one
point, however, there is total agreement, never
give a dog
splintering bones from chicken,
pork, fowl,
and rabbit, (although chicken bones
that have been
cooked in a pressure
cooker until they are very
soft can be quite nourishing
and safe).
A
marrow bone is the traditional symbol
of a
treat for a dog,
and he obviously appreciates it.
It may be too big and hard
for small dogs.
In fact, large
breeds generally handle bones much better
than small ones. Bones that are mostly
cartilage, such as spinal and shoulder bones
of veal, knuckle bones, and soft
rib bones, are good chewing material that can be
entirely consumed.
The
real danger
is intestinal
compaction, especially
in small dogs, if
the masticated
bone has not been mixed
with other residue in
the dog's stomach. A small amount should
cause no
trouble if
it is given right after a
meal. Chop and steak bones are more dangerous. Careful eaters simply clean
off the
meat and fat,
but greedy gobblers
run the risk of internal
injury from jagged bone
splinters. The same is true of a leg of
lamb bone.
What is the
best policy to
follow with a dog of your
own? A teething puppy
between four and six months of
age should always have a bone, real or imitation, to chew on. You might give
an adult dog a
suitable bone as on
occasional treat - for
example, once a week. It
will give
him enormous pleasure, will help to keep
his teeth clean and free from
tartar, and will
occupy him for several hours. But a nylon bone offers the same advantages without the risk!
Randy
Jones and his partner
Brent Jones have been in the
pet industry for a long time. Recently they
formed http://Joncopets.com.On the
site, customers can shop for the latest dog
collars and more for their best friend.