Bone Question--Willow

Johnny&Tessy

I'm not sure if it was the marrow bone or not that caused it but the next day is when Tessy got the retrobulbar abscess.  When Tessy chews on bones lately there's very little left when she's done with them.  She's still on the immunosuppresants though.  Be interesting to see her when she's off them.  Wonder if she might still be a chewing monster.

Usually if you freeze them totally solid first that kills bacteria.  But then I usually thaw briefly in the microwave (you don't want to cook the bone but you don't want to give it to them that cold either).-- but as soon as they're done chew it I toss it. 

However -- I'm going to say it would have been more likely that it may have simply aggravated the jaws that were already being affected by the retrovulvar abscess -- or it's also possible that the body used resources to kill any surface bacteria on the bone and it allowed the other to flourish. 

*sigh* with an immune suppressed dog you just don't know.  But I didn't give Billy ANY raw marrow bones until he was off immune suppressors.  I was flatly too much the coward.

Years ago I use to buy marrow bones and cook them and give them to the dogs.  That was before I found out that raw bones were better for them.

Since my dogs are not on a raw diet, could I give them a raw marrow bone once in awhile, or should I just stay away from that.  I don't want to cause any problems, but cleaning their teeth naturally sure sounds good.  The only bones they get now are biscuit bones.

I used to give my dogs raw marrow bones all the time, until Sioux fractured a carnassial tooth, had an abscess (that was the only sign she gave me that something was wrong - a bit of facial swelling) and had to have it removed.  A few hundred dollars later I don't bother with marrow bones any more, although I don't think the other dogs would have had a problem.  Sioux was always a hard chewer...

Now, I just stuff a Kong or use interactive food puzzle toys.

I see no reason that Willow couldn't have a daily bone.

From what I understand, the real tooth cleaning comes from ripping meat from bone.  Not sure though.

Of course any dog can have a marrow bone.  As noted, the marrow is rich and *could* cause tummy upsets, so it's best to remove much of it, if not all.

Usually if you freeze them totally solid first that kills bacteria.

Actually, I don't disagree with you much on food issues, but here I have to.  Freezing will not kill either E. coli or Salmonella bacteria.  I know that because Mike's doc checked for me.  Because his immune system was compromised, I could not let him handle raw meat even if it was frozen.  Not trying to discourage anyone, just want them to have accurate info with which to decide.

Anne you're right -- it was late and I was brain-fogged.  I should have said "most bacterial".  E coli survives off grain so if you are feeding a grain-free diet it's less problematic UNLESS you are dealing with a seriously immune-compromised being (like Mike or Billy when he was on the immune-suppressing drugs).

Beyond that ... to "daily" marrow bones

My holistic vet encourages me to give him other things besides marrow bones.  Like chicken necks (which are danged near impossible to find) or turkey necks -- again both raw but having been frozen.  I don't have a real freezer so that just doesn't work for me (I'd be going to the butcher that's half an hour away every single day.  Not happening!)

So I generally give a marrow bone a week to each dog.

The other thing you can do is simply par-boil.  That literally means immerse the bone in rapidly boiling water for a bit  (like 10-20 seconds is usually enough).  That kills the e-coli & samonella in the meat but doesn't "cook" the bone.  Use tongs and then cool the bone off with running water if you want to give it right away.

Ah, chicken necks....I buy them from a little independent grocery that is small and dreary but gets LOCAL produce AND has the very best meat around.  They order a couple cases each week so I can get 4 ten pound bags.  I almost bet if you asked even the regular grocery to order you some they might.  Of course, you'd for sure pay more than I do at my cheap little store......

Ella has a pretty sensitive tummy to the marrow.

I generally don't let her chew on her soup bones for long than 20-30 minutes.

Because she's FAST, and she'll get that marrow out pretty fast.

Oh the determination of the APBT.

You can get chicken necks online, too - just one of many sources: http://www.pethealthandnutritioncenter.com/store/

This is really funny, I was just wondering about Ella the other day!!  I cannot believe you posted. 

Thanks everyone!!!

Just reading this.....and all I can say is your darn luck to get those marrow bones that cheap. I buy them in our local grocery store Giant Eagle...and I do look for the longes ones I can find..... I won't buy them unless they are at least 4 inches..but they are usually closer to about 32 - 3.50 for two that are backed together. Today I got a whole knuckle bone and it was over $5.00.    Yikes!  But worth it if I don't have to get Gibby a dental.

Oh.Gibby never broke a marrow bone...although he does get chips off the ends each time he chews a fresh one.  Once he is done chewing a fresh one...it sits...he almost never goes back to it for more than a couple of minutes on it.  Every once in a while I walk thru the house and pick up a few of them and throw them away.  Sometimes he just carries one of them from one place to another and lays it down next to his face and goes to sleep.

dyan

Once he is done chewing a fresh one...it sits...he almost never goes back to it for more than a couple of minutes on it. 

I'm finding that too.  She's licked it a few times and carried it to another area of the room.  But, she hasn't chewed it at all. 

This bone was never frozen.  So, is it OK for me to put yogurt in it and freeze it?  I froze the other 2 so I'm assuming once they thaw that I shouldn't refreeze them?? 

Thanks everyone. 

 I refreeze Bugsy's bones all the time

Also the only place I can get good bones is from an oriental supermarket - you might check those if you have them around.  I can get the bone from them cut how I like - if nothing gets lost in translation- for .79/lb

willowchow

This bone was never frozen.  So, is it OK for me to put yogurt in it and freeze it?  I froze the other 2 so I'm assuming once they thaw that I shouldn't refreeze them?? 

I just get new ones and throw the old away.  I have put things in one or two and froze them for him....but they sure made an ugly mess so I dont' do that anymore.  

willowchow

 

This bone was never frozen.  So, is it OK for me to put yogurt in it and freeze it?  I froze the other 2 so I'm assuming once they thaw that I shouldn't refreeze them?? 

Thanks everyone. 

I refreeze all of ours.  I stuff them with a variety of things.  Right now, I think that they are all stuffed with yogurt & leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.  After they empty them, I just wash them, restuff them & freeze them.  It's much cheaper to to restuff than it is to give a new bone every time.  When they start showing lots of wear, then I replace them.