Dog Community

How often to give raw bones?

Posted : 9/28/2006 6:27:36 PM

How often is it good/healthy to give raw bones? Wesley gets raw bison bones (not much meat on there and not much marrow) which I freeze and they last several weeks - he chews them for an hour or so at a time and then I take them back and re-freeze. Is it ok to give it to him every day? Can too much chewing on the bone (which he will eventually chew until it is really small and then I take it away so he won't choke) be bad for him? Note, these bones are for getting in good constructive chew time and teeth cleaning, not nutritional benefit - so if it is nutritionally or otherwise harmful to give it to him daily, I'd like to know...

Cally01

Posted : 9/28/2006 7:09:25 PM

I don't have a problem if the dog is not consuming the entire bone[

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With my dogs I give them bones a couple times a week, after one day I toss them in the compost. My dogs really eat alot of the bone, bones are high in
phosphorus....so I will add egg shells in their evening raw meal to up the calcium.

This is just what I do and believe...it doesn't mean I'm right. The one thing that makes me feel I am doing the right thing is with the old girls I get geriatric blood work done and their calcium and phosphorus levels are perfect, the vet was very impressed. I feed to avoid kidney problems later in life[

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jennie_c_d

Posted : 9/28/2006 7:31:06 PM

My dogs really eat alot of the bone, bones are high in
phosphorus....so I will add egg shells in their evening raw meal to up the calcium.

Ummmm..... HUH?

Cally01

Posted : 9/28/2006 8:13:21 PM

Ok, yes, I realize at times I don't make sense[

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Here is a site to view [link>http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html]http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html[/link]

Phosphorus: Elevated phosphorus is dangerous and needs to be controlled. It is questionable how important phosphorus is when blood levels are still in the normal range (below 6.0 mg/dl), but my feeling is that it is still important to reduce phosphorus in the diet, and be sure to use adequate calcium (which binds phosphorus), even when the levels are normal. When phosphorus levels are above the normal range, even by small amounts, then I think it is vital to both reduce phosphorus in the diet and use phosphorus binders, plus you may need to do other treatments as well. If you are home feeding, and your dog's phosphorus levels are normal, you can add calcium to help bind phosphorus. Add about 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of ground eggshell per pound of food (1/2 teaspoon ground eggshell yields about 2750 mg of calcium carbonate, which has 1100 mg of elemental calcium). If you prefer, you can use Tums instead (be sure to use the product that contains only calcium). If the phosphorus levels are high, you may need to use more calcium, or talk to your vet about using an aluminum based phosphorus binder instead. See the section on [linkhttp://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html#phosphate]Phosphate Binders[/link] below for more information. Elevated phosphorus levels (hyperphosphatemia) can be related to abnormal parathyroid hormone (PTH), which can be caused by kidney disease, so if it persists, you should do a PTH test so it can be treated if needed.

Bones are high in phosphorus and other minerals that can be hard on kidney patients. The [linkhttp://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html#table]table[/link] below lists some approximate values for a variety of raw meaty bones. If you substantially reduce or eliminate the amount of bone in the diet, you should add 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon ground eggshell per pound of meat fed to balance out the calcium/phosphorus ratio. If your dog's calcium values are too high, you may need to use aluminum based phosphorus binders instead (see below).

jessies_mom

Posted : 9/28/2006 8:24:48 PM

I've read that giving large bones too often can wear down thier teeth; maybe others will know if that's true or not.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 9/28/2006 8:27:03 PM

Ah! That makes more sense. I know that the bonemeal I get has phosphorus, but it's much higher in calcium. I just didn't think about it....

chewbecca

Posted : 9/29/2006 5:59:06 AM

giving too much bone can constipate a dog.
Ella gets a boned meal (chicken leg quarter, pig necks, etc...) every OTHER day. And every other day I add a bit of kibble to her diet. I do this because I believe that the kibble makes her poop. I know on raw they poop less, but I get freaked out if she doesn't poop AT LEAST every other day.