Comments on: Are Bones Safe For Dogs?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 08:41:59 +0000

In reply to Mira mihajlovic. Cuts of raw chicken for human consumption were found to be contaminated by Salmonella around 40% of the time here in South Australia. That’s probably a reasonable benchmark, and way too high to ever feed raw to dogs.

By: Mira mihajlovic

Mira mihajlovic — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:26:51 +0000

My vet no longer recommends raw chicken wings because of the salmonella risk. I thought that was pretty low in Aussie chickens?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 08:12:58 +0000

In reply to Casey. Hi Casey. I haven't seen goat horns cause any problems so you should be OK. I'm not sure of their benefits either but if it's being enjoyed, that's a start!

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 06:15:42 +0000

Hi Andrew.

Just bought a goat horn for my golden retriever. She’s having a fun time licking and chewing it but now I’m worried about her teeth cracking. What do you advise I do?

Thanks,
Casey

By: Elizabeth Spanner

Elizabeth Spanner — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 09:45:43 +0000

Absolutely agree. Also 40 years in Practice seeing a positive difference in not only Oral Health but long term general health in dogs given raw bone. As Andrew has said important to know your dog and choose the right bone. Once weekly is good without wearing teeth and second best reason is the sheer enjoyment it gives .

By: Ulrike Wurth

Ulrike Wurth — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 03:03:45 +0000

Great article Andrew. In my experience of being a vet and a dog owner for over 40 years I have always fed my dogs raw bones and recommended raw bones for my clients. Having owned Labradors who are enthusiastic chewers, I noticed with my previous ones that there was a lot of wearing down of the teeth with large marrow bones although no dental problems. My current Labrador who is 14 years old has only every received beef pelvic bones, nice and flat, unable to break off any chunks, needs to gnaw and less wear on the teeth. Perfect teeth and gums and never needed a dental. I think the adverse effects of not feeding boes far outweigh the adverse effects of feeding them. Since advocating feeding whole beef pelvic bones have not seen any adverse effects in terms of breaking off and swallowing chunks, of bones or breaking teeth. The bones are roundish making it hard to break off chunks which means they gnaw at the bone, there is little marrow so not fattening especially for Labradors. It is important to ask the butcher not to cut the pelvic bone in half as they want to do, otherwise a large dog may be able to break off a chunk.

By: Penne

Penne — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 02:20:06 +0000

Awesome article Andrew, what are your thoughts on raw chicken necks for a maltese shihtzu?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:33:26 +0000

In reply to Penne. Thanks! Generally due to the rare incidence of choking we don't advise raw chicken necks, though many people do use them safely. If a client has fed them for years without problems there's probably very little risk and they can be very effective for dental cleaning in small breeds.