Updated June 6, 2021
Do you sell fresh bones for dogs? Let us know and we’ll add you to the list!
I’ve started to worry about the supply of raw bones for dogs in Adelaide. So we’ve created a list of where to buy dog bones (below). Why worry? I’ll tell you a story.
First, though, have you read our guide to bone safety and how to choose and feed bones to dogs?
In the 1990s I spent two years working as a vet in the UK. They looked after their pets well, but there was one glaring exception. In the UK the standard of dogs’ mouths was appalling. There simply wasn’t the time or the money to fix them all. I hope it’s better now.
The difference seemed to be the availability of raw bones for dogs. Whereas in Australia, most dogs are offered raw bones to chew, it was a forgotten habit in Britain. In fact, there were regular warnings from vets about feeding bones, with no memory of how to do it, or the difference between raw and cooked.
When I met dog lovers who were open to ‘new’ ideas, I would sometimes quietly tell them how we cared for dogs’ teeth and gums in Australia. They would come back to me later and say they just couldn’t find any bones to buy.
So what happened? It’s hard to say but anyone who’s been to the UK will know how much the big supermarket chains dominate the town and village high streets. Independent butchers had mostly disappeared by the time I was there, and the likes of ASDA and Tesco who replaced them just didn’t sell bones.
Several months ago here in Australia, Woolworths Supermarkets moved much of their butchering to a centralised site in Victoria. Along with the disappearance of most of the in-store butchers, Woolworths customers started having trouble finding their dog bones.
When I saw a patient with bad teeth whose owner said “we just can’t find bones any more” I started having flashbacks. We’re only a short hop from ending up like the UK without even noticing.
So, here’s our answer: keep supporting the independent meat sellers who can deliver what our dogs need. We ask: if possible, buy your meats where you buy your dogs’ bones, and tell them why. We have a long and proud tradition of local butchers, regional supermarkets and independent pet food stores here in Adelaide, and it’s time to show them our support.
Thanks to your suggestions, we’ve created a list of shops where you can buy bones for dogs. The list is below, but here are a few common threads:
- Most independent butchers sell dog bones.
- Butchers usually offer to cut their bones the way that suits your dog.
- Large Foodlands seem to reliably have bones, and some Coles too.
- Pet food shops also sell raw bones, no doubt also supporting local butchers.
All of these stores have been recommended to us by you, but we can’t endorse one over another. This is NOT a complete list. If you know a store, or own one, contact us! Where the shop has an active Facebook page, we’ve added the link.
Thank you. This page has been written by Andrew Spanner from the information supplied by you. Please like our Facebook page for the latest pet articles and stories from our Adelaide clinic.
Stores Selling Raw Bones
Adelaide
O’Connell’s Butcher
Central Market, Grote St entrance.
Athelstone
Athelstone Quality Meats (butcher)
Athelstone Shopping Centre, 320 Gorge Road
Blackwood
Rubens Pet Food Supplies & Accessories
168-170 Main Rd.
Bridgewater
Bridgewater Quality Meats (butcher)
Coles Shopping Centre, Bridgewater
Campbelltown
Campbelltown Centre Meat (butcher)
Campbelltown Shopping Centre, 610 Lower N E Rd
Pet Cafe Campbelltown (frozen marrowbones)
617-621 Lower North East Rd
Clearview
The Pet Food Centre (roo, lamb, beef, turkey)
254 Hampstead Road.
Collinswood
Collinswood Fresh Meats (butcher)
41C North East Rd
Edwardstown
Springfield Butchers
Castle Plaza, 992 South Rd
Fullarton
Arkaba Gourmet Butcher (fresh beef marrow bones)
Arkaba Shopping Centre, 180 Glen Osmond Rd
Glenelg
Scruffies Pet Food (variety of fresh or frozen bones)
41 Broadway, Glenelg South
Golden Grove
Foodland Golden Grove (cut bones in packs)
Greenacres
Ians Quality Meats (butcher)
Greenacres Shopping Centre, Muller Road
Also Coles Supermarket
Henley Beach
CrestCut Meats (butcher)
348-354 Seaview Road, Henley Square
Ingle Farm
Craig’s Quality Meats (butcher)
Ingle Farm Shopping Centre, Walkleys Rd & Montague Road
Kilburn
Murray Valley Beef (butcher)
400 Churchill Rd
Coles Supermarket
390 Churchill Rd
Leabrook
Leabrook Quality Meats (butcher)
9/457 Glynburn Rd
Marryatville
Churchill’s Butchery
Shop 8/ Cnr Kensington Rd & Tusmore Rd
Morphett Vale
Morphett Vale Butcher
206 Main South Road
Superior Meats (butcher)
Southgate Plaza Cnr Sherriffs & Hilliers Rd
Shanahan’s Quality Butcher
Woodcroft Shopping Centre 185 Bains Road
Newton
Keelan Grain and Fodder
Gorge Rd Newton
Norwood
Feast! Fine Foods
Norwood Place, 161 The Parade
Also Foodland Supermarket (same location)
North Adelaide
Palmdale Village Meat, Poultry & Seafood
North Adelaide Village, O’Connell St
North Haven
Saint Meat Quality Butchers
North Haven Shopping Centre 3/46 Osborne Rd
Prospect
Petstock (precut lamb bones in packs of two)
Main North Road
My Local Butcher (butcher)
1/60-64 Prospect Road
Rostrevor
Foodland Rostrevor
161 St Bernards Rd, Rostrevor
Redwood Park
Bonez Pet Food & Treatz
Shop 3, 414 Milne Rd
Rostrevor
Mick’s Tender Meat (butcher – beef bones)
169 St Bernards Road, Rostrevor
Seaford
Aussie Country Pet Foods
Shed 7, 14 Farrow circuit
St Agnes
Bruce’s Meat & Poultry Options (butcher with stores also at Mitcham, Pasadena, Fairview Park & Stepney)
8/1244 North East Rd
Sefton Park
Sonny’s Gourmet Meats
Sefton Plaza Shopping Centre, 12/225-239 Main North Road
also Foodland Sefton Plaza
Semaphore
Saint Meat Quality Butchers
37 Semaphore Road
South Plympton
Forbes Meat Store (butcher)
531 Marion Rd
Stepney
Bruce’s Meat (butcher)
The Avenues Shopping Centre, Ann Street
Also Coles Supermarket
Stirling
Stirling Variety Meats
Shop 2, 36 Mt Barker Rd
Unley
Unley Meats (butcher)
14 Duthy St
Walkerville
SA Gourmet Meats
Walkerville Terrace Shopping Centre, 104 Walkerville Terrace
Welland
Welland Plaza Meats
Shop 9 Welland Plaza Shopping Centre
West Hindmarsh
Mr Meats (butcher)
43 Grange Rd
Yankallilla
Wakefield Grange Butchery & Grocer
5455 Main South Rd, Wattle Flat.
Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.
There are several Petzest stores in Adelaide. They sell a huge variety of bones and raw meat. Marrow bones are too hard to feed to small dogs, they are weight bearing and can crack teeth. Chicken wings and carcass and also turkey and duck necks, brisket bones are all better
Hi Julie. Read here why vets don’t recommend raw poultry for dogs.
Thanks Andrew,
This such a well balanced informative article on the safety of feeding raw bones to dogs. In Victoria Tasman butchers (a chain) seem to have a lot of bones that I think are suitable for dogs. Our kelpie seems to manage bones quite well – quite skilful in the way they manipulate them. Hopefully she is gnawing them appropriately, because virtually the whole bone disappears!
The bone is certainly going to shrink. The main thing is that it does so gradually, and you remove the fragments before they are small enough to swallow.
Woolworths at Salisbury Downs sell kangaroo bones
Linked butchers in Nuriootpa also have a good supply of both meat and bones for dogs. The Coop sometimes has bones..
This website is so helpful, Thankyou.
Can you please advise about raw turkey necks??
Thanks Cathy. Many of these places will also sell them but we don’t have more specific information.
pet land campbelltown on lower north east road sells raw turkey necks .
Bonez pet food & treatz in redwood park has turkey necks.
Saints Meats – Semaphore Rd, Semaphore