Chewing is a normal and natural daily activity for puppies and adult dogs
Regular raw meaty bones are an essential part of a dogs nutritional, dental and mental health needs.
Some important points:
- "Natures toothbrush" - bones must NEVER be fed cooked or dried
- Raw bones can be fed defrosted or frozen (tip: if frozen run under tap before serving to take edge off the freeze)
- Senior dogs may need bones defrosted to avoid tooth nerve pain
- Puppies are in greater need of regular raw meaty bones appropriate for their size for calcium and mineral requirements for growth and development
- Puppies from 7-8 weeks old can be started on small soft poultry bones if they've had fresh raw food for a week min. prior
- Puppies fed a daily bone will reduce chewing on things you don’t want them to chew
- Marrow bones or other "weight-bearing" bones must not be fed to any age dog. They're too hard and dense, cannot be digested and risk chipping & cracking teeth.
- Bones smaller than the dogs mouth size pose a choking risk for gulpers and provide no chewing benefits
- Chewing bones is great for anxious/stressed dogs, releasing happy hormones serotonin and dopamine and reducing the stress hormone cortisol
- Variety of protein is important
- Bones are extremely high value to dogs - separate dogs safely to consume if needed, provide plenty of space and never remove a bone from a dog unless an emergency or exchanging for something of equal or greater value
- Dogs that are fed a kibble only diet should not be fed bones out of the blue.
- Lodgement and impaction risks are higher in dogs fed a high-carb, highly-processed food diet.
- Dogs denied regular raw meaty bones and fed high-carb processed food will need expensive and risky dentals later in life
- If starting out, increase frequency of bones slowly
View our vast range of bones here
