Tips For Feeding Raw Bones
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We offer Nature’s Variety raw frozen bones. You can also pick up appropriate bones from your grocery store
or butcher shop. Whenever you are giving your dog (or cat) a raw bone for the first time, or giving a new
type of bone, it is very important to observe your pet and its chewing habits carefully. Some dogs nibble or
gnaw, while others are very powerful, determined chewers who might break the bone into chunks or
attempt to swallow it. Also, if your pet is not accustomed to raw bones, he/she might experience some
diarrhea or possibly even vomiting, so you might choose to give the bone for a short time, then put it in the
refrigerator before giving it again the next day. Dogs’ digestive systems are quite different from ours, so
you do not need to worry about salmonella or e. coli infection. Another important thing to consider is
whether your dog might be highly possessive of such a delicious treat, particularly if you have other dogs or
small children. You can separate dogs until you know how they will behave, and be sure to instruct children
to leave the dog alone while he/she has the bone.
Different bones have different qualities. No one type of bone is appropriate for all dogs, so it is important to
determine your dog’s chewing habits to choose a bone that will be safe and satisfying. Remember that
bones should always be given raw. Cooked bones are harder, more brittle and prone to splintering, and
the beneficial enzymes and nutrition have been destroyed!
Beef bones (leg): These bones are the tubular ones, normally 3-8 inches long, with a small amount of
meat/tissue on the outside and marrow on the inside. Dogs love these bones, and will work for a very long
time licking out all the marrow, which is very rich and fatty. They are strong bones not prone to breakage
except by the most determined chewer. “Round steak” bones are the small, doughnut-shaped slices of a
beef leg bone, and should not be given. They are far too likely to be swallowed whole, or to be come
wedged around a dog’s lower jaw.
Bison bones (leg): These are very similar to the beef bones in shape and strength. We offer this type of
bone, though you are unlikely to find them in your grocery or butcher shop.
Turkey necks: These are intended to be fully consumed by your pet. The bones in a turkey (or chicken)
neck are much softer than the beef or bison leg bones. A gentle chewer will take a long time to consume
one, but stronger chewers will crunch them up in no time. When giving a turkey neck, it should be
considered a meal, and that day’s food amount adjusted appropriately. One caution is that some impatient
dogs will crunch the neck a few times and then attempt to swallow it, so be sure to observe your pet
carefully. Necks can be cut into smaller segments if necessary.
Beef knuckles: These are available either whole or sliced into thick discs. Knuckles are softer than the leg
bones, and strong chewers are frequently able to break the bone into chunks and swallow the pieces. In
most cases a dog’s digestive juices can break down this soft bone, but a very large chunk may cause
gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting, diarrhea or even potentially a blockage. Again, it is strongly
advised to observe your dog carefully, and take the bone away if problems are noted.
Ham bones: These are similar in shape to the beef bones, and can be found with or without the softer
cartilage “knobs” on one or both ends. However, the bone is somewhat softer overall, and is more likely to
be chewed to bits and consumed. While consuming the bone is okay, you should be watching to see if your
dog is chewing smaller bits from it, or is breaking off large chunks.
Lamb bones: Lamb bones resemble the picture you typically see of a dog bone, with knobs on the ends
and a straight, marrow-filled segment in between. These are excellent for the gentle to moderate chewer,
as well as strong chewers that crunch the pieces up before swallowing. The long middle segment is
somewhat prone to breaking into long, narrow, rough bits, and if you notice that your dog is producing this
type of fragments from the bone, you should pick them up and take the remaining part away.
Chicken pieces: This would include wings, legs, thighs and backs. Contrary to popular belief, chicken
bones are not inherently bad for dogs (or cats, for that matter). It is when they are cooked that they
become brittle and likely to splinter. Raw chicken parts can be substituted for a meal, or given as a treat (as
long as you remember to adjust the size of the next meal accordingly). Raw chicken bones are typically
digested with little problem, though you must notice if your dog is merely swallowing them more or less
whole, rather than chewing.
(NOTE: This handout is focused primarily on dogs, but cats can enjoy raw bones and chicken pieces as well!)
(c) 2005, Central Bird & Animal Hospital. All Rights Reserved
or butcher shop. Whenever you are giving your dog (or cat) a raw bone for the first time, or giving a new
type of bone, it is very important to observe your pet and its chewing habits carefully. Some dogs nibble or
gnaw, while others are very powerful, determined chewers who might break the bone into chunks or
attempt to swallow it. Also, if your pet is not accustomed to raw bones, he/she might experience some
diarrhea or possibly even vomiting, so you might choose to give the bone for a short time, then put it in the
refrigerator before giving it again the next day. Dogs’ digestive systems are quite different from ours, so
you do not need to worry about salmonella or e. coli infection. Another important thing to consider is
whether your dog might be highly possessive of such a delicious treat, particularly if you have other dogs or
small children. You can separate dogs until you know how they will behave, and be sure to instruct children
to leave the dog alone while he/she has the bone.
Different bones have different qualities. No one type of bone is appropriate for all dogs, so it is important to
determine your dog’s chewing habits to choose a bone that will be safe and satisfying. Remember that
bones should always be given raw. Cooked bones are harder, more brittle and prone to splintering, and
the beneficial enzymes and nutrition have been destroyed!
Beef bones (leg): These bones are the tubular ones, normally 3-8 inches long, with a small amount of
meat/tissue on the outside and marrow on the inside. Dogs love these bones, and will work for a very long
time licking out all the marrow, which is very rich and fatty. They are strong bones not prone to breakage
except by the most determined chewer. “Round steak” bones are the small, doughnut-shaped slices of a
beef leg bone, and should not be given. They are far too likely to be swallowed whole, or to be come
wedged around a dog’s lower jaw.
Bison bones (leg): These are very similar to the beef bones in shape and strength. We offer this type of
bone, though you are unlikely to find them in your grocery or butcher shop.
Turkey necks: These are intended to be fully consumed by your pet. The bones in a turkey (or chicken)
neck are much softer than the beef or bison leg bones. A gentle chewer will take a long time to consume
one, but stronger chewers will crunch them up in no time. When giving a turkey neck, it should be
considered a meal, and that day’s food amount adjusted appropriately. One caution is that some impatient
dogs will crunch the neck a few times and then attempt to swallow it, so be sure to observe your pet
carefully. Necks can be cut into smaller segments if necessary.
Beef knuckles: These are available either whole or sliced into thick discs. Knuckles are softer than the leg
bones, and strong chewers are frequently able to break the bone into chunks and swallow the pieces. In
most cases a dog’s digestive juices can break down this soft bone, but a very large chunk may cause
gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting, diarrhea or even potentially a blockage. Again, it is strongly
advised to observe your dog carefully, and take the bone away if problems are noted.
Ham bones: These are similar in shape to the beef bones, and can be found with or without the softer
cartilage “knobs” on one or both ends. However, the bone is somewhat softer overall, and is more likely to
be chewed to bits and consumed. While consuming the bone is okay, you should be watching to see if your
dog is chewing smaller bits from it, or is breaking off large chunks.
Lamb bones: Lamb bones resemble the picture you typically see of a dog bone, with knobs on the ends
and a straight, marrow-filled segment in between. These are excellent for the gentle to moderate chewer,
as well as strong chewers that crunch the pieces up before swallowing. The long middle segment is
somewhat prone to breaking into long, narrow, rough bits, and if you notice that your dog is producing this
type of fragments from the bone, you should pick them up and take the remaining part away.
Chicken pieces: This would include wings, legs, thighs and backs. Contrary to popular belief, chicken
bones are not inherently bad for dogs (or cats, for that matter). It is when they are cooked that they
become brittle and likely to splinter. Raw chicken parts can be substituted for a meal, or given as a treat (as
long as you remember to adjust the size of the next meal accordingly). Raw chicken bones are typically
digested with little problem, though you must notice if your dog is merely swallowing them more or less
whole, rather than chewing.
(NOTE: This handout is focused primarily on dogs, but cats can enjoy raw bones and chicken pieces as well!)
(c) 2005, Central Bird & Animal Hospital. All Rights Reserved