“Bone-Up” On What your Dog likes and is
Good for Him
Choosing the right bone that
matches your dogs chewing rate and chewing habits can make all the difference
in dental hygiene, bad habits and what makes him happy. Keep in mind that dogs
can be choosy about their bones, so keep trying until you find the perfect
chew.
*Bones help improve dental
health by scraping away plaque and tarter.
*Bones provide stimulating
activity by entertaining your dog for hours, keeping his mind motivated.
*Bones satisfy your
dog’s urge to chew, helping to avoid destructive behavior.
The following is a guide to help you choose the kind
of bone that is healthy and
good for
your dog.
Filled Rawhide-These include crunchy and rolled rawhide. These are
made from ground-up rawhide which is cooked and pressed into shape. They are
softer and easier to chew.
Healthy Chews-This includes filled sterile bones and nylabones. Sterile bones usually come from the beef femur
and have been heat processed to remove bacteria. Nylabones
contain a type of nylon which is durable and edible. These bones are designed
to wear down slowly and last a long time.
Natural Beef or Pork Bones-These include knuckle bones and shank bones. They are processed with some meat still
on the bone. These bones are very hard. Some are basted in meat flavor or left
natural.
Rawhide Bones-These include pressed rawhide which is layer together
to last longer, rawhide made from the inner skin of a cow and rolled rawhide.
Look for rawhide that has no cereal fillers, corn or wheat by-products or grain
residue.
Dental Bones-These include Nubone,
Greenies and Nutri-dent. They contain parsley and
chlorophyll to freshen breath. Look for those that are completely digestible
and wheat-free.
Raw Bones-These bones are natural, uncooked raw bones which
include poultry, beef, buffalo and lamb bones. They provide calcium, phosphorus
and minerals. They are kept frozen and are very hard.
Other bones to look for
include hooves, bully sticks and pork bones depending on the type of chewer
your dog is.
Never give your dog a cooked
bone especially from poultry, rib, pork or steak.
Dog
Bone Comparison Chart
Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff
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