I was watching my dogs eat bones the other day and was enthralled by it.
There was a trance-like state of serenity about them as they closed their eyes, held one end of the flat rib bone between their front feet and methodically gnawed on the other end with their back teeth. The pleasure they were in was obvious. Nothing, not a squirrel, not a bird, not even a neighbouring dog barking could distract them from their objective - chewing a raw bone. Every once in a while, with their eyes still closed in their pleasure trance, they would stop and slowly give the bone a big lick, move it around a little and then begin their methodical gnawing once again. With each grind of their back teeth their bodies absorbed the minerals locked inside the bone and their teeth were naturally cleaned by the grinding action.
After about an hour they lifted their heads, panting from the exhaustive physical and mental effort it takes to eat a raw bone, and rested contently. Shortly after that, they all rolled onto their sides and fell asleep still grasping their bones.
There was a message in this about the joy of simple pleasures.
Yes, I feed my dogs raw bones and raw meat. I have no concern for whatever the current controversy is regarding feeding dogs a raw diet. I've been feeding my dogs this way for decades. They absolutely thrive on it and I have no desire to change it. But I do respect that it is not for everyone or for every dog. Feeding raw food to your dog is a bit of a science. There has to be some knowledge of minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, and the crucial role a proper balance between these minerals plays in the body of a dog. The knowledge I have comes after literally decades of self-teaching. There are many raw food enthusiasts, like myself, out there who work for businesses that sell raw dog food - which I do not - who are willing and able to help you begin your raw food educational journey, if this interests you.
But a good place to start is with recreational raw bones. These bones are fed to dogs that are either on a raw food diet or not. They are meant more for entertainment value, hence the term recreational, and are not fed every day.
Before you run out and give your dog a bone to ease his boredom, there are a few safety issues to review first. Although safe, chewing bones can create some bone-related problems in your dog if you are not savvy in your bone choices.
Bowel blockages may happen when aggressive chewers chomp off a lot of bone at once resulting in impactions, which may end with a trip to the vet. Signs of impaction can include bloating or frequent, unsuccessful attempts to defecate or vomit.
Long bones or shaft-style bones are not suited for these "go-for-broke" chewing dogs. Large knuckle bones that are usually larger than the dog's head are best.
Cooked bones tend to get brittle and very hard and can break into sharp pieces causing internal harm.
There is also the risk of broken teeth when eating long or shaft-style bones. Flat bones, like neck or hip bones, are a better choice because they are softer and less likely to break teeth. Dogs that are new to bones or that eat primarily a kibble diet can suffer from loose stools normally caused by the marrow inside the bone. Long bones contain more marrow than flat bones or knuckle bones.
Consuming large amounts of bone can cause constipation and the result is a powdery, yellowish stool. To prevent constipation, it is important to monitor your dog to make sure it is not consuming too much bone in one sitting.
Finally, if feeding raw bones interests you, be sure that you have a veterinarian who is knowledgeable or at least an advocate of feeding raw food to dogs.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her via her website k9kinship.com.
