Bones and Rawhides - Truth or Consequences

Bones

There is much debate about what is safe for dogs to chew on. Certainly the action of chewing removes plaque (bacterial film) and tartar for the premolars and molars (the incisor and canine teeth in the front of the mouth which function to grab the food do not benefit much from chewing), however, there can be problems related to what is actually being given to your dog. For instance, certain types of bones can splinter and cause havoc on the gastrointestinal tract. Pieces of bone may bind up in the esophagus or intestines causing an obstruction or even perforation. Cooking bones makes them more susceptible to splintering. Bones can also get lodged in the roof of the mouth or cause lacerations inside the mouth. Raw bones are much safer, but only neck, backs or knuckle bones (known as cancellous bone) rather than shaft bones (cortical bones). There have been some cases of salmonellosis related to eating raw bones. Chicken bones are notorious for causing digestive problems and obstructions and should be avoided all together. Bones can also crack the tooth enamel leading to an infected tooth root. The bottom line is that ANY bone has the potential for causing a problem.

Rawhides

Once again, rawhides can cause the same problems as do bones, depending on how the rawhide is chewed. If it is chewed in a slow manner and the dog doesn’t swallow whole pieces of the rawhide, this is actually a very good adjunct to maintaining good oral health. Some dogs do not tolerate rawhides if they are allergic to the beef or pork protein and my develop vomiting and diarrhea. When the dog chews the rawhide down to a small piece, it is a good idea to throw that out so that they don’t swallow it whole which can cause an obstruction.

Alternative Chews

The best way to assure healthy teeth is to brush the teeth daily, but in the business of everyday life, this usually doesn’t happen, and some dogs just won’t tolerate brushing. Excellent dental chews include Dentees, Greenies and C.E.T. chews. A good toy for chewing is the Kong toys which have on opening to insert biscuits or other treats and the openings can be plugged with peanut butter.