The Bone Splintering Fallacy
The Risk of Feeding Bones to Dogs
The ‘old wives tale’ of not feeding chicken to dogs is just that, an ‘old wives tale’.
In its’ time the saying was not wrong!
Cooked bones and bones from older animals, especially weight bearing bones, have every chance of splintering and having disastrous consequences for your pet.
However, today’s chickens are generally less than 12 weeks old prior to reaching the food market. Their bones are highly pliable and the likelihood of splintering when served raw is minimal.
That is not to say that there isn’t a risk. As long as the dog being served bones is on a high raw meat protein, low/no starch diet and is fed no more than once a day, their stomach pH has the opportunity to reach its optimum level and therefore the bones can be digested.
Be aware and please monitor your pets when feeding bones for the first time and until your dog is used to them, as accidents do happen.
Never feed cooked bones!
The ‘Old Wives Tale’ of not feeding chicken to dogs is just that, an ‘old wives tale’.
In its’ time the saying was not wrong!
Cooked bones and bones from older animals, especially weight bearing bones, have every chance of splintering and having disastrous consequences for your pet.
However, today’s chickens are generally less than 12 weeks old prior to reaching the food market. They’re bones are highly pliable and the likelihood of splintering when served raw is minimal.
That is not to say that there isn’t a risk. As long as the dog being served bones is on a high raw meat protein, low/no starch diet and is fed no more than once a day, their stomach pH has the opportunity to reach its’ optimum level and therefore the bones can be digested.
Be aware and please monitor your pets when feeding bones for the first time and until…
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