Giving Your Dog the Best Dog Bones
Author: Debbie Davis
Since brushing dogs' teeth is not always the easiest of tasks, conscientious owners give their dogs bones to help keep their teeth clean. The chewing helps to clean off debris and tartar from their teeth. Not only do they provide your dog some good activity, but dogs love all the different varieties.
Dog rawhide, for example, is a dog treat that can be dangerous. Dogs love the fact that it tastes like meat, but face a choking hazard as pieces of rawhide separate from the treat. When your dog swallows hard rawhide pieces, the can scrape the esophagus or throat. Rawhide can sometimes cause an obstruction in your dog's intestines. You may have noticed that a partially eaten rawhide dog chew is gummy and wet. So your dog swallowing that is a lot like us swallowing chewing gum – not a good thing.
Cow hooves are another dog treat that your little friend will love, but they can cause some of the same problems as rawhide. In addition to those perils, they are sometimes so hard that they can crack your dog's teeth. If your dog swallows an uneven, sharp piece of a cow hoof, it can tear the wall of the bowel. Infection and often death can be the result. It's just not worth the risk.
Pig ears can contain salmonella, and they can also cause blockages. It's better to go with safer types of dog treats, rather than risk injury or illness to your dog.
There are some dog bones that are safer for your friend to eat. Especially in this age of all-natural products, you can find many different kinds of dog treats that are healthy for your dog and that don't pose so many potential risks.
Nylabones, as their name indicates, are made from nylon. They're quite strong. Unlike rawhide, they won't break into chunks or splinter. The whole bone is digestible, and even aggressive chewers will have a good time with a nylon bone. When a Nylabone is chewed down to a little stump, pitch it and get your dog a new bone.
Better than Ears are fake pig ears that are very digestible, and low in fat. With healthy ingredients like soy flour and wheat bran, they really are better than pig's ears. Dogs adore Better than Ears. They just don't last!
A few tips on how to feed bones and when not to feed bones as dog chews. Never give your dog chicken bones. They can become lodged in your dog's throat or even splinter.
If you just can't give up on rawhide dog treats, you can buy compressed rawhide, which is not dangerous like regular rawhide. The rawhide bone is dense due to compressed layers of beef hide. This kind lasts up to five times longer than regular rawhide dog bones.
Check the ingredients and take a look at the bones when you're buying dog treats for your little buddy. If they look greasy to you, they aren't healthy for your dog. It's a good idea to watch your dog whenever you give him a new type of dog bone to chew on. If it splinters or if it looks like it may be dangerous for your dog, throw it away. Don't take a chance with the health and safety of your best friend.