how to choose the right bone for your dog  

There are no bones about it — dogs love bones. Bones are fun to chew on, throw around, and play with. But not every bone is great for your pup.

In this blog, we’ll go over choosing the safest bone (or rather bone-style treats) for your pet.

Type of bones

Just because it’s a bone, it doesn’t mean you should give it to your pet. Cooked bones — particularly pork, poultry, and rib bones — can easily splinter, break apart, and cause choking or internal injuries.

Raw bones from cow, lamb, or bison are commonly found in stores, but we recommend you consult with your veterinarian before purchasing one of these bones for your pet (more on that below).

Other types of bones include rawhides, which are typically made from dried cow skin; rubber bones, which are made from rubber or synthetic rubber; and bone-shaped treats, such as a certain green-colored “bone” made of soluble ingredients that help with your pet’s oral health.

Bone-style treats

We do not recommend real bones for pets.

We prefer bone-style treats, which are typically safer for your pet and have added benefits such as helping clean teeth, reduce tartar or plaque, and freshen breath.

Most of these treats are made of wheat, added vitamins and minerals, and, oftentimes, meat fat. Hypoallergenic versions are available if your pet is sensitive to any of the more common ingredients.

Why we don’t recommend actual bones

As mentioned above, real bones can pose a variety of risks to your pet, including:

Choking hazards
Mouth injuries — broken teeth or punctured gums
Digestive tract injuries — punctured throat, stomach, or intestines, potentially causing internal bleeding or infection
Intestinal blockage
Contamination — potential diseases such as salmonella, E. coli, or listeria
Constipation
Diarrhea

If you want to give your dog a real bone, please DO NOT give them bone scraps from your table. Instead, talk to your veterinarian to get their recommendation on the best “bone” for your pet.