raw bones

[wdawson]

what are the best type of raw meaty bones........have given beathoven and george cooked bones from the feed store......george won't touch them and beathoven steals them.. ..but beathoven seems to break them into small bits then swallows them the throws them up..so now he has none.
so my question is what bone (fimer.ect ) is best and do you get them at the butcher\grocery store or a raw feed specialty store?

[technodoll]

a raw beef knucklebone (knee) from your neighborhood butcher - cheap, not too hard on the teeth, can be chewed on for hours, you then rinse and store in the fridge or freezer until the next chewtime...

don't get those "marrow" bones (weight-bearing bones of large ungulates, such as femur), they are too hard and can chip or crack teeth. they're not called "wreck bones" for nothing

[technodoll]

they look like this:



there is a BIT of meat on there, but not much and some are very naked. do NOT get the greasy, stinky "smoked" bones, which are cooked.

[wdawson]

thanks td

hi ho hi ho off to the butcher we go.....

[technodoll]

most butchers give them away, or charge only a token amount for them too

[wdawson]

oh no.....is this the first step to raw feeding....

[technodoll]

he he he... "reel them in slowly..."

wayne you are in the raw den, after all come for a visit, stay for a while, la la laaaaaaaaa!

[wdawson]

lol....maybe

[Scott_B]

wdawson, welcome and thanks for the questions.

If you are thinking of starting a raw diet, i recomend checking out a few links.

This is a great read!
http://www.rawlearning.com

Another good source with recipies for our pups
http://www.rawfeddogs.net/

As well, there are a few books I would recommend, and you can get these online or at your local book store.

This is a great book for first time raw feeders. Very easy to read. Not very technical.
http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DN208

This is more techincal, and more on health issues and why switching to raw benifitial to your pup.
http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DN230

I would recomend these to get you started.

[Rottielover]

so it is not bad to reuse what is left, I was always worried, I just got harley 2 huge rib bones, lots of meat, but he will not finish all in a couple hours/
I can put back safely and reuse?, if so how many times before meat goes bad

[Scott_B]

I would just use your best judgment. If its starting to get smelly then toss it. I've kept beef neck bones for weeks, just refreezing them in between chews. Once it looks worn enough or sketchy looking I toss em. I know people who just leave the bones in the yard and the dogs bury them, dig them up a few days later, then bury them again. Once they get worn enough they replace em. I have a lot of wildlife out my way, foxes, coyotes and raccoons, so I don't like leaving stuff outside.

[technodoll]

and to get an even longer "life" from the bones, rinse them with white vinegar and then water before storing in the fridge or freezer until the next chewing session

[Rottielover]

great, will do that when i get home.....