I know there has been a lot of talk on the forums about raw feeding, raw bones etc. Though I find raw feeding interesting, what I need help with now is raw bones. We give Cosmo bully sticks and had been using rawhides, which the vet told us to stop. He was hacking and gagging a lot, and the vet thought it was probably from the rawhides. We stopped a couple of weeks ago, and the hacking has decreased dramatically. Bully sticks are still okay, but are $$ and only last 30 minutes or so. Our vet said to get smoked bones, which I found, but I read on this forum that those can be bad too. AHHHH!!!!

Anyway...can a dog that is fed kibble get raw bones (turkey necks, beef bones etc)? If so, what size of these bones are suggested for labs? With the rawhide/bully sticks, I always got at least 8 inches. Where do people get them? I called around to all the grocery stores in my area, and the one butcher that I could find, and no one has marrow bones or any other kind of raw bone. So...I would have to order online. And, finally....can dogs just chew on and eat the raw bone like they would a rawhide?

Sorry for all the questions, but I am desperate to find something safe for Cosmo to chew on.

If safety is important, stick Nylabones, Kongs, and similar things. Yes, there are reports of broken teeth from Nylabones. If a dog gets something back in its molars and bites down as hard as it can, something is going to give. The trick is not to let a power chewer have anyting small enough to get back there. You really need to watch anything a dog gnaws down very quickly. Once it is small enough, anything can be gulped down and choke the dog or block its digestive tract.

Many dogs aren't interested in a slick, new Nylabone. I think they are putting the nubby texture on more of them now. I think it is part of the reason so many dogs like the hard to find dinosaur ones. The ultimate is the Souper Size Galileo Nylabone. It is about 7 inches long and 3 inches around. It has the slick surface. They are more attractive if you rough up the surface with sand paper or by rubbing it on a concrete floor. Another technique is to jam a Nylabone into a Kong creating what I call a twofer. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

if safety is a factor, and it always should be, never give any bones-whether it nylabones or raw meaty marrow bones, when you arent around.

For a lab I would recommend a raw beef knuckle bone, or shank. Something big enough that they can't get their back teeth completely around it. Other bones like shoulders and ribs would be excellent, if you can find them.
Turkey necks are also very good- the biggest ones you can find. Feed them frozen.
Smoked bones aren't a great idea.

marrow bones. and you can scoop out some of the marrow before giving it as it is very rich and some pups need to "build up" to it. in the beginning i gave the bones and took them away after about 20 min and re refrigerated for the next day.

We fed the girls small frozen turkey necks as a snack prior to switching to a raw diet. Marrow bones are also a great recreational bone, as well.

Whether or not they will eat the whole bone at once is dependent upon whether it is a "recreational bone" or a bone that you could feed as part of a meal.

This place (http://www.aplaceforpaws.com/rawmeatybones.html) has both & will ship as long as you are within the 2 day area for UPS. They are very friendly and will answer questions :grin: I always speak to Regan.

[quote=Moore08;1963841084]Bully sticks are still okay, but are $$ and only last 30 minutes or so. quote]


I get bully sticks for my lab from Costco (the brand is Cadet, made in Brazil - - world's largest producer of beef, I am a little worried these days with stuff made in China). I get 12 - 12 inch bully sticks (total weight of the bag is 1.32lbs) for about $18. So, that is not too bad. I give my lab 1 bully stick a week though because when he gets too many, he would get diarrhea.

raw beef knuckle bone, i won't feed knuckle bones. :nono: They are too soft and can and have actually caused blockages on dogs from this board. Here are the original threads from Chad's eating a knuckle bone. Blockage (http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/need-help-now-t95246.html?t=95246&highlight=chad+blockage) and Poop (http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/guess-pooped-t95679.html?t=95679&highlight=chad+blockage)

Kristin-
Thanks for mentioning that. I have given them raw without an issue... but they can be a problem because of their softness.

Thanks for all the replys. Unfortunately, I don't have access to marrow bones in my area, but may give the turkey necks a try. I keep meaning to get a Costco membership, and with teh $$ of those bully sticks, may have to get more serious about it.

Any particular reason smoked bones are a bad idea?

smoked is cooked and cooked splinter.