Are raw bones safe for dogs?

Raw feeders talk about two types. Edible bones, like raw chicken wings or necks, are soft enough to be crunched and swallowed. Recreational bones, like large beef leg bones, are for gnawing, not eating. Each type has its own risks: soft bones can be gulped whole by greedy eaters, and hard bones can crack teeth.

A general rule is that any bone should be larger than your dog's muzzle so it cannot fit whole in the mouth.

The upper fourth premolar, the big cutting tooth at the back of the upper jaw, is the one most often fractured by hard chewing. Too much bone in the diet can also cause constipation, with hard, pale, crumbly stools. Raw bones carry the same bacteria as raw meat, so wash hands and surfaces after handling.

Dogs that guard bones may snap at other pets or children.

Give it on a washable mat or outside, limit sessions to about 10 to 15 minutes, and take the bone away once it is small enough to swallow. Refrigerate between sessions and throw it out after two or three days. Do not give bones to dogs with dental disease or a history of gut problems.

Dogs that gulp their food, flat-faced breeds with crowded teeth, dogs with existing dental disease, and dogs that have had a gut blockage or pancreatitis before are usually better off without bones. Dogs that guard food aggressively are another group where a bone can cause more trouble than it is worth.