Give a dog a bone, or so the saying goes. But before you toss a pork bone your dog\u2019s way, make sure it\u2019s a safe one. Keep reading to find out what kinds of bones are safe for dogs, and how to choose the right pork bone.<\/p>\n
First, here\u2019s some general background on bones for dogs. <\/p>\n
Yes, bones are great for dogs. But only raw bones. Don\u2019t ever give your dog cooked bones, as they can splinter and cause your dog injury. <\/p>\n
Here are 5 benefits of giving raw bones to dogs:<\/p>\n
But remember, not all bones are safe for dogs! Here are some tips to consider when choosing a bone for your dog:<\/p>\n
There are two main types of pork bones to give your dog.<\/p>\n
1. Raw meaty bones<\/strong> are bones he can chew up and completely swallow \u2026 and they\u2019re an important part of his raw diet. <\/p>\n 2. Recreational bones <\/strong>are larger bones that he won\u2019t be able to completely chew and swallow. Their purpose is to provide him with entertainment and exercise. And they\u2019re great at helping keep your dog\u2019s teeth clean and healthy. <\/p>\n Here are a few guidelines. <\/p>\n Here are some types of bones that it\u2019s safer to avoid for your dog. <\/p>\n Pork bones with straight sharp edges or smaller pieces can cut your dog\u2019s digestive tract or get stuck, causing a blockage or choking hazard. Your dog should not be able to swallow whole pieces of bone. Beware of pork bones that have been sawn up, because they\u2019ll have straight edges that can get caught in your dog\u2019s esophagus. Pork chop bones or pork neck bones are good examples of bones that often have straight edges. <\/p>\n Caution: If your dog was eating a bone and then shows signs of bloating, hunched posture, or strained attempts to vomit or poop, he may have a blockage. Blood in the stools may also be a sign of damage to the digestive tract. These symptoms can be signs of an emergency situation that needs a trip to the vet! <\/em><\/p>\n Always feed raw pork bones and never give your dog cooked pork bones.<\/strong> This includes smoked bones that are often sold in pet stores. Cooking causes bones to dry out, so they\u2019re more likely to splinter and create sharp edges or dangerous bone fragments. It may be tempting to give your dog those leftover barbecued pork rib bones from your plate \u2026 but don\u2019t! <\/p>\n Weight-bearing bones are larger, harder bones such as the femur. Lots of dog owners give them, but there\u2019s more risk of your dog breaking a tooth with these bones. Pork femur bones do have lots of healthy cartilage on the ends, which is great for your dog\u2019s joint health \u2026 but be aware they are harder on his teeth. <\/p>\n As bones dry, they get more brittle, which means they\u2019ll break and splinter into sharp pieces more easily. It\u2019s safest to throw away any bone when you notice it gets too dry \u2013 even if your dog\u2019s been saving it for a special occasion!<\/p>\n The older an animal is, the more time there has been for toxins to accumulate in the bones. Try to buy pork bones that come from younger animals.<\/p>\n Now that you have some basic information about bones, it\u2019s time for some details about pork bones. <\/p>\n \n Caution: If you give pork necks, make sure they\u2019re whole or in big pieces. Many ethnic stores sell pork neck bones cut or sawn into smaller pieces, leaving them with straight, sharp edges your dog can choke on, as mentioned earlier. <\/em><\/p>\n Pork is safe for dogs, but here are a few things you need to know before you shop for pork bones for your dog. These are some reasons to feed your dog pork in moderation. <\/p>\n If you can, buy your raw pork bones (and meat) from pastured animals. That\u2019s because pastured pigs are healthier \u2026 and healthier for your dog.<\/p>\n Note: Don\u2019t look for \u201cgrass-fed pork.\u201d Pigs thrive on an onmivorous diet. They\u2019ll eat some grass and other plants along the way, but there\u2019s no such thing as a grass-fed pig. <\/em><\/p>\n Pastured pigs forage for plants, roots, bugs and nuts. This means they absorb a lot of natural nutrients from the soil. They also eat other foods the farmer gives them, including vegetables and fruit. And pigs who live outdoors get vitamin D from sunshine. <\/p>\n Ethically raised animals lead happier lives! So you can feel good that your dog\u2019s bones come from animals that lived good lives and weren\u2019t crammed into tiny pens or cages to get fat.<\/p>\n Find a local pig farmer or visit farmers\u2019 markets<\/strong> for the best sources of healthy pork bones for your dog. <\/p>\n Factory farmed pigs live indoors on concrete floors, in conditions where they can barely move. They feed foods like GMO corn and soybeans grown with chemical fertilizers. And they\u2019re given antibiotics to prevent infections that are common due to overcrowded living conditions. <\/p>\n So these are the foods your dog is getting second-hand when he eats factory-farmed pork bones or meat. The meat and bones from these animals are much less healthy and nutritious for your dog, One example of this is the kind of fat in pork. <\/p>\n One drawback of feeding your dog pork is the fat content. There\u2019s a lot of visible fat in pork meat and you may see it around the pork bones you give your dog. The good news about pork fat is it\u2019s mostly on the outside \u2026 and the meat itself is quite lean. So it\u2019s a good idea to trim the visible fat <\/strong>from any pork bones you give your dog. <\/p>\n Pork doesn\u2019t have an ideal omega fatty acid profile. Most store-bought pork has a 24:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega 3 fatty acids. A healthy ratio should be closer to 5:1. So it\u2019s really hard to give enough omega\u20193 oils to make up for that shortfall. <\/p>\n Too much omega-6 can cause inflammation in your dog that can contribute to chronic disease and early aging. <\/p>\n But pastured pig meat is much better. Studies show pastured pig meat is 18 to 43% higher in omega-3 fatty acids. And if you can buy organic, that\u2019s 291% higher. So choose organic pork bones from pastured pigs <\/strong>if you can find them. <\/p>\n RELATED:<\/strong> Why your dog needs omega-3 fatty acids \u2026<\/p>\n People worry about parasitic diseases like trichinosis in raw pork. The truth is that trichinosis (from the parasite Trichinella spiralis)<\/em> is extremely rare nowadays. Pigs can carry other parasites like roundworms or hookworms. But the risk of any kind of diseased meat or bones is much higher in factory-farmed meats. So that\u2019s another good reason to buy pork bones from healthy, pasture-raised animals, <\/p>\n You can reduce the risk of parasites in pork bones by freezing them before giving them to your dog. Ideally, freeze them for 20 days at 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or 3 days at minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n Any time you give your dog bones, don\u2019t leave him alone. Any bone can be a choking hazard for your dog. So make sure someone\u2019s always home to keep an eye on your dog with his bone. <\/p>\n Next time you\u2019re planning to have pork chops for dinner, remember to pick up a bone for your dog too! Keep the tips for choosing a safe bone in mind. <\/p>\n \n Srednicka-Tober, D. et al. Composition differences between organic and conventional meat: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Nutrition.<\/em> 2016 March; 115(6): 994-1011.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n ,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Give a dog a bone, or so the saying goes. But before you toss a pork bone your dog\u2019s way, make sure it\u2019s a safe one. 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What Pork Bones Are Not Safe for Dogs?<\/h2>\n
Chunks Of Bone Or Pork Bones With Sharp Edges<\/h3>\n
Cooked Bones<\/h3>\n
Weight-Bearing Bones<\/h3>\n
Old Bones<\/h3>\n
Bones From Older Animals<\/h3>\n
\n Are Pork Bones Good For Dogs?<\/h3>\n
Pork bones can be a good addition to your dog\u2019s diet \u2026 both as a source of raw meaty bones and as recreational bones. Pork rib bones and pigtails are good raw meaty bones. For recreational bones, large bones like pork shoulder bone, pelvic bones or necks will provide plenty of chewing and teeth-cleaning fun for your dog. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\nHow To Choose Pork Bones For Dogs<\/h2>\n
Bones From Pastured Pigs Are Best<\/h3>\n
Avoid Factory-Farmed Pork Bones<\/h3>\n
Fat Content In Pork<\/h3>\n
Omega Fatty Acids In Pork<\/h3>\n
Should You Worry About Disease In Pork Bones?<\/h2>\n
Supervise Your Dog With Bones<\/h2>\n
Reference<\/span><\/summary>\n