Here's an interesting article on feeding( :/)

[lizzthrasher]

From my news feed today.

Alta Vista Animal Hospital is an Ottawa large conglomerate Vet practice that I don't go to for several reasons.  Think expensive and um .... other stuff.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2012/01/25/ottawa-dog-owner-warns-against-bones.html

[blanche]

Weeelll, maybe sort of.  Really varies from dog to dog and like us, some have more fragile teeth than others. 

Mine mostly get raw bones, but also get smoked bones.  I do think the smoked bones can be harder on their teeth and Tank has some issues with fragile teeth--which I chalk up to his years on prednisone.

And frankly, rawhides worry me more given the choke hazard and what is sometimes used in them to preserve them.

[lizzthrasher]

Rawhides seem to get gobbled and um, purged, in my experience. 

The bones have been a big hit here.  My vet even noticed the difference in Dixie's teeth, and told us to keep it up.  She has a dental scheduled from next Tuesday, along with a minor surgery,  and he figures that if we keep up the bones, she probably won't need another one.

There's been lots of fun with beef feet bones from the Asian grocery.  I just don't give the old ones marrow.(earned that from you, Blanche.)  Rich treats are guaranteed to give Belle the squirts, and Beau gets fat if the wind direction changes.

And flossie/kneecap time is this bizarrre silence punctuated by the sounds of slurping and smacking.

[blanche]

Rawhides seem to get gobbled and um, purged, in my experience. 

The bones have been a big hit here.  My vet even noticed the difference in Dixie's teeth, and told us to keep it up.  She has a dental scheduled from next Tuesday, along with a minor surgery,  and he figures that if we keep up the bones, she probably won't need another one.

There's been lots of fun with beef feet bones from the Asian grocery.  I just don't give the old ones marrow.(earned that from you, Blanche.)  Rich treats are guaranteed to give Belle the squirts, and Beau gets fat if the wind direction changes.

And flossie/kneecap time is this bizarrre silence punctuated by the sounds of slurping and smacking.

Mine get marrow bones--there just isn't any marrow in them! 

[Pugpillow]

It's a very controversial subject but personally I think the merits of raw bones outweigh the potential problems.  Rawhides, however, are a huge no-no in this house.