My dog can’t seem to get enough of beef bones. Like every healthy dog, she loves gnawing on that stuff! It’s an instinct that keeps her teeth clean and her gums healthy. So I give her big, raw beef bones now and then. Show But dogs aren’t wolves. They’re domesticated animals, and their jaws and teeth come in relatively smaller shapes and sizes. Not every type of bone is safe for a dog to chew or eat. For instance, can dogs eat cooked beef bones? Raw beef bones are safer for your dog. But you must pick the right cuts. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, by OKJaguar.)Table of Contents hide
Cooked bones are riskyI’d love it if I could serve my dog the leftover cooked beef bones from my plate, without a second thought. (Waste not, want not, as the old saying goes.) But sadly, cooked bones are inherently risky for dogs. And here’s why. Brittle materialWhen bones are cooked, they become dehydrated and brittle. A hungry dog can chew them and easily get at all the remaining meat, cartilage, and marrow. However, this also means the bones break more easily or splinter into smaller, sharper pieces. This is especially true of pork or poultry cuts. But it can also be true for certain cuts of beef or venison. Here’s what can happen if you give a dog a bone that’s already cooked:
Nutrition reduced by cookingBeef bones are inherently nutritious, especially for carnivorous animals like dogs. These are an excellent source of essential fats, proteins, and minerals — especially in the rich bone marrow — that aid in the formation of fresh blood. (More on the nutritional value of beef bones, later!) Best of all, beef bones are relatively cheaper compared to other large meat sources like bison or deer. However, a good portion of these nutrients gets lost when beef bones are baked or boiled. The level of nutrition gets lowered to that of cheap, grain-based commercial dog food. Even a significant portion of that delicious marrow gets reduced or liquefied. So if you’re spending more to give gourmet beef bones to your dog, only to cook them, you’ll still be wasting your money! How to safely give beef bones to dogsBut dogs and beef bones are meant to be together — dogs get better dental health and nutrition from eating these. So how should you feed bones to your dog? Whether it’s from the butcher or the pet shop, choose your bones wisely.
Full nutritionWith carefully-chosen raw beef bones, you’ll be giving your dog a boost in nutrition. Every 100 grams of raw beef bone provides a significant does of the following:
(For a more complete list of nutrients, click here.) Bottom lineSo try to avoid giving your pooch any cooked beef bone, as it can bring in serious safety issues. Your dog is much better off with raw beef bones — if you know how to pick the right cuts! Related:
Becky RobertsOne of Becky's favourite things to do every morning is to browse the top pet-related forums, looking for issues and questions that people have. She then shortlists the most common ones, and turns them into blog posts for Fuzzy Rescue. She's had over 4 cats and 2 dogs over the past decade, so she does know a thing or 2 about raising/training, and more importantly, loving them. She's the only one on our team that doesn't like coffee, but it seems to us she really doesn't need more energy :). We're very fortunate to have her on board as she does most of the heavy listing for the site, outputting an insane amount of content each month. Read More Related PostsAre beef bones safe for dogs?Raw bones are considered safer than home-cooked because they don't splinter as easily. Raw bones like chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, or even oxtail can be safer bone options for your pet. Unlike home-cooked bones which are drained of their nutrients, raw bones can be a natural source of calcium and phosphorus.
How do you cook beef bones for dogs?If your dog isn't used to chewing on bones it is best to soften the bone through boiling. This is a good opportunity to make a meat broth for later use. Put the bone in a pot with some water, a little salt, celery, carrot, and parsley and simmer for about 1 hour.
What happens if a dog eats cooked bones?Cooked chicken bones can break and splinter, which can cause your dog to choke and can also puncture the gastrointestinal tract, or get caught in his throat. This is extremely painful to your dog and can potentially lead to death.
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