Eating bones- Update

[Karma]

Many vets are ill-informed about raw feeding and do relate horror stories about splinters and obtructions... vets aren't nutritionists and only go on what they have been taught (in seminars funded by pet food manufacturers!).  There are some vets who have looked into the subject themselves who fully endorse a raw food/bone diet...

There can be problems with any food, but generally the problems reported with chicken bones are either when they are cooked...

[jessandme]

My vet told us that by feeding raw chicken wings we were endangering our puppy's life, and talked about having to operate to deal with gut perforated by splinters of bone.  She then said that if we insisted on feeding bones, to make sure they were cooked. 

At the time we didn't argue the point, but it did cross our minds that if she is telling people to feed cooked bones and not raw, it is no wonder she is seeing dogs with perforated gut.   I think it is the fact that the vet is an authority figure makes it harder to go against what they say.... 

We are now feeding chicken wings several times a week - raw - Jess loves them and has had no problems at all.  And we are very grateful for the good advice we've been given on this forum!

[siam]

Alfie has been poorly this week with an infection through something he had picked up and eaten either in snow (as he likes that) or on its own. When he was at the vet's for the second consectutive day (as he had a temp and very tender tummy) the vet asked if he was pooing OK. My son mentioned that we hadn't seen him poo that he could remember so the vet checked his rear quarters and extracted some poo which was very solid with a large percentage of bone content. She said that the bone had caused things to get stuck or slowed down in his colon and he is not to be allowed any more bones. He is now on lactulose 4x daily to get things back to normal along with treatment for the infection. I had started getting raw bones for him instead of roast ones and was surprised that he was able to eat them as easily as the cooked ones. I was only giving him a small one every other week which he loved so am really disappointed that he isn't able to get them any more, but appreciate he seems to be one of the dogs who can't tolerate bones.

[clairep4]

I've been feeding raw for over 5 years now and my vet has, over the years, changed his mind about raw feeding. Initially he was sceptical about bones getting stuck etc (so was I tbh) but having seen Bella's vet visits go from twice a month to once a year (for her annual check-up), AND having seen Zorro who was on raw from 11 weeks old and has, according to the vet, "the most amazingly flossed teeth and a six-pack", he is now quite a fan. In fact the partner vet has said to me that every animal he sees in the surgery who is on a raw diet is always in really good condition.

Cooked bones are the dangerous thing as they really can splinter, but a dog's stomach has much stronger muscles and acid than we do and is designed to disintegrate bone. 

[siam]

The problem is that Alfie's poos were like bricks and he'd got so clogged up they weren't passing through his colon so think they're not able to pass through his system easily. I think that was why he was so poorly with this infection as there was no exit for it. The vet said some dogs aren't able to tolerate bones and Alfie's one of them. 

[Mudmagnets]

The problem is that Alfie's poos were like bricks and he'd got so clogged up they weren't passing through his colon so think they're not able to pass through his system easily. I think that was why he was so poorly with this infection as there was no exit for it. The vet said some dogs aren't able to tolerate bones and Alfie's one of them. 

If in view of Alfie's current illness and what the vet has said, you do not feel right giving Alfie bones, it may be a good idea - for your own peace of mind, not to. I think you would worry each time he had one, thus taking the pleasure out of the treat.

[siam]

If in view of Alfie's current illness and what the vet has said, you do not feel right giving Alfie bones, it may be a good idea - for your own peace of mind, not to. I think you would worry each time he had one, thus taking the pleasure out of the treat.

I totally agree. Much as I feel  it's a shame Alfie shall miss out on something he clearly enjoyed I certainly won't go against the advice the vet has given me, so there will be no more bones for him.  She wasn't saying dogs shouldn't be given bones, just that unfortunately they're not suitable for Alfie. I've known my vet for a good number of years and she treated our last fellow with renal failure & a number of other serious conditions in his later years and I hold her in high esteem.

[Guelder Rose]

With regard to dogs getting a bit constipated - my last cocker, Rosie, suffered from repeat bouts of colitis after an acute bout of pancreatitis.  The vet put her on Hills ID, but it wasn't until I started using a diet that contained bone meal that she firmed up and never had another bout of colitis.  I found that if she had a small amount of bone meal in her diet every other day she was fine - any more than that and she would get constipated.  Grace is the same, she has bone meal occasionally - twice a week at most for her or she becomes a bit constipated.  Grace has already showed signs of having problems, i.e. mucus on her stools - but as soon as bone meal is introduced the problem disappears. 

[Karma]

I would agree it sounds like there was too much bone in Alfies diet - but completely respect why having experienced this and acting on your vet's advice you would rule out bones in general for future.

You could always get large marrow bones (from the butcher) as a recreational bone (he shouldn't be able to eat it, but could chew at it and extract the marrow...) - if you make sure the ends are removed there shouldn't be any edible bone.  But again, only if you feel comfortable with this! 

[siam]

You could always get large marrow bones (from the butcher) as a recreational bone (he shouldn't be able to eat it, but could chew at it and extract the marrow...)

Thanks for your suggestion -that sounds like a good compromise. In a few weeks, when he's completely over this bout (as he still has a temp today) I'll try and get a large knuckle one and if we even suspect he's managing to eat any of it, then I'll put it away.