perfect_circle_luv

Hey group,
Well often I can get deer or bear bones from my dad after a kill. My question is which is the safest way to allow dogs to have them. Raw or cooked. I have always bought raw beef leg bones and knuckles for Cyrus to chew, and was wondering if there was a certain way or better way for them to have them. I think I heard that cooked bones no matter what the animal could cause problems, I know not to give chicken/turkey bones, and I do not feed pork! But Beef, Venison and Bear what is the best, safest way for them to enjoy them? Thanks!!

Luvbirds59

Five Cases of Trichinosis - Why Bear Meat Must Be Thoroughly Cooked

I'm a raw feeder( I feed *Raw* chicken and turkey bones everyday), I never cook recreational bones for Petey. I won't feed bear meat. I do feed raw venison, and Petey does chew on the bones. My son who hunts will be away at college next Fall, so no venison for the Petester, I have to find another source!







oxc

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reisende

NO cooked bones, of ANY animal. simple as that.

that said, raw bones are fantastic - delicious, all natural, cleans dogs' teeth, and a time-killer. but try not to feed weight-bearing bones, e.g. cow's hoofs, as they may be too hard and dense and may chip dogs' teeth.

if you're feeding raw bones as the main diet, then you should go for raw meaty bones. there's a lot on raw feeding here in this forum and online. there's also a good raw feeding faq here started by doberkim.

if you're feeding raw bones as a recreational bone, do make sure you watch over your dobe while he/she has it. while it is perfectly safe for your dobe to chew, scrunch and swallow the bone, just like a kibble, your dobe may choke. supervise as you would with a toy, etc.

also, as you have noted deer or bear bones, these are wild games so it might be safer to freeze them for a few days before tossing them to your dobe. make sure the bullet(s) or casings of your guy's shooting is not present in whatever bone you're feeding.

all that said, your dobe is sure to enjoy feasting on a deer or bear bone! how exotic, and delicious!

reisende

oh shoots. I didn't know about bear bones/meat. it's simply too exotic to me! and while deer meat can be found here, it is outrageously expensive!!

(and I still want to kidnap petey)

Luvbirds59

It's actually pretty expensive for me too....$1500 Bow, guns, hunting courses, gun safe, licenses for two states, sub zero hunting clothing. tree stands, gift for farmer who's land he hunts on.....no such thing as a free meal!

oxc

__________________
~*LIVE~LOVE~LAUGH*~

~LET THE PEACE OF THE WILDERNESS BE WITH YOU~

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
Henry David Thoreau, From "Walden

JagerMonster

We have plenty of deer! My husband would gladly sit on our front porch and get one for you....wow that sounds redneck!! Oh great, I am being converted! On a serious side, venison is good then? This will make life very easy this fall....shall I ship you one?

Linda H

Where do you live??

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perfect_circle_luv

I'm in Virginia, and I only give bones just for chewing on not as a part of a diet. I mainly get deer bones, but once so far have been offered Bear from my dad, since I had no clue if it was safe for the dogs to eat I didn't take it, but was curious about it anyways. Thanks!