Natalya Zahn wrote 04/15/2007 10:35 AM Marrow bones & dog teeth #138226 - 04/15/2007 10:35 AM
Natalya Zahn Webboard User Reg: 12-22-2006 Posts: 1824 Loc: Cambridge, MA Offline	We give Oscar a marrow bone (the stubbier, roughly 3" long, 4-5" wide sections) once or twice a week and I'm wondering if we should be concerned about his teeth. I've heard of dogs getting 'slab fractures' from gnawing on tough bones and I really don't want to risk him needing dental work some day. Is this a real concern? Should I stop giving him these treats? He mostly just chews on them to clean them out, then walks away when all the fat is gone - he isn't one of those dogs who will consume the ENTIRE bone, piece by piece. But he REALLY loves them and is busy for up to an hour - nothing else keeps him busy like a big bone... ~Natalya
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Sarah Morris wrote 04/15/2007 10:52 AM Re: Marrow bones & dog teeth [Re: Natalya Zahn ] #138229 - 04/15/2007 10:52 AM
Sarah Morris Webboard User Reg: 08-29-2006 Posts: 2324 Loc: Central Coast, California Offline	Someone I work with gave her Golden a marrow bone 2 weeks ago and she cracked part of her tooth off. It has made me think twice about giving them to my dog even though he really only cleans them and slurps out the marrow. True
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Amber Morgan wrote 04/15/2007 11:02 AM Re: Marrow bones & dog teeth [Re: Sarah Morris ] #138230 - 04/15/2007 11:02 AM
Amber Morgan Webboard User Reg: 10-18-2006 Posts: 1849 Loc: St. Louis, MO Offline	I've never had a problem with marrow bones, or personally known anyone who has. I know they do happen occassionally, but there are going to be risks with anything you give to your dog to chew. I think the risk with marrow bones is lower than many other things...like pig's ears, greenies, rawhide, etc. My only problem with the marrow bones has been accidentally stepping on them or kicking them across the room! Yeech. If you're concerned about it, you could try a filled kong. Just don't expect your dog to be as enthusiastic as he is about the marrow bones! PS- If the bones sit around and dry out, your risk goes up for dental problems. Carbon
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Sarah Morris wrote 04/15/2007 11:12 AM Re: Marrow bones & dog teeth [Re: Amber Morgan ] #138234 - 04/15/2007 11:12 AM
Sarah Morris Webboard User Reg: 08-29-2006 Posts: 2324 Loc: Central Coast, California Offline	Someone once suggested using knuckle bones instead of marrow bones. I agree about there being a risk with anything you give your dog. My dog would eat the kong if I left it with him. At least he won't do that with bones. True
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Natalya Zahn wrote 04/15/2007 11:33 AM Re: Marrow bones & dog teeth [Re: Amber Morgan ] #138236 - 04/15/2007 11:33 AM
Natalya Zahn Webboard User Reg: 12-22-2006 Posts: 1824 Loc: Cambridge, MA Offline	Quote: Amber Morgan My only problem with the marrow bones has been accidentally stepping on them or kicking them across the room! Yeech. Boy do I know about that! We also live in an apartment building, so no yard to throw the bones in - this results in my kitchen floor being occassionally greased with beef fat, and in the summer... let's just say even fresh animal parts don't smell fantastic. I do try to pick up the cleaned bones and don't let them dry out too much. Kongs last all of 5 minutes, but Oscar likes those as well. I don't give rawhides - pulled too many out of Oscar's throat as he gagged on them. What's wrong with pig's ears and greenies? Are the ears just like rawhide? Greenies undigestible? ~Natalya
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Toni Bradley wrote 04/16/2007 05:20 PM Re: Marrow bones & dog teeth [Re: Natalya Zahn ] #138357 - 04/16/2007 05:20 PM
Toni Bradley Webboard User Reg: 02-19-2007 Posts: 147 Loc: Offline	i give my dog thigh bones from pigs and hock bones i think they are? are these ok? any way they tough bones but he makes short work of them! he has around 4 a week, they about the size of your hand obviously not as thick http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s242/howldaloom/bruno.jpg
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Connie Sutherland wrote 04/16/2007 05:39 PM Re: Marrow bones & dog teeth [Re: Toni Bradley ] #138358 - 04/16/2007 05:39 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Quote: Toni Bradley i give my dog thigh bones from pigs and hock bones i think they are? are these ok? any way they tough bones but he makes short work of them! he has around 4 a week, they about the size of your hand obviously not as thick The hocks.... are you sure they aren't ham hocks?
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Anne Vaini wrote 04/16/2007 07:47 PM Re: Marrow bones & dog teeth [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #138371 - 04/16/2007 07:47 PM
Anne Vaini Webboard User Reg: 07-14-2005 Posts: 775 Loc: Wisconsin Offline	Natalya Greenies have a new formula that have break-away points to help dogs chew them. I believe they're still not considered safe for dogs that gulp treats. For what it's worth - I will NOT give my dogs Greenies. I have not had a problem pig ears - except the price! I do buy RAW pig ears when I can find them at WalMart. They don't last long! My dogs are the type to entirely consume a knuckle or marrow bone, so these are rare treats. I take them away before they dry out (if there is anything left!)
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Connie Sutherland wrote 04/16/2007 07:54 PM Re: Marrow bones & dog teeth [Re: Anne Vaini ] #138372 - 04/16/2007 07:54 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	FWIW, Greenies are now gelatin-based, instead of cornstarch. I put one in a bowl of water and saw that it was extremely fast to dissolve, and not into a hard but slippery slime-coated obstruction like the old formula. Because of the bad Greenies experiences I know about (old Greenies), I would still say to ask your vet first. My own vet, who wouldn't sell the old ones, did decide to sell the new ones. I don't know.
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Connie Sutherland wrote 04/16/2007 07:58 PM Re: Marrow bones & dog teeth [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #138374 - 04/16/2007 07:58 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Also, I have been buying dried steer muscle "straps," and they last pretty well and aren't rawhide. What I would like to find is a dog version of the low-salt low-sugar jerky I find at natural food stores. The ones for people (good recipe) are just too small and too thin to give a dog any more than a bite, or maybe two.
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