Are pork spare ribs a good source of rmb? There's a local deal to buy one get two free, and they're fairly large. Kota eats pork necks with no problem, but I'm wondering if ribs will be too hard. He does have splintered teeth (from before I got him) so I try to be careful to keep him on softer (ie chicken) bones.
I don't know if splintered is the correct way to describe them. Parts of his teeth are missing, mostly the bottom halves. They've been cracked off, and the vet has said they're okay now, none need to be pulled, but no bones. He doesn't like raw, so I take his word with a grain of salt.
Reg: 10-30-2005
Posts: 4531
Loc: South Dakota, USA
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Mmmm, you could try it and see how he does with it. I just hate to tell you to go for it when there is a chance that it could cost you an arm and a leg to get any teeth fixed.
If you could get the smaller of the packages, that might make it easier for him. I would just worry about splitting or breaking the teeth more.
Although I have an old dog that stays here (12) and she has terrible teeth (from her past) and she does just fine with the bones.
Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter
I'm currently in N. Carolina for a little R&R. The boys are with me and its always a special treat for them. The local meat locker lets us take all the RMBs we can haul away. Today I got a mess of beef and pork bones along with some hamburger. There were two large trash cans full and six butchers were filling them up. I grabbed about 25 lbs worth before another dog guy came in and was competing with me for the best parts.
Question is...my oldest is almost 13 now and he still loves the stuff. I'm a bit worried how his teeth will hold up at that age. Junior doesn't have any problems. Both were given some pork ribs and they tore into them. The larger beef bones are reserved for junior while beef knuckles and what not are for senior. Seeing as how I don't always feed raw, am I good to go?
Reg: 10-30-2005
Posts: 4531
Loc: South Dakota, USA
Offline
If you are just using them for recreational bones, and they are not voracious chewers, but rather mellower gnawers, I would say it is okay.
My dogs all are meticulous about cleaning the bone, and then they leave it so I pick it up and throw it away.
If I have a dog that wants to destroy the bone then I do not feed it as they can ruin teeth.
Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter
It is ultimately up to you if you want to give your dog spare ribs due to the teeth issue. I have found my dogs have a much harder time getting through the pork neck vertebrae bones while spare rib bones appear to only be a little more difficult then chicken bones. I would think that if your dog can handle neck bones ribs should be fine. Have the teeth been X-rayed? If so is there any cracking or is there just a piece of molar cusp missing, as if the molar had been worn down flat?
He's quite old. Nothing broken but he had all his canines capped about 7 years ago because the vet said he had soft enamel. Thats my main concern. His molars are wearing due to all the bite work training he's had over the years. He does love them bones though.
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