| For decades, images of dogs happily chewing on | | | | research on the internet. Food requirements vary, |
| bones have been promoted on television and in | | | | depending on a dog's breed, weight, and size. If a pet |
| motion pictures. As a result, pet owners have been | | | | owner can't bear not to give the dog a treat, use |
| feeding their dogs both raw and cooked bones, | | | | rawhide or chew bones made of dog food purchased |
| thinking that they are providing a natural form of | | | | at the store or pet shop. |
| nutrition for their pets. In reality, they are | | | | A proper diet for a dog contains a balance of |
| compromising the dog's health and unintentionally | | | | nutrients that are low in fat and are easily digestible. |
| risking the animal's life. The consumption of bones by | | | | Veterinarians do not recommend that dogs receive |
| dogs has resulted in vomiting, organ puncture, and | | | | 'table scraps' or leftovers from the owner's meals. |
| cancer. Feeding dogs bones is not a good thing to do! | | | | Eating these foods can result in weight gain and a |
| Dogs are natural and instinctive scavengers. They | | | | rejection of food specifically prepared for dogs. In |
| might not be fed bones by their guardian, but they | | | | particular, dogs should never be given chocolate, raw |
| can find them in trash cans, on unattended plates, | | | | meats, or raw organ meats. These foods can cause |
| and when they find a dead animal, such as a bird or | | | | skeletal problems and toxicity in dogs. They, along |
| rat. This is very dangerous and must be prevented. | | | | with real bones, are a "No, no!" |
| One of the more common dangers of bone | | | | One of the best, and most easily accessible, sources |
| consumption is bone splinters. Bones from small birds, | | | | of information regarding animal nutrition is the |
| such as starlings, or medium-sized birds, such as | | | | internet. A concerned dog owner can search the |
| chickens, as well as fish and other meats, can easily | | | | internet using words such as "feeding dogs," "dog |
| splinter when chewed and disperse inside an | | | | food," or "dog nutrition." The resulting information will |
| unsuspecting dog, leading to ripping and tearing of | | | | include general nutrition information, feeding a specific |
| internal organs, and, possibly, death. | | | | a breed of dog, and training a dog to eat certain |
| In addition to the intestinal danger that results from | | | | foods. Chew bones and other safe treats are also |
| eating bones, dogs may experience cracking or | | | | available on the internet. |
| breaking of teeth. This could result in prolonged | | | | Dogs can be fed properly, safely, and consistently |
| periods of pain for the animal because tooth injuries | | | | when everyone in the home, or family and friends |
| are not as easily noticed as other physical ailments. | | | | outside the home, are aware of the dog's dietary |
| When the problem is discovered, the dog may have | | | | needs. This information will help anyone who may be |
| to undergo oral surgery to remove infections, | | | | taking care of the dog in an owner's absence. Dog |
| reconstruct a tooth, or extract teeth. This is painful | | | | owners should list the foods that the dog eats and |
| and traumatic for the dog and can be very costly for | | | | the way in which the food is prepared. Also, there |
| the dog's guardian. | | | | should be a prominent notation stating that feeding |
| If a pet owner is in doubt regarding proper nutrition | | | | bones to the dog is prohibited. Since feeding dogs |
| for a dog, it is recommended that they consult a | | | | bones is very dangerous, be sure that no one, family, |
| veterinarian, or, at the very least, perform cursory | | | | friend, or dog-sitter ever does! |