Bones for dogs

[danielcan]

I recently took a dog into my care (I do not consider myself to own him as that would be canine slavery ).

He is an older German Shepherd.

I need some advice about bones.

Aside from tinned dog food, dry dog biscuits and chicken wings as part of his regular diet, I give him bones. He prefers lamb bones, kangaroo bones and the occasional large beef bone.

I've found that a big bag of bones takes up too much space in my fridge, and after about four days, they start to smell a bit. Not that the dog minds the bones with a bit of 'aroma' to them.

Lately, I've decided to air dry the bones in the oven (at around 60-70 degrees Celsius for a few hours), so that they can be stored un-refridgerated.

I know that dogs should not be given cooked bones as they can splinter, which can lead to choking or intestinal rupturing.

My question is, whether air drying bones at low heat is safe, and if it can be considered not to be cooking the bone.

I got the idea from the dry bones which can be bought in pet stores. Surely, they aren't cooked. Also, the dog likes to take the large beef bones into the backyard where the sun dries them .

Any advice on whether I am doing the right thing would be appreciated.

 

[Dyslexic Emo]

put them in the freezer

 

[xamol]

I used to buy huge cattle bones , think it was a rear thigh bone, from the butcher and get him to slice them down the middle, then cut the 2 halves in half. Hence having 4 still big bones. Into the freezer they went. I would give my Rotty one every few days. He loved them as he could get all the marrow out of them.
Also used to buy chicken carcases from the pet shop. They'd be gone in about 3 chomps. Chicken necks are also very good.

 

[danielcan]

No freezer space, which is even less than fridge space.

My dried bones seem to work.

I get those huge bones cut into thirds again. Four half knuckles and two marrow bones. Those are really just gnawing bones.

I also buy fresh (or rather defrosted) pigs ears and dry them in the oven myself ($9.80 a kg - six for around $5). About 70 degrees Celsius overnight dries them out.

$2 per ear is a rip off from pet stores. Though I should work out my electricity cost.

 

[Dyslexic Emo]

No freezer space, which is even less than fridge space.

My dried bones seem to work.

I get those huge bones cut into thirds again. Four half knuckles and two marrow bones. Those are really just gnawing bones.

I also buy fresh (or rather defrosted) pigs ears and dry them in the oven myself ($9.80 a kg - six for around $5). About 70 degrees Celsius overnight dries them out.

$2 per ear is a rip off from pet stores. Though I should work out my electricity cost.

waste of money, they eat them quick smart anyway so why not save your money and if you have to get them something, just buy some dodgy cut of meat at around $4 a kilo form a butcher and see what he prefers best

 

[rocker_oz33]

my dogs (labs) eat bones they love em beef,lamb bones chicken frames shanks etc good to see you took in a dog l like German shepherds

 

[danielcan]

I've given up drying bones.

A neighbour has a German Shepherd puppy (cute) so I share now and only keep as much that will last a week.

I discovered that the dried bones aren't totally dry totally and mould threads grow.

Now I'm storing the bones in the fridge in a cheap plastic basket lined with paper towel to keep them dry.

Storing meat in a plastic bag makes them 'sweat' and go slimy and smelly.