Raw bones vs 'cooked' - help please?

MamaBas

New member
I have, for 35+ years, been under the impression that a dog's digestive system can only cope with bones, if they are raw.

A friend with Min.Schnauzers has recently had both of them sick with gastroenteritis after ingesting mushrooms/toadstools. It was touch and go with one who developed pancreatatis too. They survived, but she decided to consult a dietitian about the best way to feed them and, amongst other things, she has advised bones, beef, lamb and pork, cooked!!! The reason given being cooked bones remove tartar from teeth best. I, and lots of her other friends, have expressed our surprise at this recommendation. She has now asked whether cooked is best done by roasting, steaming, boiling, or smoking and whether there is any difference - is the bone still cooked!!

Sensible answers would be useful please and meanwhile I'm sticking with the raw bones!!!
The digestion thing - as far as I know, it's because the digestive juices in the dog's stomach can't work on cooked bones in the same way they can on raw bones (something to do with the cooking process).. not to do with splintering which can happen with either raw, or cooked bones. And as for tartar - my friend brushes her dogs' teeth every day ...... and was still told there was a tartar build up (same vet).
Lorraine please do because I'm seriously concerned about the information this 'dietitian' has given my friend out there. She's allegedly a qualified vet who specialises in Dog Diets (with a $75.Can. fee for the consultation) - Yoiks! I need the back-up information because I've yelled down the wires at my friend about this. I hope my friend has got it wrong, although she emailed me the diet sheet......
 
My impression (and its only an impression, not backed up by much), is that the reason for not cooking bones, has nothing to do with their digestive system being able to handle them.

The problem has more to do with increasing the chance that the bones will splinter (and do damage).

FWIW I know the specialty local pet store sells smoked beef bones, and my boys have never had any trouble with them.

Hope that helps a little
 
You NEVER feed a dog cooked bones of any kind! This dietician has got to be a human dietician, because she's giving extremely dangerous advice that's going to get someone's dog killed. Raw bones only! And its definitely raw bones that remove tartar from teeth. As anyone who feeds raw can show you if you want to look at their dog's teeth.
 
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