Dog owners often find it difficult to select a healthy long lasting chew to incorporate into their dog's routine. Raw edible bones for dogs are an easy fix for such an issue. There are many debates about feeding raw pet food to pets. However, when it comes to choosing a nutritious treat for dogs, raw edible bones are a cult-favorite.

Raw edible bones provide great nutritional value to dogs and many veterinarians and nutrition specialists also suggest feeding raw bones to your dogs. Raw bones are a natural part of both cat food and dog food. They have many health benefits and advantages for your pet that we will discuss below. 

Many pet owners are unsure on how to select raw bones along with their other pet supplies. Feeding pets an all-natural diet using raw cat food and raw dog food has been practiced for a very long time and is the standard diet in many countries. But when it comes to feeding raw bones to your dogs, you may be wondering if you can get the edible bones from the pet supplies store near me. You sure can and we are here to help.

FIVE BENEFITS OF FEEDING RAW/EDIBLE BONES TO YOUR DOGS
Once many dog and cat owners learn the benefits of offering raw edible bones, they aren’t sure where to find them. You may be wondering if you can find them along with raw pet food near me? We offer a variety of raw bones from manufacturers who are in compliance with the FDA regulations.

DENTAL BENEFITS
Feeding raw bones to your dogs is a natural way of taking care of their dental health. Many studies show the association of dental benefits in dogs with feeding raw bones. It is seen that chewing on raw bones has the effect of a natural scaling of your dog’s teeth, the friction created while gnawing can literally scrape off built up plaque and tartar.

While some dogs have cracked a tooth on bones, they could break a tooth on many things and the benefits outweigh the risks. Chewing on raw bones is most beneficial when you select the appropriate bone for your dog. Dogs with strong jaws will do better with meatier or spongy bones while dogs with a softer mouth can enjoy gnawing on more solid bones to achieve that great scraping action. Lastly, raw bones have no sugar or carbs in them making them ideal for preventing the formation of plaque and tartar to begin with.

GASTROINTESTINAL BENEFITS
Raw bones have a significant role to keep your dog’s gastrointestinal health strong. This becomes possible because raw bones add roughage to your dog’s stomach. Digesting raw bone keeps the stomach lining strong which may play a role in preventing bloat in dogs who often consume bones.

Bone is also beneficial for anal gland health. Bone is high in calcium which helps make the stool very firm, unlike stool from dogs who eat a diet high in bulk fillers. When the stool is firm, it applies pressure to the anal gland from the inside outward as it passes through the colon which allows the anal glands to secrete their fluid on the stool the way nature intended. Fun Fact: every dog has a unique scent to their anal gland fluid which is what dogs are observing when they sniff each other’s backside or feces.  It’s how they recognize each other and mark their own territories.

RECREATIONAL BENEFITS
Recreational bones are different from edible bones in that they are longer lasting and not intended for complete consumption. These bones will satisfy your pet dog’s, especially the puppy’s, innate desire for chewing. By offering bones as enrichment to satisfy your dog’s natural desire to chew, you prevent them from opportunities to destroy your personal belongings out of boredom and by offering them regularly, you promote appropriate chewing habits long term.

Healthy chewing habits on raw meaty bones have a calming effect on most dogs.  Allowing them a long lasting activity that they can do independently also builds confidence and reduces anxiety.

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS
One of the most important aspects of raw bone for dogs is that they bear necessary nutritional benefits. Veterinarians and nutritionists suggest bones being approx 10% of your dog’s balanced diet. They are significant for providing your dogs with the necessary nutrition to maintain and regulate their health. 

While we typically think of raw bones being a good source of calcium and phosphorus, they also offer protein, fat and a variety of minerals. These are all important nutrients that help your dog maintain optimal health. Chewing raw bones and feeding edible bones to your dogs can ensure that they are getting all these important nutrients. As a result, they can maintain a healthy body and prevent multiple diseases.

ALL-NATURAL TREAT OPTION
Finding an all-natural treat for your dog can be challenging for pet owners. Especially with all of the poorly sourced ingredients allowed in the pet food industry such as dry food (kibble), and biscuit type treat options available online and in large chain pet stores, finding natural treats can be a tricky endeavor. Many dog owners may be confused by labels and misleading marketing or simply unaware of the fact that store-bought Kibble and processed treats have high-carb ingredients which is the opposite of an ideal snack for our dogs who are facultative carnivores with only a 5-7% carb requirement.

High carb treats with sugar and other additives are severely harmful to your dog’s health leading to dental decay and overall inflammatory disease. This makes raw bones one of the best options for getting an all-natural, sugar free treat for your dog.

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT BONES FOR YOUR DOG?
Before we discuss picking the right bones for your dog, you must realize that while bones have many great benefits, bones aren’t perfect for every dog. Bones are also not a meal replacement. Too many bones can lead to nutritional imbalance so feeding edible bones 2-3 times per week is ideal. 

Only raw bones are safe bones.  NEVER offer bones that have been smoked or dried or have had any heat applied to them.  Not only do healthy fats lose nutrients and become rancid from heat, the bones lose their natural oils leaving them very dry and brittle which is when bones are problematic.  

Choosing the correct bone is crucial. You must know your dog’s chewing habits and select the correct size and firmness to avoid dental fractures. To pick the right bones for your dog, consider the size of their mouth and select a bone slightly larger so that it won’t become a choking hazard. If your dog is an aggressive chewer or a “gulper” , select a bone that is larger than their head so that they are unable to gulp it down. Aggressive chewers should also not have a weight bearing (marrow) bone. A bone this firm could lead to a dental fracture and should be selected for dogs who just enjoy light chewing. A softer knuckle bone is a better option for an aggressive chewer.

The right bones for your dogs may come in multiple forms. According to studies, raw hollow bones can be one of the safest raw bone options for your dog. Bones like chicken neck, chicken wing, chicken back, duck neck, chicken feet, etc.  are perfect for feeding your dogs. These can be given in terms of edible bones and serve as recreational bones for smaller dogs as well. When introducing these smaller edible bones for the first time, it is a good idea to grip the neck, foot, etc at one end (use a plier if your dog is excited) so that they figure out they need to chew it up instead of just gulping it down. 

When available, other small animal carcasses such as rabbit, and quail or slightly larger lamb or goat bones are also great options.

TIPS FOR FEEDING RAW BONES TO YOUR DOGS
When you are feeding raw bones to your dogs, make sure that they are size-appropriate. As mentioned above, aggressive chewers should have large, softer bones, gulpers should have bones larger than their heads and you should ALWAYS supervise your dog during bone gnawing.  When the bone becomes too small or dries out, it is time to toss it and offer a fresh one next time.

Most people feed raw bones outside.  Assuming you have a yard free of fertilizer and pesticides, the organic soil offers beneficial nutrients and bacteria that your dog will consume while working on their bones.  If your yard is not organic then offering bones on a towel that is easy to wash or in their crate are also good options. It is also a good idea to have a high value treat handy so that when it comes time to remove the bone, you can make a trade and remove the bone without issue.

Make sure to only feed RAW bones. Most independent pet shops near you will have a good selection of raw bones you can choose from for your dog, 

If you are wondering where you can  find good raw pet food in Scottsdale (Arizona) near me or raw pet food near me in Scottsdale, we have you covered! We carry food that includes raw bone as part of the complete and balanced diets such as  Steve’s Real Food, and  Primal Pet Foods have a wide range of balanced diets and recreational bones in their pet food options.

Stella and Chewy’s raw dog food is another ideal option for your dogs. They have a wide assortment of raw dog foods that you can easily introduce into your dog’s diet. These are just a few of the high quality raw foods we carry so you don’t have to spend hours searching for raw dog food near me. 

CONCLUSION
The benefits of feeding raw or edible bones to your dogs are many. It is a one-stop solution to meet the multiple needs of your dog. So, get the best raw bone and edible bones to treat your beloved dogs today!