After class on Sunday, which was a bit of a rough one, Lilly and I made our first visit to PC’s Pantry in Boulder, which comes highly recommended by several of our training and blogging friends. Lilly stayed in the car since off-leash dogs are welcome in the store, and there are several cats hanging out, etc. I bought some training treats, some organic shampoo and such, but I also went for some EXTRA SPECIAL treats — raw bison bones from Boulder Dog Food. PC’s keeps them in a freezer. (And, P.S. I think that St. Bernard in the dog food logo was sound asleep in the store while I was there. If I’d known, I would have asked for a pawtograph.)
Honestly, I’m somewhat careful when it comes to bones. I allow bones every few months. The reason? I recently interviewed Dr. Kate Knutson from Pet Crossing Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic in Bloomington, Minnesota, for an article in the summer 2009 issue of HealthyPet magazine.When I asked her about it, she basically said that dogs can chew onbones as long as you are willing to get any dental damage fixed, if ithappens. She understands that many of us consider chewing on bones aquality-of-life issue, so we balance the risk against the reward.
She did warn me about some dog chews you’ll find on the market: “Thereare a couple things I say no to,” she told me. “No hooves, no ears, norocks, and no pizzle (bully) sticks. Those are the fourthings that cause the most root canals in our practice.”
So, with those warnings and caveats in mind, I went ahead and got some big, meaty, raw bones for my pups.
Lilly enjoyed hers on the way home.
Then, all afternoon, both dogs chewed and chewed and chewed. They did a good job getting the meat off.
I even managed to give Ginko a bath. He never once stopped playing with the bone. Sorry there isn’t video of that, but I was home alone at the time.
A debate in the following days cropped up about bones coming in the house. The people here at Chez Champion of My Heart vetoed the idea. But, the canine members of the family are ever hopeful.
Again, I wish I had video of it, but Ginko stood outside my office Monday looking forlorn. So, I went to let him in. He got the biggest smile on his face when he saw me. But, before he came inside, he raced around back to get his bone and came running up to the door. When I told him to leave it outside, Ginko gave me the most hurt look.
So, we’ve been working a lot on DROP IT and LEAVE IT as they come inside.
Lilly remains optimistic that her powers of persuasion will prevail. “Pleease, Mom? Please?”
Actually, Emma is very well mannered. She came to us as a rescue already trained in several commands. However, she’s had bones actually stuck in the back of her mouth. I’ve become very skilled with tongs and she sits very patiently. It beats a $100 vet bill!
Thanks for the plug on my blog!
I’m sure you came across the same warnings (both for teeth and tummies). All of us should get good at removing stuff from mouths, but I also find a stern DROP IT helps too.
P.S. Everyone should visit Kerri’s blog — it’s in the blog roll — Living Large in Our Little House.
Thanks, Sue, for the details on the sleeping giant at the store and the bones. I suspect in his youth Ginko had the chewing power to do damage to the bone. I am glad that mine still LOVE the bones, even when the surface meat is gone. We’re letting them have the bones one more day, then we’ll take them away.
As far as the bully sticks, Dr. Knutson said that they often dig into the gums and sometimes damage the root in a way that cause abscesses that lead to root canals. But, yes, the swallow and return is icky.
I know how careful you are about your own food and theirs, so I value your assessment and advice.
XO
What fun pics. I know how responsible you are with your fur friends; so, I’m not worried about Ginko and Lilly with their bones…they look so happy.
I recently found out about the dangers of bones while doing a story as well, Roxanne. However, since the 2 big dogs are allowed to roam the woods, I don’t always get to control what they eat. I’ve become very skilled at being able to dig bones out of the back of Emma’s mouth. Ugh.
Hi Rox,
Yippee for raw bison bones…your dogs are the perfect size for those big PC’s bones! BTW…sadly, the dog on the logo is Ralphie…he passed away last year 🙁 The dog you saw sleeping is Forrest…he’s their newest rescue and a DOLL!
Regarding the safety of those bones I would have to tell KB not to try them…once in a while Count Basie or even one of the Gups will shatter one. It’s only happened 3 times out of more than a few hundred that I have bought (literally on that few hundred number). But, since you had that experience with S I would not feel right recommending them to the chocolate and black bunnies.
Now…talk about spoiled…the reason I give them at all to my crew is that my monsters will gnaw away at the meaty/tendony parts for a few hours until that’s all gone and then they turn their noses up to the bones themselves. Once in a while they gnaw the cartilage knuckle bone part, but generally I have to smear cream cheese on them to get them to take a second look. They are quite pricey so I use these mainly for when I really need them (to avoid vomity Guppies in Vanzilla, when my horse vet is here and I have no Guppiesitters, etc).
Whew! That was quite a lengthy review, huh? I think for a daintier jawed creature like Lilly these are PERFECT.
And regarding bully sticks: my guys always end up swallowing 3-4″ pieces and then throwing them up later in random parts of the house. Slimey, disgusting things to find in the corner of the living room the next day. And it always makes me worry about a potential blockage…
I do really love tracheas…they don’t last long but they have never had a problem with them b/c they are just cartilage. Crunchy goodness!
Anyway, Rox: that last picture made me laugh out loud. That bone looks huge 😀
Give L&G hugs and tail wags please!
Sue and the crew
Well, I think every dog parent/guardian has to make these decisions. I personally have NOT had a scare like you did with S, so maybe that makes me braver. But, yes, our cautious/mutual friend is the one who turned me on to these particular bones.
The dogs give it 2 paws up for sure.
I’m really careful though, and if the bones get ragged looking or whatever, then I’ll take them away for good.
For now, the pups are happy getting the marrow out and chewing nicely.
And, I guess the answer to how do I deny her is this:
I’m a mean, mean, rotten mommy.
:o)
I’ve been forever scared of ‘real’ bones since our dog S got an intestinal blockage from a piece of one. But, on the up side, during the surgery to remove the bone, they found smoldering cancer, and gave him another 2 happy years of life.
I take it that you’re really comfortable with bison bones? I know that another cautious friend of ours is also comfortable with them so perhaps I ought to try them.
No bully sticks? I thought that those were the safest.
I agree with Freyja, with Lilly’s sweet look, how could you ever deny her anything?
How in the world could anyone ever say no to that sweet face? Ohmygosh, my heart is melting!