Feeding Raw Bones to Dogs and Cats: Benefits and Selection Guide

It’s said that raw bones are nature’s toothbrush.

That said, have you heard about feeding dogs raw bones and wondered what the fuss is about?

According to the American Vet Dental Society, by the age of three, more than 80% of dogs develop gum disease.

Periodontal disease has been linked to risk factors for heart, kidney, and liver problems in dogs. So it goes without saying that maintaining your pet's oral health is an issue that goes far beyond the aesthetics of sparkly whites and fresh breath.

And that’s where raw bones come into the picture. In fact, they are Mother Nature's toothbrush!

Allowing your pet to gnaw on an appropriate size and type of raw bone can help clean their teeth and provide many more health benefits.

Benefits of Feeding Dogs & Cats Raw Bones

We like to keep it simple with 4 key benefits for feeding Raw Bones. So here they go.

1. Cleans teeth and freshens breath

Chewing on a raw bone helps clean your pet’s teeth and dramatically reduces the likelihood of gum disease developing.

2. Nutritious and healthy

A great natural and nutritious source (especially for protein, fat, calcium, and phosphorous).

3. Provides exercise

Helps to strengthen their neck and shoulder muscles. It can be a full-body workout too.

4. Mentally stimulating

Provides entertainment and satisfies their chew drive.

Quite simply, you can say that pets love raw bones! That said, the very next question that comes to mind is - “How do I find the right bone for my pet?”

Well, the good thing is we’ve got you covered with an easy guide that you can use to compare different raw bones and select the appropriate bone for your pet.

Selecting the Appropriate Raw Bone for Your Pet

While this might seem a bit confusing, it’s simple and depends mostly on two factors: your pet’s size, which is understood, and their chewing habits.

Below we’ve created a simple chart to help you choose the appropriate raw bone for your pet.

If your pet is a gentle chewer who likes to nibble or scrape the meat from bones, you can give them both raw meaty bones and recreational bones.

Recreational bones are primarily for chewing and are not meant to be eaten whole. They typically consist of denser bone with minimal meat or cartilage.

On the other hand, raw meaty bones contain soft, pliable bones, meat, and cartilage that are completely edible. This won’t cause any risk of damage to their teeth.

And if you have a very aggressive chewer who likes to bite hard repeatedly, it’s a safe option to choose raw meaty bones for them.

Always Supervise Your Pet

As with most pet-friendly bones, chews, and even toys, supervision is very important - especially for puppies and kittens that are learning their own strengths and capabilities with every bite.

So make sure you select the right size of bone. When in doubt, it’s advisable to go for a larger raw bone rather than a smaller one.

Any recreational bone that’s large enough not to be gulped or swallowed whole works. Smaller bones when fully ingested can cause choking. If you're not sure about what is suitable for your pet, just WhatsApp our pet food advisors - we’re here to help.

Another good practice is to check your pets' teeth and gums periodically as they chew on their raw bones. You might see minor gum irritation if chewing on real raw bones is new to your dog. Eventually, the gum tissue will get stronger with stimulation and chewing.

After your pet has enjoyed their healthy treat, remember to clean up the appropriate surfaces. Or you could train your dogs (and even cats) to chew their bones on a beach towel. It makes life easier as you can just put it in the washing machine.

Offering a Variety

Gone are the days of expensive dental cleanings and worrying about anaesthesia. Offering a variety of raw bones is beneficial in cleaning multiple surfaces of their teeth.

The benefits of chewing bones once or twice a week will be evident within a few weeks. Eventually, your pet's overall well-being will improve, not just from the act of gnawing on something, but from better dental health and fresher breath.

The good news is that all our Furchild Raw Bones are fresh, human-grade and 100% natural. They are the highest quality ingredients sourced internationally, with reputable and ethical farming practices. Our raw bones are grass-fed, cage-free, organic, and contain no hormones or antibiotics.

Also, no grains, fillers, artificial preservatives, or sweeteners are added to our raw bones, as is the case with other conventional dog treats and chews found in supermarkets and most pet stores.

Last but not least, here’s a word of advice...

Do NOT feed cooked and smoked bones

Although smoked bones are readily available in many pet stores and some veterinarian clinics as well, you may think they are healthier options. Even the leftovers of your turkey roast. But we advise against feeding both smoked and cooked bones.

This is very important to understand because cooked (and smoked bones) through the heating process change chemically, making them brittle and leaching out valuable nutrition or recombining most of the vitamin and protein components.

On the other hand, raw bones have both, the elasticity and dietary components, that are lost when a bone is cooked or smoked.

Cooked bones have little to no nutritional value and can become lodged in the intestine or break into small pieces like splinters.

In comparison, raw bones are both nutritional and flexible, but most of all digestible, releasing the calcium and other components both in the right quantity and at the right time.

A Healthy Alternative to Raw Bones

If you’re not yet ready to give your dogs a raw bone, you should try giving your dogs our Himalayan Chews, that are 100% natural hard cheese chews handmade by the Himalayan people from an ancient recipe.

These long-lasting chews offer great mental stimulation and many oral health benefits for your dog, similar to raw bones but without the hassle of cleaning up afterwards. Plus, it’s a dog favourite that provides hours of healthy chewing entertainment!