raw bones

[missingmtns]

I've read that raw bones are great chew toys. I buy my pork products from a local farmer, who also sells fresh frozen pig femurs. My dog LOVES chewing on these...and she eats the actual BONE. She seems fine afterward, but is she going to hurt herself swallowing these chunks of bone?

thanks!

[kayboxer]

The cooked bones are what you have to watch out for, they can splinter in the stomach. Raw bones do not splinter. I give my dogs raw bones all the time. I'm not going to tell you that nothing will ever happen with a raw bone, because no one can say that. BUT the risk of that is no different than with a natural dog chew you buy at the store. In fact, it is less risky to feed your dog a raw bone than a boughten dog chew. I wouldn't worry as long as the chunks are huge and cause choking or an abstruction. Small pieces of bones are fine. When you feed dogs raw, you give them pieces of meat with the bones still in it, they eat it all.