Dogs, regardless of how well-fed they are, always find bones as a luxurious item. Whenever you give them the best dog bones, it’s difficult for them to let it go. While some dogs opt to continuously chew on it until they get tired, some prefer to hide it in their own safe place, away from other dogs.
Chewing bones is part of your dog’s nature. Before dogs were domesticated, they had their own way of surviving: hunting prey. Whenever they get the chance to capture their target, they immediately consume the meat, inner parts, and even bones.
Even with the possible harmful effects of bones after consumption, bones are still considered as an ultimate prize for dogs. As a pet owner, here’s your guide to choosing the best reward for your furry pal.
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How to Choose the Best Dog Bones
With several bones in the market, you, as a pet owner, should ensure to choose the products are the safest, most satisfying, and healthiest for your dog.
Dog bones with natural ingredients
For the sake of business, some companies resort to cheaper alternatives just to lure in consumers by selling it at a very cheap rate. While this may completely reduce your expenses, it can also impose a large potential risk for your dogs.
Therefore, always opt for bone products that are made from natural ingredients. Don’t settle for products made from artificial ingredients and additives. This will lessen the risk of compromising your dog’s health.
Recreational raw bones
Recreational raw bones are those coming from beef and other large mammals that can be bought in selected pet stores or in local butcher shops. However, this type of bone is purely for chewing. Only a minimal amount of nutrition is provided by this type of dog bones.
But as your dog chews on this bone, especially bones with cartilage and soft tissue attached, their teeth become cleaned up — this serves as an alternative way of brushing and flossing.
11 of the Best Dog Bones
Providing the best edible product for dogs is every dog owner’s goal since they should strive to only provide what’s best for their pooch. As the population of domesticated dogs increases, more consumable products are being produced in the market in order to give the right amount of nourishment for dogs.
Given that chewing bones are part of a dog’s nature, companies are utilizing this knowledge to come up with healthy, flavorful treats that don’t compromise the dog’s overall health. After scanning through various bone treat products, here are 11 trustworthy ones that would surely keep every dog satisfied:
Pet ‘n Shape Beef Bone Natural Dog Treat
Free from Any Preservatives
Nothing is ever more satisfying than seeing your dog fully enjoying his or her treat without worrying about negative health implications. At Pet n’ Shape, rest assured that their products are free from artificial ingredients.
Why We Like It:
- No artificial additives, preservatives, or color that might affect your dog’s health
- Absence of wheat, soy, and corn
What We Don’t Like:
- Can be too thin for some dogs
Jack & Pup Roasted Meaty Beef Shin Bone Dog
Tasty and Flavorful
Another dog bone product you can consider purchasing is the one from Jack&Pup. With its perfectly roasted bone treat alongside the smoked meat and tendon, dogs wouldn’t say no to this at all.
Why We Like It:
- Slow roasted meat flavor for an even more delicious treat for your pooch — something they’d chew literally for hours
- Checked thoroughly in a USDA Human Grade Certified and Inspected facility
What We Don’t Like:
- Product is too big for some dogs
Buck Bone Organics Elk Antlers for Dogs
Filled with Additional Nutrients and Minerals
Apart from giving out the best dog food for your pooch, giving them the best dog bone can also help them receive more nutrients and minerals present in the product. This bone treat from Buck Bone Organics is of high quality made from 100% natural ingredients.
Why We Like It:
- Perfect for dogs over 30 lbs. and up such as Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, and Siberian Husky
- Split bone is softer, which is designed for teething puppies and older dogs
What We Don’t Like:
- Not the best dog bones for aggressive chewers as it gets worn out faster due to its soft build
Nylabone Healthy Edibles Wild Flavors Dog Chew Treat Bones
Grain-Free and Highly Digestible
Seeing your dog happily chewing their bone treats also relieves you in a way that they’ll stop chewing your stuff and focus more on the treat bone. The Nylabone Healthy Edible treat helps you achieve this while also giving proper nourishment to your dog with the minerals sipped from the bone.
Why We Like It:
- Available in different sizes
- A long-lasting, grain-free treat
- Highly digestible; no salt, additives, and artificial colors
What We Don’t Like:
- Possibility of choking due to chunks or splinters caused by its soft build (not suitable for aggressive chewers)
Pet ‘n Shape Knuckle Steak Bone Natural Dog Chewz
For Medium- and Large-Sized Dogs
Another product from Pet ‘n Shape that made it to the list is their Knuckle Steak Bone treat. If you feel much unsatisfied with smaller treats, then this one’s perfect for your dogs — especially for medium and large-sized ones. Just like their other treats, this one is also free from additives and artificial ingredients.
Why We Like It:
- Artificial ingredients and additive-free treats
- Not overcooked or brittle
What We Don’t Like:
- Can easily break
- Has a mild distinct smell which some dogs and owners find irritating
Deluxe Naturals Elk Antler for Dogs
Highly Nutritious
Dogs become completely alive whenever a bone is tossed at them and won’t stop chewing until they start to feel bored or have completely satisfied their need to nibble away. This bone-like structure from Deluxe Naturals promotes an overall satisfaction for dogs and it’s rich in protein, phosphorus, and calcium.
Why We Like It:
- Its bone-like material regenerates annually or also known as ‘branching out’ before it starts shedding in a natural way
- Nutritious; rich in protein, calcium, and phosphorus, which is perfect in keeping their teeth healthy and strong
- Free replacement is applicable if you’re not happy with their product
What We Don’t Like:
- Some of the antlers can easily break off, which becomes hazardous for dogs if left unattended
K9 Connoisseur Single Ingredient Natural Dog Bones
All Natural, No Nasties Bones Perfect For Your Fur-Baby
If you like to make sure your precious pooch only has the very best when it comes to their treats, then you will love the K9 Connoisseur natural dog bones. They have plenty of benefits for your pooch, without any added nasties, so you can give them to your pet with love, and with complete peace of mind.
One of the best features of the K9 Connoisseur dog bones is that they come from grass-fed cattle born and raised in America. This is reassuring for owners who don’t like any food they provide their pooch with to come from other countries. Because the bones are all natural, and sourced from high-quality cattle, they are also free from nasties, making them extra-healthy treats for your pet.
Owners trying to help satisfy their dogs desire to chew and eat without weight gain will appreciate that the dog bones are naturally low in calories. Because of this, dogs can benefit from the protein and dental benefits, without piling on the pounds. The act of chewing and playing with the bone also helps pooch burn calories and stay active.
Why We Like It:
- No nasties
- Low calorie
- Sourced from grass-fed cattle born and raised in America
- Marrow filled and hickory smoked
What We Don’t Like:
- Inconsistent fillings
- Marrow may not take much to pull loose
Benebone Real Flavor Wishbone Dog Chew Toy
Easy to Chew
Knowing that dogs are sensitive to smell, Benebone made sure to create a treat that would make every dog drool. This durable treat comes in bacon, peanuts, and chicken flavor. In terms of its shape, they decided not to make it flat in order for dogs not to have a difficult time enjoying their treat.
Why We Like It:
- It’s shaped in such a way that dogs won’t find it difficult to handle and chew
- Comes in three different flavors that would surely keep your dogs busy all day long
What We Don’t Like:
- Can turn into chunks after frequent chewing, which imposes hazardous risk for your dog
Nylabone Healthy Edibles Dog Chew Treat Bones
Flavorful, Grain-free, and Easy to Digest
Nylabone sells dog bone treats in various shapes and sizes, giving consumers more options to see which among the treats best suit their furry friend. This healthy treat ensures to be highly digestible and flavorful enough for your dogs to feel completely entertained.
Why We Like It:
- Comes in different shapes
- It’s grain-free, highly digestible, and flavorful
What We Don’t Like:
- It’s not as long-lasting as it looks — dogs can easily nibble an entire treat in less than an hour
Blue Buffalo Dental Bones
For Healthier and Cleaner Teeth and Gums
From the name itself, this product from Blue Buffalo mainly promotes healthier teeth and gums, fresher breath, and cleaner teeth. Unlike humans, dogs have a different way of maintaining the oral part of their body — through bones. With this aforesaid product, dogs can go off chewing their treat while unconsciously cleaning their teeth.
Why We Like It:
- It promotes a positive effect on a dog’s oral health
- Highly digestible, mixed with healthy ingredients
What We Don’t Like:
- Some dogs seemingly don’t like the taste
Nylabone Big Chew Durable Toy Bone for Large Breeds
The Best Dog Bones for Large Dogs
For dog owners, finding an appropriate bone treat for their large-sized dogs may seem difficult as they can easily break off smaller treats. Thankfully, Nylabone created bone treats specifically for large breeds for these pooches to also enjoy and savor the wonders of bone treats.
Why We Like It:
- It’s specifically designed for large breeds, keeping them occupied on gnawing their treat instead of chewing furniture and other items
- It’s good enough to last for a longer period
What We Don’t Like:
- Due to its hard material, dogs may undergo bleeding gums or may break their teeth
FAQ
Giving bones to your dog is one of the best dog treats they’ll ever receive. Many owners (and even passers-by) throw bones at dogs since they’re accustomed to doing it and it’s not actually a bad option as long as you know the specific bones suitable for your dog.
Here are some of the frequently asked questions for you to read on before deciding to give bones to your dog:
Q: Are bones important to dogs? How?
A: As mentioned, dogs consume bones as part of their nature. Whenever they see a bone laying still on the floor, they’d immediately chew it. People may only see bones as a major treat for dogs or may think that it’s only like chew toys for dogs, but actually, bones are beneficial for dogs.
1. Bones are rich in nutrients
Before dog food was introduced in the market, dogs had to feed themselves with their prey’s flesh and bones in order to receive nourishment. They had a completely different lifestyle right before they started adapting to domestication.
2. Bones are good for your dog’s teeth
Letting your dogs chew big bones prevents plaque buildup and other possible teeth and gum diseases. As a result, it keeps your furry friend’s teeth healthy.
3. Fewer injuries
Since your dog will most likely focus on chewing a bone, they’d be less interested in excessively scratching or licking their paws. This activity is necessary to break your dog’s habit of possibly injuring himself or herself due to over-scratching.
Q: Are there risks in feeding dogs with bones?
A: Although bones have their own set of advantages for the dogs, owners should still practice utmost precaution in feeding bones.
Smaller bones such as those from pork and poultry bones are highly discouraged since it tends to be smashed in smaller pieces, increasing the chances of injuring your dog’s mouth or intestine. This might lead to the unexpected demise of your dog.
Cooking bones, on the other hand, removes the nutrients — voiding its sole purpose of providing nutrients and minerals for your dog.
Q: How to prepare the bones for the dogs?
A: In order to provide the necessary nutrients and minerals for your dogs, feeding them with raw bones is the most appropriate choice. This is also the recommended option by most veterinarians.
Conclusion
Dogs are always fond of bones, regardless of their breed, due to their nature. Apart from the meat, bones also provide nutrients and minerals that keep dogs healthy and energized. In addition, bones also promote healthier teeth and gums and minimize injuries in a way that dogs would focus more on chewing bones instead of scratching or licking their paws. However, owners should provide the right bone treat for their dogs to avoid lacerating their mouth or intestines.
Certain products in the market provide healthy and satisfying dog bone treats for pooches. With vast options available, pet owners can thoroughly find which ones are suitable for their dogs.