Monkey Spanker
Well-Known Member
Wasn't sure what else to do with it!
I did consider making a walking stick handle or trout priest?
I'm sure there could be many uses?
MS
Feeding Deer Legs
- Thread starter bridget_whips_in
- Start date
Wasn't sure what else to do with it!
I did consider making a walking stick handle or trout priest?
I'm sure there could be many uses?
MS
100 Percent correct...I was going to post the same then saw this had been posted earlier. This applies to any weight bearing bone not just deer, ribs are fine, just dont feed to many and dont leave a dog unattended with bones.
So by weight bearing you mean legs? Hips and neck too? - only really leaves the ribs, skull and spine?
bridget_whips_in
Active Member
Thanks for all the responses which I have found interesting. It's only the lower part of the leg, and I mostly use fallow although they have had several muntjac (which they eat like a bite size snack) and also reds, which admittedly take them a long time.
I haven't seen any splintered bones at all, I was wondering more about the actual content of the leg. There's no fat there at all really, and they seem to relish chewing up the hooves. I thought it was a good way of keeping them entertained, feeding them something natural as opposed to Jumbones or whatever, and also getting the Pointador interested in deer.
Both dogs are medium sized, a pointador and an ESS.
I haven't seen any splintered bones at all, I was wondering more about the actual content of the leg. There's no fat there at all really, and they seem to relish chewing up the hooves. I thought it was a good way of keeping them entertained, feeding them something natural as opposed to Jumbones or whatever, and also getting the Pointador interested in deer.
Both dogs are medium sized, a pointador and an ESS.
As I understand it yes it is the legs, the complete leg as the bone is very dense, very hard on the dogs teeth. I suppose the best course of action would be to play safe and just feed ribs, my dog only gets a few ribs at weekend to ensure she gets the nutrients fromm them, to much can constipate a dog.
Monkey Spanker
Well-Known Member
That sounds like a bag of arse to me! My dogs love any deer bones as long as they are raw. (Cooked ones splinter more).
Do you think wolves and wild dogs turned their noses up at weight bearing bones? I doubt it!
What about these new fashionable deer antler dog chews that are selling very well now? That's got to be very hard on a dogs teeth. Sika antlers are like cast iron! Deer lower legs are great for dogs teeth. All that hair and ligaments is like doggy dental floss! They crunch them up and generally leave the bone bits as a waste product. The rest is gone!
MS
Do you think wolves and wild dogs turned their noses up at weight bearing bones? I doubt it!
What about these new fashionable deer antler dog chews that are selling very well now? That's got to be very hard on a dogs teeth. Sika antlers are like cast iron! Deer lower legs are great for dogs teeth. All that hair and ligaments is like doggy dental floss! They crunch them up and generally leave the bone bits as a waste product. The rest is gone!
MS
+1
been giving both my dogs fore legs from roe, muntjac, red and fallow since they were pups. The big dog takes about 2 minutes to fully devour a red hinds foreleg minus the toenail which I cut off. When I butcher a carcass I will feed them the rib cage and generally the boned out shoulder and leg bone. They also have cut off antlers which tend to last a bit longer, although fallow antlers seem to be the softest, especially a sorrel.
8x57
Distinguished Member
I fear that I have been doing the wrong thing in giving my dogs legs to play with and eat. I was under the impression that uncooked bones were O.K.
Perhaps one of the vets who contribute to this site can confirm or deny what is right. I don't want to harm my dog but at the same time I know how much he loves devouring the legs hair and all.
Incidentally he loves antlers also and they last a lot longer than leather chewies.
Perhaps one of the vets who contribute to this site can confirm or deny what is right. I don't want to harm my dog but at the same time I know how much he loves devouring the legs hair and all.
Incidentally he loves antlers also and they last a lot longer than leather chewies.
FDA Dog Teeth Warning – No Bones About It!
A broken dog tooth from chewing bones - this is a slab fracture of the upper carnassial
One of the most common problems we see are broken dog teeth - specifically ‘slab fractures’ of the upper carnassials. These are the big teeth on the side of the mouth that dogs chew with in a scissor-like action. When they fracture the whole side of the tooth snaps off, resulting in pain and infection that, if the fracture is deep enough, this can only be resolved by root canal treatment or extraction – both pretty big procedures!
The most common cause of this injury? Chewing objects that are simply too hard to be considered safe. The most common object – bones! Recently the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) released a consumer update confirming what veterinary dentists have known for a long time – that chewing bones is not a safe option for our pet pooches (click here to view the release).
Culture & Myths About Bones
Here in Australia, ‘giving the dog a bone’ is firmly ingrained in our culture. Dogs love to chew them, it gives them great pleasure, and seems at least on the surface to help keep their teeth clean. Even my own children are adamant that ‘dogs eat bones’, thanks to various nursery rhymes and Wiggles songs. It’s hard to argue with a toddler when it comes to Wags the Dog!
Let’s start by dispelling some of the myths about bones:
Many people have fed bones to their dogs for years with no apparent signs of damage.
While some dogs chew bones for years without problems, we see many others that aren’t so lucky. Some dogs play rougher than others, and some chew harder than others. If your dog chews like it is trying to kill a wild beast, watch for the damage. And don’t forget, we see many dogs with fractured teeth that have been undetected for years – this doesn’t mean they aren’t hurting, just that they just don’t want to let us know about it!
Dogs in the wild chew bones, don’t they? Surely something so natural is safe?
More often than not wild dogs chew the meat off the bone and leave the bones behind. And they get broken teeth and periodontal disease too! And natural isn’t always best – there are many safer dental chew products available that are softer yet effective.
How do I tell if my dog has a broken tooth?
Well, remember that dogs really aren’t good at telling us they are in pain – in fact they will try to not show any ‘weaknesses’ to their pack (that’s us!) until it becomes too sore to hide it any longer. Many of us have had an infected tooth and know how painful it is – well it hurts your dog just as much, even if they don’t whinge about it! This means they will suffer in silence for years if we don’t keep an eye out for problems. Things you might notice include:
What if you really want to give bones to your dog?
Well, that’s ultimately up to you, and how you weigh up the risks and benefits. IF you wish to feed bones, you can decrease the risk of problems to dog teeth by only using raw bones (less likely to splinter), match the size of the bone to the size of the dog (less likely to get caught or cause an obstruction), leave the meat on (so there is something to chew), supervise your dog, and take the bone away once the meat is gone. Better still, look into safer chewing alternatives, such as specially formulated dental diets, dental chews and toys. Your dog will thank you for it
I found this which gives some good advice. I too was feeding my dog high density bones but have stopped due to the risk of her breaking a tooth, each to their own but I just wont take the risk with her. Weight bearing bones are very dense and can wear teeth in the same way as stones can, afterall our ancestors used deer bones for picks and other tools. My dog eats nothing but raw food and bones are an important part of that diet but she only has the softer bones now such as ribs, the benifits are cleaner teeth and less chance of a bad splinter. Even so , she doesnt get one to chew unless she is supervised.
A broken dog tooth from chewing bones - this is a slab fracture of the upper carnassialOne of the most common problems we see are broken dog teeth - specifically ‘slab fractures’ of the upper carnassials. These are the big teeth on the side of the mouth that dogs chew with in a scissor-like action. When they fracture the whole side of the tooth snaps off, resulting in pain and infection that, if the fracture is deep enough, this can only be resolved by root canal treatment or extraction – both pretty big procedures!
The most common cause of this injury? Chewing objects that are simply too hard to be considered safe. The most common object – bones! Recently the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) released a consumer update confirming what veterinary dentists have known for a long time – that chewing bones is not a safe option for our pet pooches (click here to view the release).
Culture & Myths About Bones
Here in Australia, ‘giving the dog a bone’ is firmly ingrained in our culture. Dogs love to chew them, it gives them great pleasure, and seems at least on the surface to help keep their teeth clean. Even my own children are adamant that ‘dogs eat bones’, thanks to various nursery rhymes and Wiggles songs. It’s hard to argue with a toddler when it comes to Wags the Dog!
Let’s start by dispelling some of the myths about bones:
Many people have fed bones to their dogs for years with no apparent signs of damage.
While some dogs chew bones for years without problems, we see many others that aren’t so lucky. Some dogs play rougher than others, and some chew harder than others. If your dog chews like it is trying to kill a wild beast, watch for the damage. And don’t forget, we see many dogs with fractured teeth that have been undetected for years – this doesn’t mean they aren’t hurting, just that they just don’t want to let us know about it!
Dogs in the wild chew bones, don’t they? Surely something so natural is safe?
More often than not wild dogs chew the meat off the bone and leave the bones behind. And they get broken teeth and periodontal disease too! And natural isn’t always best – there are many safer dental chew products available that are softer yet effective.
How do I tell if my dog has a broken tooth?
Well, remember that dogs really aren’t good at telling us they are in pain – in fact they will try to not show any ‘weaknesses’ to their pack (that’s us!) until it becomes too sore to hide it any longer. Many of us have had an infected tooth and know how painful it is – well it hurts your dog just as much, even if they don’t whinge about it! This means they will suffer in silence for years if we don’t keep an eye out for problems. Things you might notice include:
- You might see that a tooth looks a different shape or colour to the one on the other side.
- You might notice that a tooth on one side has more tartar buildup compared with the other side – this often indicates a damaged tooth surface or that the dog is not chewing properly on one side due to pain.
- You might see swelling around the tooth or a lump under the eye (in this case a tooth root abscess is highly likely).
What if you really want to give bones to your dog?
Well, that’s ultimately up to you, and how you weigh up the risks and benefits. IF you wish to feed bones, you can decrease the risk of problems to dog teeth by only using raw bones (less likely to splinter), match the size of the bone to the size of the dog (less likely to get caught or cause an obstruction), leave the meat on (so there is something to chew), supervise your dog, and take the bone away once the meat is gone. Better still, look into safer chewing alternatives, such as specially formulated dental diets, dental chews and toys. Your dog will thank you for it
I found this which gives some good advice. I too was feeding my dog high density bones but have stopped due to the risk of her breaking a tooth, each to their own but I just wont take the risk with her. Weight bearing bones are very dense and can wear teeth in the same way as stones can, afterall our ancestors used deer bones for picks and other tools. My dog eats nothing but raw food and bones are an important part of that diet but she only has the softer bones now such as ribs, the benifits are cleaner teeth and less chance of a bad splinter. Even so , she doesnt get one to chew unless she is supervised.
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There are some excellent resources on the internet about feeding dogs RAW food & bones make up a key part if feeding RAW. We have been feeding the RMB "prey model" (raw meaty bones)
Any bones are acceptable except the weight bearing bones. This includes cow, sheep, pigs & deer. The bone is too dense, prone to splinters & you're asking for a broken teeth. We have fed Piper chicken carcass, ribs & shoulder. Hips of a deer should be fine. Spine is fine too. Its just those very dense shin & thigh bones that are no good. Under NO circumstances should you ever feed dogs cooked, boiled or smoke bones. This makes the bones very brittle and will absolutely splinter.
Bones are an excellent source of calcium & minerals but feed to much & will make your dog constipated. I usually feed bone with a small (and I stress small) portion of liver. Liver is excellent for constipation but too much gives them the squirts. You literally just need a teaspoon size portion. If your dog doesn't like raw liver (its the texture) then you can pan fry lightly.
If you want to learn more http://www.rawfedpups.com has some excellent guidance.
Also with regards to the fat - dogs need some animal fat in their diet but shouldn't make up a high %. Cut off any very excess fatty bits of meat.
As chickenman says, always watch your dogs whilst eating a bone. I watch mine like a hawk. Never leave unattended.
Any bones are acceptable except the weight bearing bones. This includes cow, sheep, pigs & deer. The bone is too dense, prone to splinters & you're asking for a broken teeth. We have fed Piper chicken carcass, ribs & shoulder. Hips of a deer should be fine. Spine is fine too. Its just those very dense shin & thigh bones that are no good. Under NO circumstances should you ever feed dogs cooked, boiled or smoke bones. This makes the bones very brittle and will absolutely splinter.
Bones are an excellent source of calcium & minerals but feed to much & will make your dog constipated. I usually feed bone with a small (and I stress small) portion of liver. Liver is excellent for constipation but too much gives them the squirts. You literally just need a teaspoon size portion. If your dog doesn't like raw liver (its the texture) then you can pan fry lightly.
If you want to learn more http://www.rawfedpups.com has some excellent guidance.
Also with regards to the fat - dogs need some animal fat in their diet but shouldn't make up a high %. Cut off any very excess fatty bits of meat.
As chickenman says, always watch your dogs whilst eating a bone. I watch mine like a hawk. Never leave unattended.
Why would you think carrots were bad ? All vegetables, either raw or cooked are ok. Don't feed onions, tomatoes, grapes, garlic, raisins or avocados. All toxic to dogs. My border terrier loves raw carrots, broccoli and cauliflower.
Just thought it worth checking - if deer liver gives them the squits then maybe carrots will do something weird!
thanks for your answer
I had a Diabetic Cocker on Insulin Injections. Our Vet told us to give him Carrot as treats as his diet was quite strict. He loved them.
As well as the list of non appropriate Veg posted by chelle70, my Vet said not to feed Raw Potato.
Yorkie.
All bones can cause cracked teeth if chewed. Dogs carrying stones that people throw I'd say the biggest cause of slab fractures in dog's teeth. The vet dentists tell me these are painful and require treatment. I'm not 100% convinced how serious they are, there are plenty ignored that don't seem to cause harm, but years of mild toothache can't be nice for the dog?
The only dogs I have seen made sick from bones have either swallowed a bit too large (lamb neck bone in oesophagus most recent) or they have been cooked. Dogs can eat glass and it pass through the gut safely - a bone shard should not be an issue.
My preference is to feed dogs good quality commercial dry dog food because it is balanced with everything your dog needs. I do give my terrier legs but she just chews the remaining soft tissue and makes a half arsed attempt at burying them. If archeologists dig up my garden in 5000 years they'll be scratching their heads.
If my dog crunched the bones I wouldn't give them to her. If she had a slab fracture I'd treat it. I don't 'know' the answer to this one, but make your own mind up from my reply.
Pancreatitis can be caused by a sudden fatty meal - roast pork skin, or stealing a bar of butter the classic ones. Some dogs get pancreatitis with no recent fatty meal.
Tomatoes are barely poisonousness. Carrots can contain a lot of sugar (5%) so don't over-do it. I would not recommend them as a treat for a diabetic dog!
The only dogs I have seen made sick from bones have either swallowed a bit too large (lamb neck bone in oesophagus most recent) or they have been cooked. Dogs can eat glass and it pass through the gut safely - a bone shard should not be an issue.
My preference is to feed dogs good quality commercial dry dog food because it is balanced with everything your dog needs. I do give my terrier legs but she just chews the remaining soft tissue and makes a half arsed attempt at burying them. If archeologists dig up my garden in 5000 years they'll be scratching their heads.
If my dog crunched the bones I wouldn't give them to her. If she had a slab fracture I'd treat it. I don't 'know' the answer to this one, but make your own mind up from my reply.
Pancreatitis can be caused by a sudden fatty meal - roast pork skin, or stealing a bar of butter the classic ones. Some dogs get pancreatitis with no recent fatty meal.
Tomatoes are barely poisonousness. Carrots can contain a lot of sugar (5%) so don't over-do it. I would not recommend them as a treat for a diabetic dog!
My pup found some flourescent tube the other day - guess he's not as stupid as I thought! (Still told him to spit it though!)
He's eating leg bones without much hassle - left him in someones van with a free reign the other day and he didn't chew anything other than his toys so I'm thinking I'm giving him the right things to help his teething!... still only 11 weeks though so guess it's not too bad!
I read somewhere a plastic "evian" water bottle is a fine toy for a dog - yes I realise he could choke, but gave it a try and aside from the odd little bit he swallows (and passes) it does indeed seem a great cheap toy for him. I now funnel a small amount of dry food into the bottle and screw the lid on... keeps him busy for hours!
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