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Are dogs allowed to eat bones?

For most people, dogs and bones belong inseparably together. But should dogs eat bones or could they be harmful to them?


In the following, we will explain why feeding dogs bones can be risky and what you should be aware of in this context.

The most important facts about bones for dogs at a glance

  • A good dog food is sufficient for a diet that meets the dog's needs.
  • Dogs should only eat raw bones because these do not splinter.
  • Wild boar bones are generally taboo for dogs due to the Aujeszky virus.
  • Too many bones can cause dogs to pass bone faeces.
  • Bones are a species-appropriate treat for dogs in small quantities.
  • Puppies should not be fed bones yet.
  • Bones from young animals are more elastic and particularly rich in minerals.
  • You will find a selection of high-quality chewing articles for dogs in our shop.

Do dogs need bones?

If you feed your dog a high-quality complete food, such as dog food from Bellfor, feeding additional foods like bones are not a necessary part of a needs-based diet for your four-legged friend.


In this case, your dog will get all the nutrients it needs without the bones. With BARF (biologically appropriate raw food), on the other hand, the situation is different. If you prepare the meals yourself, bones can be an important source of nutrients for dogs.

Can dogs eat bones from poultry?

Chicken bones are generally considered unsuitable for dogs because they splinter easily and can injure the digestive tract of the four-legged friend. However, this is actually only the case if the bones have been cooked.


Raw chicken bones are therefore usually not dangerous for dogs. However, you should never let your dog eat cooked bones. Whether they come from poultry or another animal is irrelevant.

Can dogs eat bones from pigs?

Feeding raw pig flesh, which of course includes bones, is considered a great danger for dogs. This is because pigs are the main host for the Aujeszky virus. When dogs become infected with it, they contract Aujeszky's disease, also known as pseudo-rabies.


This infection is always fatal for affected dogs. However, this notifiable infectious animal disease in domestic pigs is considered to have been largely eradicated in most of the world. Therefore, the risk for dogs should be extremely low, even if they eat raw bones. However, you should avoid giving dogs bones or raw meat from wild boar in any case.

Too many bones lead to bone faeces in dogs

Although bones can b e a healthy snack for dogs, it is very important that they are always fed this nutritious treat in moderation. If a dog is given too many bones, this could lead to so-called bone faeces.


Bones are known to contain a lot of calcium. This is normally absorbed through the intestinal walls. In the case of a dog eating too much bone, however, the calcium remains in the intestine. The bone mush collects in the large intestine, loses its moisture and eventually becomes hard.


Bone excrement can cause your four-legged friend painful constipation or even life-threatening intestinal obstruction and injury to their intestine. To avoid this, bones must never make up too large a proportion of your dog's diet.

Bones for dogs to help with dental care

Gnawing on bones strengthens a dog’s bite muscles and helps to clean the dog's teeth. Even if bones alone are not sufficient to ensure adequate dental care in dogs, they can at least provide useful support.


However, for your dog’s long-term tooth health, we recommend that you use suitable dental care products, such as those you will find in our range.


Get to know Bellfor dental care products for dogs.

Can puppies eat bones?

Puppies should not be fed bones. This is because the risk of tooth fractures is significantly higher in young, developing quadrupeds than in adult animals.


In addition, it is particularly important for growing dogs to have a supply of minerals that meets their needs. Otherwise, in the worst case, malformations in the young dog's own bones can occur.


When feeding your puppy, it is therefore better to stick to high-quality puppy food. This contains all the specific nutrients your little four-legged friend needs for healthy growth.


Get to know Bellfor puppy food.

Which bones are best for dogs

If you want to give your dog bones, it is best to choose bones from younger slaughtered animals. These are particularly elastic and rich in valuable minerals. In addition, the bones of young animals have not yet been able to intake large amounts of harmful substances.


If possible, only give your dog larger bones that they cannot swallow whole. Smaller bones always run the risk of getting stuck in the dog's oesophagus, for example.


Of course, ome meat scraps on the bones are also fine for your dog. These make the snack even more tasty for your four-legged friend. They also make digestion easier, too.

Natural chews for dogs from Bellfor

In our assortment you will find a large selection of chew snacks for your dog. These include dried lamb and rabbit ears as well as deer tendons and antler pieces.


Our chews do not contain any artificial flavours, preservatives or other ingredients that are not suitable for dogs, such as sugar. Instead, Bellfor chews consist exclusively of the respective animal parts. This makes the healthy treats particularly tasty and easy to digest.


If you want to satisfy the natural chewing instinct of your four-legged friend in a healthy way and provide a species-appropriate activity in everyday life, you can’t go wrong with the high-quality chewing snacks from Bellfor.


Get to know Bellfor chewing snacks for dogs.

Dogs and bones - our conclusion

As you can see, dogs are generally allowed to eat bones. However, it is imperative that the bones are raw, otherwise they splinter very easily and can seriously injure the digestive tract of your four-legged friend.


Apart from that, you should not overdo it in terms of quantity, as too many bones can lead to so-called bone faeces in your dog.


So it is fine to give your dog an occasional bone to gnaw on as a reward. However, bones should not be a regular part of your dog's daily diet. This is especially true if you feed your dog a ready-made dog food that already provides them with all the necessary minerals.

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