Raw chews and bones are a wonderful addition to your pets diet. They can naturally contribute to good dental health, calm anxious dogs and may help to keep joints healthy.
Read our guide to see which bones and chews best suit your pet. We've based our guide on the age of your dog, but it's also important to consider the breed/size of your pet when choosing raw bones, chews and treats.
Dogs from 8 weeks old:
Dogs from 8 weeks old will enjoy Beef Trachea, Beef Chunks, Tripe Chunks and Poultry Hearts.
Dogs from 10 weeks old:
From 10 weeks onwards, dogs who have had time to get to grips with the chews above will enjoy Turkey Necks, Duck Necks, Chicken Necks, Duck Wings and Chicken Wings
Dogs from 6 months old:
At 10 months and older dogs who are used to raw treats and chews will enjoy Marrow Bones, Knuckle Bone, Beef Ribs, Lamb Ribs and Lamb Necks.
Cats:
Poultry hearts, Tripe Chunks, Rabbit Chunks, Rabbit Liver and Rabbit Kidney.
Top tips:
- Choose the right size chew for your dog (your local pet shop can help you with this)
- Raw bones are fine, but don't feed your dog cooked bones as these can splinter and cause injury
- You may want to separate your dogs if you have more than one dog in your home, raw chews are high value!
- Follow good food hygiene procedures
- Dispose of the chew after 24 hours
Don't forget to supervise your dog with raw bones, chews and treats just to be on the safe side.
If you are feeding bones as a treat (as opposed to as part of a DIY raw diet) aim for 1-3 bones a week. If your dog becomes constipated or their poo turns white, we advise cutting down the amount of bone in their diet.
There are many benefits of including raw bones, chews and treats in your dog or cats BARF / raw diet.
Dental Health
One of the most significant benefits of raw bones for dogs is that they can improve dental health. When dogs chew on bones, the pressure helps to scrape plaque and tartar from their teeth, keeping their pearly whites clean and healthy. Regular chewing on bones can also prevent gum disease, bad breath, and other dental problems. If you think your dog has plaque build up, a great tip is to use a natural seaweed based supplement, such as Nutraplaque, to soften the plaque alongside the raw bones.
Mental Stimulation
In addition to physical health benefits, raw bones can also provide mental stimulation for dogs. Chewing on bones can help relieve anxiety, stress, and boredom. This can also keep your dog mentally sharp, reducing the risk of cognitive decline as they age. A great boredom buster is a stuffed Moo Tube.
Supports Healthy Joints
Raw bones are also great for supporting joint health in dogs. The chewing motion can help to keep joints mobile and reduce the risk of arthritis, hip dysplasia, and other joint problems.