marrow bones, safe?

[KenF]

Are marrow bones (raw) safe to leave my boxer alone with? I've given them to him a few times now, and they keep him busy for hours, but I'm worried about splintering and choking if I leave him alone with one.

 

[SkippyToo]

I do not have any advice; however, I am interested in advice from others that reply to this thread.

My problem with marrow bones has been that Samson chews on them for just a short while, then he swallows them when they are really too large for him to swallow. When he does this I think he is going to choke to death, therefore, I stay away from marrow bones. I go for the Nyla-bones.

 

[weslager]

I would look in the "BARF" chat for these questions. I've been feeding mine that for a bit, and never had a problem.

 

[buddy'smom]

I feed mine marrow bones, but I have always hesitated to leave them alone with them. First because IMO owning two boxers, I truly don't want to set up any scene that may cause a fight, not that they fight over them, but who knows what they may try when no one is around
Secondly, I am a freak about choking, so like you I am afraid of splinters or swallowing the bone. You might want to try a stuffed kong instead, less of a choking hazard. When we just had Kailee, I felt okay about leaving her unsupervised with a stuffed kong.
Just my opinion

Jean

 

[BooBoo & Riley]

I feed my two raw knuckle bones which are too big for them to clamp their jaws down on. Sometimes I do leave them alone with it and I have never had a problem. They pick all the meat out, then work on the marrow and after a couple of days, it just looks like a marrow bone you buy at the store. I throw it out then before they chew on it too much. But the bones don't splinter at all because of their size. If a dog can't clamp down on it, then they can't break them up and cause splintering.

 

[myrocky]

To be on the safe side, I would say NO you should never leave your dog alone with a marrow bone. You never know what could happen while you are away. It is much better to give them when you can fully supervise. When Rocks gets a marrow bone I sit down and watch TV or a movie. This way I'm doing something too but also able to keep an eye on him. If you feel like you want to give something while the dog is in the crate try giving a frozen Kong.


Andie

 

[mobrian]

The marrow bones that I buy are far to big to swallow. Splintering of course could always happen but it is not as likely with a raw bone.

 

[PawPrintBoxers]

I have fed marrow bones for about 3 years now. All three of my Boxer kids get one a night. They are too big to be swallowed, they have no sharp edges, the marrow is incredibly good for them and they have best teeth. I give them raw. They act like a toothbrush for the dogs. I have not had to have any dental work done or even a cleaning since I started the marrow bones.

__________________
Christina Ghimenti
PawPrint Boxers

Sunny Northern California
Boxer Champions and Loving Pets

 

[PawPrintBoxers]

Here is a photo of Crystal with her marrow bone.

__________________
Christina Ghimenti
PawPrint Boxers

Sunny Northern California
Boxer Champions and Loving Pets

 

[kassa]

Crystal is one happy boxer!

I wouldn't leave an untested dog alone with a marrow bone because there ARE dogs that will not stop chewing/gnawing, and unlimited access can really damage teeth.

Mine go at them like crazy when they're all new and gucky, but I limit it to about an hour or so for the first couple of days. Once they're dry, they seldom do more than give a few gnaws and then use it as a chin rest.

Once dry, they also make good alternative kongs -- you can stuff banana into one for cheap entertainment (I don't use a whole banana, just enough to fill the middle without easy access at either end. Gets those tongues working!)

And I don't leave dogs loose with them until they're trained enough to stay on their own rug with their own bone. And again, that's under supervision.