Teeth cleaning~ I'm amazed!

[nvnvgirl]

Originally Posted by eaglez28

YorkieDaze- OK - so you can get this at any Grocery Store in the meat department & just ask the Butcher to cut them 1/2" thick? Right?

Yes, you get them at the meat counter. Some stores have them shipped to them already cut, but some places will cut them for you. And some places cut them every morning. But they seem to sell out fast. When I picked up my last 2 packages the butcher told me that a man came in right after I had called to ask them to hold them for me and he wanted them and was really mad that they were being held for me. If they'll cut them for you, 1" or even 1 1/2 inch thick is pretty good.

[nvnvgirl]

Originally Posted by Patti

I will have to try them. Thanks I just had Pixie in to the vet for her bad teeth and gums and she is only 2. So we decided that I should brush them daily, I wasn't doing this, and check back in 6 weeks. I have been using dental wipes daily and brushing and using Petzlife and in one week I noticed a difference in her gums, but her teeth are still not so good, so I will try the marrow bones. How do you get the marrow out?

The bones look like vertebrae would look....sort of like a doughnut and in the hole, there's the marrow...it's basically just lard or fat, so it's soft and is easy to push out. I just use a knife and scrape it out, or usually, most of it will just push out when you stick a knife in it.

[*sophie's mama*]

Sophie loves those bones. She just chews and chews. I would highly recommend them.

[kl1977]

Ive been to 3 grocery stores and none of them have them!! The last store I went to say they rarely ever have them.

[nvnvgirl]

Originally Posted by tjdmom

I thought beef bones were too big?? Hmmm, I'm gonna have to try this. Thanks for the info!

If your butcher will cut them for you, you can have them cut into almost any size you want I would imagine. I've seen them already cut from about 1" thick to 1 1/2" depending on how big/small your Yorkie is.

[nvnvgirl]

Originally Posted by kl1977

Ive been to 3 grocery stores and none of them have them!! The last store I went to say they rarely ever have them.

I think I'd call around to see first. I finally realized that b/c there's only one store here that usually has them and a couple of times that I went they were out (and that was the only reason I drove there). With gas prices the way they are, I call first even if they usually have them. Or maybe you can put in a special order and they'll save them for you.

[nvnvgirl]

Originally Posted by pokche

I'm afraid that they will splinter.... Are they really fat? Bikini had almost a deadly pancreatitis? Beef?

Can you give us more details?

I always taught that real bones were really dangerous for dogs?

Thank you

They don't splinter. You don't cook them; that's what causes bones to splinter. They are beef.
Max had pancreatitis once too and we are FASTIDIOUS about what he gets to eat.....I scrape ALL of the marrow out and if there's any meat on the outside of the bone (most of them are pretty devoid of much meat on them), I cut most of it off.

From what I've read marrow bones (these aren't the ONLY type of marrow bones, but I think they're probably the safest b/c they're so hard and thick) are the only type of bones you can safely give your dog. I would def. watch them while they've got them though.

[nvnvgirl]

Originally Posted by a2luckygirl

I thought bones were the #1 thing on the list of things a dog should never have??

I do not know about this- I am sure they are good for the teeth- but if a splinter comes off and gets lodged - it is not worth it- to me ! i never give Banjo ANY BONES!!NEVER- that is just me!

Maybe I am wrong, but I know I have seen a list- and BONES OF ANY KIND ARE #1!!!?????????

???????????????????????????

Marrow bones are ok as long as you pay attention to them....these bones are extremely hard and do not splinter. Maybe a big dog would be able to chew them up, but I don't know about that. I've read in many, many places from vets that marrow bones are safe to give to dogs.

And BTW, for anyone who feeds Merrick canned foods, they've got a few varieties that have chicken bones that have been cooked under some special process that supposedly makes them ok for dogs to eat. I almost FREAKED out the first can I opened and it had all these bones in it; I actually CALLED them, upset that they'd do something so dangerous , and how could this have passed their inspection ....the lady was very kind to me, but I'm sure she wanted to say "TRY READING what's printed on the can"....oops...it's right there

[cindy0721]

I too would be worried about them eating the bone.... my boston terrier went to get spayed and the vet showed us a bag that apparently was filled with some bones she had chewed...while staying at grandmas.. anyhoo.. he said NEVER to feed dogs ANY TYPE of bones... they cannot digest them and when they swallow the bone pieces it SCARS their intestines! But I don't know how these would affect them....

[Jenn218]

Hmmmm......I may have to try these....Mojo just went to the vet today and the vet commented again about how GREAT his teeth were for a Yorkie. We just brush and use petzlife spray and gel each day. LG, on the other hand, never had an oral care plan, I guess, so we are working on getting her teeth in tip top shape....she is a pretty aggrassive chewer, so this may not be the best for her.

[kl1977]

Originally Posted by nvnvgirl

I think I'd call around to see first. I finally realized that b/c there's only one store here that usually has them and a couple of times that I went they were out (and that was the only reason I drove there). With gas prices the way they are, I call first even if they usually have them. Or maybe you can put in a special order and they'll save them for you.

I just called around also and everyone says the dont have these, I may have to try to find a butcher. The closest is about 45 mins. Izzys canines are comming in and the first set are still in so I was hoping these bones would help loosen those on out, that is if I could find some lol.

[kim10924]

What a fantastic idea!! Do you just remove the extra fat? Or do you cook them too? I have given the to our Dalmation for special occations but I have cooked them first and the fat comes right off.

[Maxi]

Thank you so much guys for posting all this info! I was wondering about the marrow bones for a while. I am gonna go and find a butcher store in my area. Maxi will be thrilled getting this kind of treat, he is a chewer

[nvnvgirl]

Originally Posted by kim10924

What a fantastic idea!! Do you just remove the extra fat? Or do you cook them too? I have given the to our Dalmation for special occations but I have cooked them first and the fat comes right off.

No...don't cook them! I remove all of the stuff in the middle of the bone (it's soft and comes right out) and I try to remove any of the fatty stuff that's left on the outer side of the bone; usually they don't leave much but sometimes there will be a little bit still on. Mine don't need the fat and if you've got carpeting or rugs, it will get grease marks on it.

Oh...and I'm not sure how often it's ok to give these to them, but I usually give them a new one every couple of days (but I toss the old ones an hour or so after they get tired of them).

[tjdmom]

I know they shouldn't be cooked but I remember reading somewhere that certain raw foods should first be frozen and then thawed because of some bacteria that can be dangerous to dogs. Don't remember all the details or if this applies. Should these bones be frozen first? Does anyone know?