Just to be sure I've got this bone info right...

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

There is a LOT of info on here about dogs and bones.
I think I got it figured out but correct me if I'm wrong. I was at a friends house yesterday, she
Gave Yogi his first bone. I asked her of course if it was a femur bone, it was and it was raw.
Eating raw is okay, it's just messy, correct?
Am I correct in thinking that I can give him raw only occasionally, keeping in mind the high fat content?

So now it's day two, the marrow is partly gone (he's not too aggressive when eating it). I put it in the refrigerator last night. I'll give it back today. Once he's done with it today, is it a good idea to microwave or boil to get rid off any marrow left so it doesn't go rancid?

Is the marrow good for him, or just a treat I should give sparingly?

I like the idea of keeping them around for stuffing, that sounds fun. How long of a bone should I buy? As I mentioned he's not an aggressive chewer, 30#.

Thanks

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The marrow getting rancid is exactly why I cook the marrow bones. The dog can't get to the center of the bone to get at the marrow, and it goes bad. There is no danger, as beef femur bones cannot really be eaten or consumed, they are too hard and will not splinter no matter how long you cook them. Raw feeders call them "recreational" bones. They're more toys than food.

I've given my dogs femur bones that cooked two hours in a soup pot, and they've lasted for years. You can stuff them, and you can even run them through the dishwasher and re-use. 

You can boil or microwave. It's okay to give them the marrow if they have no digestive issues, but I wouldn't give it too often.  

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Do you recommend letting them have a go at the marrow at first just for enjoyment or nutrition's sake?
Then cook the bone?

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna was given a (cooked) marrow bone once and managed to eat enough of the marrow to make herself sick (because of the fat, no doubt).  I'd just give Yogi the clean bone and you could feed him a little of the cooked marrow as a treat, that way you're controlling how much he gets.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with J. 

[Malenie Piscetelli]

I use bone marrow for teething and also it is good for the dog. I would buy at least about 2 months.

[Rebecca]

This so interesting! My vet had a poster at the office about appropriate chew toys..and bones were on the no list. Same as bully sticks! I know I'll go against the good recommendations..now makes me wonder about these!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think there are differing opinions on many of these things, and it also depends on the dog. The idea that a bully stick can break a dog's teeth is laughable to me, as JD can completely consume them like a salami stick in about 5 minutes. And his internal medicine specialist, who has an awful lot more education and experience than any GP vet, recommends the non-edible Nylabones. 

The "bones" pictured on this poster are the kind of bones that a dog can actually chew and consume. They can't do that with beef femurs. 

I can't help wondering if part of the reason some vets tell people not to give their dogs any kind of chew objects is because they need the extra income from teeth cleanings. My last dog chewed rawhide, pig ears, hooves, marrow bones, etc. for her entire 16 years and had the most perfect, white, tartar free teeth that never needed a cleaning in all those years. A new vet once remarked that I was doing a great job brushing her teeth. I never did, not once! It was the chewing that did it!

I think each of us has to do what we feel comfortable with and what feel right for our individual dogs, weighing the risks against the benefits. Some dogs are much more aggressive and powerful chewers than others. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have given my dogs bones boiled for 10 mins with the marrow removed. They loved them. But one splinter, scary. Then I started to worry about breaking teeth : ( So I haven't used them in a long time.

[Deborah Brown]

We sometimes get the marrow bones from the grocery store.  These are 4-6" long pieces and the dogs get all the marrow out in one sitting so I've always let them have it raw.  We've had no ill effects but maybe this is a small enough amount not to cause harm?

My daughter fills the bones with cranberries and pumpkin and freezes them.  Her dog had been prone to UTIs and the cranberries were helpful with that.

[Susan and Sochi]

Deborah, hi!  i see your dogs have been prone to uti's.  i am a new mommy to an 11 week old golden doodle puppy named sochi and she is on her second round of antibiotics due to uti. out breeder gave the litter Iams and sent a bag home with us. i have now found out this a a really bad dog food and could be contributing to her uti's! did you find that to be the case with your dogs? did the diet have anything to do with them get uti's? i really dont want to be dealing with these utis long term :( it is impossible to potty train her she is peeing every 5 minutes' poor thing! any tips is truly appreciated! thanks, susan and sochi 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Susan, what makes you think the Iams is contributing to the UTIs? It is not a good food, but it wouldn't cause a urinary tract infection. They are not caused by food.

[Susan and Sochi]

well thats not what a women in anoher thread told me about her dog she said they discoverd the ph balance wasnt correct and it was caused by the food ....