Raw Meaty Bones
Feeding dogs raw meaty bones (RMBs) offers several health benefits, especially when included as part of a balanced raw diet. Here are the main advantages:
1. Dental Health
Natural teeth cleaning: Chewing on bones helps scrape off plaque and tartar.
Healthier gums: Promotes strong, pink gums and reduces bad breath.
2. Nutritional Value
Calcium & phosphorus: Essential for strong bones, joints, and teeth.
Bone marrow: Rich in nutrients like iron, zinc, and healthy fats.
Collagen & cartilage: Supports joint health and mobility.
3. Mental Stimulation
Reduces boredom: Chewing is a natural behavior that relieves stress and anxiety.
Prevents destructive chewing: Gives dogs a safe and satisfying outlet.
4. Improved Digestion
Stronger gut muscles: The act of tearing and chewing aids digestive system tone.
Firm stools: Bone content often results in smaller, firmer, and less smelly stools.
5. Muscle Development
Chewing activates neck, jaw, and shoulder muscles, especially in growing dogs.
Important Notes:
Always feed bones raw, never cooked (cooked bones can splinter).
Choose size-appropriate bones to avoid choking or tooth fractures.
Supervise your dog while eating RMBs
See below for safe Raw Meaty Bones based on dog size:
Small Dogs (under 20 lbs / 9 kg)
Chicken wings
Chicken necks
Duck necks
Quail (whole or parts)
Rabbit ribs or legs (from small rabbits)
Tip: Avoid weight-bearing bones of larger animals like lamb or beef — they can break small teeth.
Medium Dogs (20–50 lbs / 9–23 kg)
Chicken frames (carcass)
Duck frames
Turkey necks
Rabbit legs or whole rabbit
Lamb ribs
Pork ribs (non-weight bearing and not too thick)
Tip: Turkey necks are great but monitor for gulping—cut if necessary.
Large Dogs (50+ lbs / 23+ kg)
Turkey backs or necks
Beef ribs (soft ends, not the hard weight-bearing parts)
Lamb necks or breast
Pork neck bones
Goat ribs or necks
Avoid: Weight-bearing bones from large animals (like beef femurs) unless used strictly for recreational chewing, not eating.
Recreational Chewing Bones (for cleaning teeth, not eating)
Beef knuckle bones (for large dogs only)
Beef marrow bones (frozen or thawed, but monitor to prevent tooth damage)
Elk or deer antlers (with caution; some dogs crack teeth)
Always supervise, and discard bones if they dry out or splinter. It is the owners responsibility to determine the suitability of RMB's for their own dog based and so owners should supervise.
Please note some RMB's are not suitable for puppies.