Things To Look For When Buying Dog Bones For Aggressive Chewers
Ingredients
Like any pet owner, we’re sure you want to keep your dog healthy for as long as possible. To do that, you need to provide him with a balanced diet and watch the ingredients list of the foods you buy - including dog treats! Pets with allergies or sensitive tummies will need extra consideration in this department.
Flavor
The flavor you choose will depend on your dog’s preferences and as a pet owner you should know what your dog is into at this point. Otherwise, you’ll have plenty of different flavors and combinations for you to choose from on the market.
Size
When it comes to the size of your dog bone, bigger is not always better because large bones could easily crack your dog’s teeth, unless it has super strong choppers. Tiny dog bones can also be dangerous because they’re a potential choking hazard. The good news is that dog bones usually come in different sizes and packs to cater to different dog breeds and sizes.
Dental Bones
As the name implies, dental bones are usually recommended by the vet to support dental and oral health. They may help keep tartar and plaque build-up at bay while promoting healthier teeth and gums.
But naturally, you need to also brush your dog’s teeth regularly with a specially formulated canine toothpaste.
Natural vs. Synthetic Bones
First of all, there are some jarring differences in synthetic and natural bones, apart from the fact that one is made from natural ingredients and the other from synthetic components. Not only are natural bones good for your dog’s health, but they’re more flavorful and enjoyable as well.
Natural bones are much more nutritious and some even have meat tendons left behind, which means they’re a source of protein and probiotics for your dog. For additional health benefits, you can consider supplementing your dogs with additional probiotics supplements.
However, synthetic bones provide better oral and dental care. Not only do artificial bones promote the production of saliva, but they actively clean your dog’s gums and teeth better than natural bones ever could. They’re also safer than natural bones because they’re softer and least likely to crack.
Why Should You Get Dog Bones For Aggressive Chewers?
There are numerous benefits to get chewing bones for aggressive chewers, whether they’re natural or synthetic. Keep in mind that even the most domesticated animals have a primal urge to chew and rip through stuff. Since your dog cannot hunt and rip animals apart in the wild, they have to satisfy that urge through other means. You could either let them damage your possessions or you could just give your dog a bone (mind the pun).
Cleans Your Dog’s Teeth
Since dogs don’t have the patience needed to floss or brush their teeth every day so they have to chew through bones to maintain dental and oral health. Chewing on bones can also help your dog to get rid of kibble particles in their teeth, remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar.
Dog bones are also a good complement to these indestructible dog chew bones for aggressive chewers.
Improves Your Dog’s Digestive Health
Again, dog bones can help to regulate the buildup of bacteria and saliva in the mouth, thus regulating the amount of saliva that your dog produces on average. This helps to keep stomach bacteria and stomach acid in check so that it’s easier for your dog to digest food.
Helps With Aggression
As mentioned above, most dogs are prone to some level of aggression and there’s no denying that this is a very natural aspect of their biology. Giving your dog a sturdy bone to chew on provides it with a fun challenge that’ll keep it busy and satisfy its need to chew and rip things apart without violently damaging your stuff.
To help keep your expensive furniture away from aggressive chewers, there are electronic dog doors that you can make use of to keep your canine buddy out of your home when you are not around. Likewise, a couch cover will come in handy to protect your leather softas too.
What About Raw Bones?
You may give raw bones to your dogs. With natural bones, you’re providing your dog with essential calcium & phosphate, nutrients that contribute to strengthening immunity and natural growth.
This nutrient will also protect your aggressive chewers from experiencing bone loss as they get older. Dogs tend to experience lower bone density in their old age, which is why dog trainers and vets usually advise supplementing their diet with the right nutrients and proper exercise. Raw bones are particularly beneficial when compared to cooked bones because they offer a tougher challenge for your aggressive chewers while keeping their teeth clean.
It’s worth noting here that most dog foods contain about 1% to 1.8% worth of calcium phosphate, even though your dog is supposed to be getting 4% minimum. The reason why dog food manufacturers don’t include this nutrient in their products is that it’s difficult to preserve in large quantities, so it’s best to source it from a natural source.
How Much Bone To Give To Your Dog?
The answer to this question depends on your preferences and your dog’s needs. The general recommendation is to incorporate about 7% to 10% worth of chew bones into your dog’s diet for health purposes. Again, this differs according to the owner’s discretion, the dog’s stomach size, preferences, and breed.
Keep in mind that every dog is different and you have to pay attention to your dog’s needs and consider its stomach health as well. Is your dog passing stools regularly? Is it having a hard time staying regular or being too regular? Either way, you’ll know how much bone you should be feeding your dog based on its digestion habits.
Apart from a good diet, it is also important to keep your dog active. Taking them on regular walks and playing fetch with them are all great options to consider.
Can Raw Bones Cause Aggression?
Not really. Instead of feeding aggression, chewing bones can help them to blow off some steam. At the end of the day, the most significant influencer of your dog’s behavior is you - its parent. That means if you’re sad, your dog gets sad; if you’re pumped or angry, your dog reads and replicates your body language accordingly.
