Bones of contention

Does feeding raw bones actually improve dental health in dogs? Neil says: I hear nearly every day from people who claim that feeding whole, raw bones to their dogs has reduced bad breath and made their teeth cleaner. In fact, a number of studies in dogs (and cats) have shown that feeding bones may decrease cosmetic dental tartar, but it does not reduce plaque formation or periodontitis (inflammation of the gums) and the practice can increase the incidence of tooth fractures. (though they are not as bad in this respect as antlers, which are far too hard to be used as ‘chews’). Additionally, there is a risk of bones becoming stuck in or perforating the oesophagus, the stomach and the intestines. (Steenkamp and Gorrel; 1999; Verstraete et al, 1996; Clarke and…

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Sporting Gun (Digital) - 1 Issue, January 2021

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