Dog bone meal is frequently used as an additive in homemade dog food. Is it, however, a good idea to include ground bones in your dog's daily diet? This is dependent on where you get your bone meal, what you do with the ground bones, and how much bone meal you put in your dog's food. Let's look at what this additive is and how it can be beneficial or harmful to your dog.
What exactly is Bone Meal for Dogs?
The bones or hooves of cows or other animals that have been ground up into small particles are what bone meal for dogs is. Typically, three types of the bone meal are available:
Gardening Bone Meal
Gardening bone meal, which is available at home and garden stores, should never be mixed into dog food because it is not safe for animal consumption. This meal has the texture of white flour and contains slow-release phosphorus. However, because fertilizers and chemical stabilizers are frequently added to gardener's bone meal, it can be toxic to dogs and is classified as "mild to moderately" toxic by the Pet Poison Helpline.
Bone Meal for Dogs
We're in the clear now! Bone meal for dogs is easily available from online retailers. It is sometimes referred to as "bone broth powder," and it is frequently sold as a supplement that is marketed as a source of balanced calcium and phosphorous.
It is occasionally found in commercial dog food. This is generally safe for dogs, though there are some risks associated with excessive supplementation.
Homemade Bone Meal
Some DIY dog food enthusiasts prepare their own bone meal at home. This is particularly popular among followers of the raw-food-based BARF diet. There are serious risks to feeding your dog raw meat (bacteria, for example), but a homemade bone meal is generally safe. Homemade bone meal is created by steaming bones (either chicken or beef) until they are pliable and then pulverizing them in a food processor.
Benefits of Bone Meal for Dogs
Animal bone is high in calcium and phosphorous, both of which are essential nutrients in any dog's diet. Giving your dog full-sized bones to eat instead of chew can be dangerous. “Bones can cause serious internal problems and fracture teeth,” writes Bruce Fogle, DVM, MRCVS in Natural Dog Care, but he recommends adding sterilized bone meal to homemade dog food.
Calcium is essential for the bone health of dogs because it helps to prevent arthritis and conditions such as hip dysplasia. Phosphorus also aids in bone formation and plays an important role in the synthesis of carbohydrates, fat, and protein.
Because of the increased surface area provided by small particles, grinding the bones into bone meal increases the nutritional availability of nutrients.
When feeding your dog, make sure the food has a one-to-one calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which ground-up bones provide.
Bone Meal Dangers for Dogs
As with any food, moderation is key when it comes to ground bones. Too much bone meal can cause a blockage in the gastrointestinal tract: the ground bones can accumulate and form a solid mass that is difficult to pass, causing constipation that, in severe cases, may necessitate surgery.
Another risk is bacterial contamination, which can be passed from dogs to you if homemade bone meal is not properly sterilized. Finally, if the bones are not ground fine enough, the shards can cause injuries to a dog's mouth, throat, or intestines.
In the end, bone meal can be safe and even beneficial, but it is not required for a healthy diet. Ollie's recipes contain supplements such as dicalcium phosphate and calcium carbonate in the optimal proportions for your dog's health, and they meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, resulting in a healthy, happy dog with no risks.
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