Shoul I feed my dog this stuff??

Question

The butcher gave me all kinds of stuff for like 5 bucks, ribs, pigskins, pigfeet, beef bones.

He said give it to my dog.....is it actually healthy or once in a while treat sort of stuff.....?

He is a big super strong yellow lab about 2 years old and excercises every day. I know his teeth can rip through this stuff, but is it bad for his heart or system or anything??

If you dont really know, just say "Hi sammy! thanks for my points!"

Answer 1

Hi Sammy! We have a golden retriever and we give him pigfeet and bones. They should only be a "once in a while treat". Depending on the type of ribs you can give those to him also. Don't feed him pork or chicken bones because they can splinter and can be very bad for him. Beef ribs or beef bones you can give him. Good luck and give him a pat for me!

Answer 2

As long as they are raw bones he should be fine on that front. My chow never had a problem that I know of with cooked beef/pork bones but better safe than sorry.

These are once in a while treat things. I know of SOME breeders that do feed their dogs raw chicken and pork and stuff but even though he is an animal they are still fatty. And my own dog owner mentality says they if they expect this stuff all the time it can lead to over begging for your food or bad behavior when they don't get it.

Answer 3

Truth be told, dogs can usually handle these types of things, and it is the way your butcher can make a couple bucks while getting rid of things he wont use anyways.

HOWEVER, i do not recommend letting him have any of them. Why? Because they can all pose potential problems. Even if he is a big stong, otherwise healthy dog. When I was young, my dog almost died because he swallowed such a bone. We were very lucky.And I've seen it many times where I work. Just dont risk it.

On that note, not all dog foods are much better in the LONG run. lol

Answer 4

Bones splinter and tear up your dog's guts and they die a slow and painful death. Lots of dogs go through life eating bones with no problems...but the chance is still there, so don't do it. You can definitely cut off any of the meat and cook it and feed to your dog as treats though...you can't just all of a sudden start giving your dog raw meat, cause he'll get a runny bum on you!

Answer 5

Ive heard the same thing too, but the food has to be like ultimate clean from the time it was butchered. For example, the cow could not have been taking any steroids or any growth hormones. You can also feed your dog fruit and some vegatables just as long as it is pesticide free.

Answer 6

I wouldn't feed it to him if he were my dog. Bones splinter and break, can rupture the esophagus, stomach and intestines. They can also cause bowel blockages, which can be fatal. Fat and skin can cause pancreatic problems which can lead to diabetes, or in some cases, death. Consider it 5 bucks you won't ever see again & go buy him some good quality dog food, and a veterinary approved chew toy.

Answer 7

As long as they are not cooked and only smoked you should be fine. I would not feed as a primary meal but a treat.

I do this with my dog, at the butcher they sell the knuckle for $1.99 a pound.

Remember to feed outside, it can get yucky.

Answer 8

Hi Sammy! Thanks for my points!

Seriously though, Vets will always say to not give your dog human food or else it will kill them.

But back in the day when Fido's great grand pappy was a wolf, well, just what did the old boy eat when there weren't any Iams or Kibbles and Bits? Commons sense tells me that he ate stuff similar to your 5 buck pot luck.

Answer 9

Well, first I'd find out why it's not okay to be eaten by humans. If it's not suitable for you to eat, I'd avoid giving it to your dog. That said, raw bones are very healthy for dogs. Cooked bones are NOT... they can splinter (regardless of whether they're beef, pork, etc.). I'd give him no more than one per day though, as the extra meat and fat will pack on the pounds if you give him as much as he'd like. My dog chews hers for days. The meat/fat is chewed off the first day & the marrow is sucked out for a few more. After that... I think it's kinda like us with gum... we just keep chewing it even after the flavor is gone. LOL. According to my pet nutritionist, there is no concern about bacteria, etc on the uncooked bone/meat fragments. Sounded odd to me... but he assured me that their systems are designed to handle it. The bones never get gross, so I assume he's right.

Anyway... yeah.. perfectly healthy in moderation. But again... I'd find out why it's not suitable for human consumption before giving it to the dog. :)

Answer 10

The only answer I can give: I would not feed my dog any of that stuff.