Before we delve into the many benefits of raw poultry bones, it is important to first make the distinction between feeding raw poultry bones and cooked poultry bones. Many of us are familiar with the fact that we should never, ever feed cooked poultry bones to dogs, but do you know the reason behind this warning? First off, let s take a look at some of the characteristics of raw poultry bones:
- They are soft and flexible
- They can be easily crushed, without splintering
- They do not splinter when broken
- They contain naturally occurring moisture and cartilage
When a poultry bone has been exposed to heat through the cooking process, many things change. First of all, the chemical structure of the bone is altered. Water, cartilage, and blood vessel structures are removed and the bone becomes dry and brittle. It is no longer flexible, and without the connective tissues and moisture intact, it will easy snap into small, sharp pieces. It is the dangerously sharp pieces that pose the highest threat to our pets. Not only can the sharp edges puncture the trachea, intestines, and bowels, but they are no longer digestible and will stay intact through the digestion process, increasing the risk of damage to the pet. It is very important to monitor our pets (especially those scavenging dogs!) to make sure they do not have access to cooked poultry bones.
Raw poultry bones are not only safe for our pets to eat, but they offer many additional nutritional benefits to a pet s diet, such as:
- Glucosamine and Chondroitin
- Enzymes and amino acids
- Calcium, phosphorous, and other trace minerals
- Low-fat meat source
