Raw Meaty Bones (RMBs) are bones surrounded in meat to cushion the bone as it's swallowed.

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The added benefit of feeding bones are:

1. Providing the correct ratio of Calcium and phosphorus to maintain healthy, strong bones.

2. Clean the teeth by brushing plaque off the teeth.

3. Mental stimulation as they work on it.

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This article will include:

1. Precautions to take.

2. What are Edible bones. With some examples of size appropriate RMBs

3. How to calculate how bone you get from an RMB easily.

4. Safe use of recreational bones.

5. Why eggshell and bone meal are not bone substitutes.

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There are many concerns among non-raw feeders and veterinarians when it comes to including bone in our pet's raw diet, but that’s where knowledge of appropriate bone use comes in. First and most importantly, supervise your pet while eating RMBs. When first introducing RMB's we suggest hand feeding to create positive association with your presence around bones, avoid gulping & encourage chewing. If your dog is prone to guarding, see our file on Resource Guarding for further information.

 

 

The following are general rules all raw feeders need to follow to ensure the safety of their pet.

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Precautions

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1. No Cooked/Dried/Dehydrated Bones

Cooked bones easily splinter no matter how big or small they are. Once the moisture has been removed through cooking, drying, or dehydration, this weakens the structure of the bone making it easy to splinter. This can easily cause tearing of the oesophagus, stomach or intestinal lining often leading to internal bleeding or perforation. Many times this will require an expensive surgery of some sort.

  2. No Bones too Small or too large.

Bones that are too small or that can easily be swallowed whole can pose many of the same threats as splintered bones including blockages. You want to use bones that require chewing.

  3. No Bones too Large or Weight Bearing Bones

Although there are some large bones you can use for recreation under careful supervision, large bones should not be used as RMBs. If they are, you can run the risk of broken teeth or fractured jaws.

  4. No Mixing With Kibble

Mixing any of the raw diet with kibble will raise the stomach pH inhibiting proper and safe digestion of RMB's. Not only that but mixing with kibble can also inhibit the stomach pH to kill off pathogens.

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Example RMB’s:

 For Weaning very young puppies or kittens as well as ferrets:

• Chicken necks, backs, wings, feet, thighs

• Duck feet, necks

• Rabbit, cut

• Turkey necks

• Cornish Game Birds, whole or cut into big pieces

• Quail, whole or cut in half

• Goat ribs

• Lamb breast  

 

Tiny – Small Dogs , Adult Cats , Ferrets (some dogs may be smaller than adult cats and need bones cut down to size):

• Chicken necks, backs, wings, feet, thighs

• Duck feet, necks

• Duck, whole cut into pieces

• Rabbit, cut

• Turkey necks

• Cornish Game Birds, whole or cut into big pieces

• Quail, whole or cut in half

• Goat bones, cut

• Lamb breast, cut

 

Medium – Large Dogs:

• Chicken necks, breast, backs, wings, feet, carcass. etc

• Chicken, split or quartered

• Duck necks, carcass, feet

• Duck, whole

• Rabbit, whole or cut in half

• Pork necks, tails , feet/ trotters, ribs

• Turkey necks, carcass bones

• Turkey, split or quartered

• Cornish Game Birds, whole

• Quail, whole

• Goat bones

• Lamb shoulder

• Lamb necks, cut

• Lamb breast, cut

 

Giant Dogs:

• Chicken necks, breast, backs, wings, feet, carcass, etc

• Chicken, whole, split or quartered

• Duck necks, carcass, feet

• Duck, whole

• Rabbit, whole

• Pork necks, tails, ribs, feet / trotters

• Turkey necks, carcass bones

• Turkey, split

• Cornish Game Birds, whole

• Quail, whole

• Goat bones (cut 6-way or 6-8” pieces)

• Lamb shoulder

• Lamb neck, whole

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The bone makes up 10% of your companion’s raw diet, that provides calcium and phosphorus (Ratio of Ca:P 1-2:1).

 

Calculating Bone %

First, find the RMB you want to feed on the chart below. Weigh the RMB and use our calculator to determine the amount you'll need to feed.