Feeding Dogs Bones

For decades, images of dogs happily chewing on bones have been promoted on television and in motion pictures. As a result, pet owners have been feeding their dogs both raw and cooked bones, thinking that they are providing a natural form of nutrition for their pets. In reality, they are compromising the dog’s health and unintentionally risking the animal’s life. The consumption of bones by dogs has resulted in vomiting, organ puncture, and cancer. Feeding dogs bones is not a good thing to do!

Dogs are natural and instinctive scavengers. They might not be fed bones by their guardian, but they can find them in trash cans, on unattended plates, and when they find a dead animal, such as a bird or rat. This is very dangerous and must be prevented. One of the more common dangers of bone consumption is bone splinters. Bones from small birds, such as starlings, or medium-sized birds, such as chickens, as well as fish and other meats, can easily splinter when chewed and disperse inside an unsuspecting dog, leading to ripping and tearing of internal organs, and, possibly, death.

In addition to the intestinal danger that results from eating bones, dogs may experience cracking or breaking of teeth. This could result in prolonged periods of pain for the animal because tooth injuries are not as easily noticed as other physical ailments. When the problem is discovered, the dog may have to undergo oral surgery to remove infections, reconstruct a tooth, or extract teeth. This is painful and traumatic for the dog and can be very costly for the dog’s guardian.

If a pet owner is in doubt regarding proper nutrition for a dog, it is recommended that they consult a veterinarian, or, at the very least, perform cursory research on the internet. Food requirements vary, depending on a dog’s breed, weight, and size. If a pet owner can’t bear not to give the dog a treat, use rawhide or chew bones made of dog food purchased at the store or pet shop.

A proper diet for a dog contains a balance of nutrients that are low in fat and are easily digestible. Veterinarians do not recommend that dogs receive ‘table scraps’ or leftovers from the owner’s meals. Eating these foods can result in weight gain and a rejection of food specifically prepared for dogs. In particular, dogs should never be given chocolate, raw meats, or raw organ meats. These foods can cause skeletal problems and toxicity in dogs. They, along with real bones, are a “No, no!”

One of the best, and most easily accessible, sources of information regarding animal nutrition is the internet. A concerned dog owner can search the internet using words such as “feeding dogs,” “dog food,” or “dog nutrition.” The resulting information will include general nutrition information, feeding a specific a breed of dog, and training a dog to eat certain foods. Chew bones and other safe treats are also available on the internet.

Dogs can be fed properly, safely, and consistently when everyone in the home, or family and friends outside the home, are aware of the dog’s dietary needs. This information will help anyone who may be taking care of the dog in an owner’s absence. Dog owners should list the foods that the dog eats and the way in which the food is prepared. Also, there should be a prominent notation stating that feeding bones to the dog is prohibited. Since feeding dogs bones is very dangerous, be sure that no one, family, friend, or dog-sitter ever does!

New Born Puppy Care

Like newborn babies, your new born puppy requires the same loving attention and care. And just like newborn babies, your new born puppy will require more sleep than adult dogs and constant feeding.

A new born puppy is very weak. A good way to prevent health complications is provide your new born puppy with all nutrients that it can get by allowing it to drink it’s mother milk. Never stop them ever and constantly take a peak at them to see if they had their mothers milk within the first 12 hours. This is crucial for it’s nutritional value.

Like all mothers, the mother dog has a natural instinct to care for it’s baby. But in certain rare cases, the mother dog may neglect one of them. Then you have to take the responsibility to care for your new born puppy.

As newborn puppies don’t produce body heat in the first few weeks, it is a good idea that the mother keeps them warm to prevent them from catching pneumonia.

For the first week, prepare and place your new born puppies in a large dog basket or a box with some soft bed sheets. Also place a dim lamp beside them to keep them warm. A good temperature would be a constant about 97 degrees.

Check in with your vet or a puppy owner for recommended commercial nutrient formulas for new born puppies. It is extremely important to bottle feed them during their first 48 to 72 hours, every two - three hours.

Gently pat their backs after feeding them to allow burping. Make sure that the bottle nipple hole is not too big when bottle feeding them. Don’t take any chances and be very careful as they can choke and develop pneumonia due to excess liquid going to their lungs which lead to fatality.

Make sure you do these thing in the first crucial couple of weeks. After that, you can start by feeding him blended puppy cereals combined with a puppy formula. I wish you all the best in caring for your new born puppy. Consult with your vet or check in with your local pet store to get more additional tips, guides and new born puppy care information.