Raw non-weight bearing bones can safely clean dog’s teeth

Seven (my female Rottweiler) walks on the Ocean Beach dog beach on December 23, 2014.

I feed my 4-year old female Rottweiler dog raw bones: chicken drumsticks, chicken breast bones and pork neck bones for her nutritional needs and the safe tooth cleaning benefit.  I avoid feeding my dog cooked bones (easy to splinter) or the hard weight bearing bones like shane bones (could crack teeth).  However, I do continue to observe my dog’s tooth health, and to avoid causes of  dental fractures.

I continue to learn how to safely feed raw bones to my dog.  I find the article “The Right Raw Bones Can Sae Your Dog’s Teeth and Thousands in dental Care.” by Dr. Peter Tobias, DVM informative to me.  I quote the entire article in the following.  The original web page is on http://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11626453-the-right-raw-bones-can-save-your-dogs-teeth-and-thousands-in-dental-care.

I quote:

FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS! “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!”

This is one of the most common replies when my clients see a quote for a broken tooth repair from a  dog dentist.  Yes, repairing a dental fracture can be very expensive.  That is why reading this blog post may save you lots of money.

WHAT  YOU NEED TO KNOW TO REDUCE THE RISK:

Avoid feeding beef, buffalo or bison shank bones.   They are often harder than dog teeth. Most dogs  will get  simply carried away chewing on a large bone and may crack one of their teeth.  This is how a 2 dollar marrow bone can turn into a painful and  very expensive adventure.

I already hear some of you protesting: “But my dog loves big bones!! He likes to work at the bone marrow!”

SOLVING THE DILEMMA

In reality, nature intended canines to hunt for birds, rodents , rabbits, goats and perhaps deer. Most dogs would  simply  not dare to come even close to a buffalo or a cow.  With the exception of a pack of hungry Chihuahuas, most dogs simply do not like hanging on the ankle of a angry bull.

THE RIGHT  SIZED  BONES CAN BE VERY BENEFICIAL

However,  if you want to avoid regular dental cleaning under anesthesia,  the right sized  bones can save Fido a lot of dental trouble and save you tons of money. I usually  recommend feeding lamb or goat bones twice a week.  The abrasive action  of these hard but not too thick bones is perfect for keeping your dogs teeth shiny without the risk of dental fractures.

WHY I DO NOT  RECOMMEND JUNKY DENTAL BONES?

Many companies  have come up with alternatives to dental bones.  However most of them are  ineffective and loaded with artificial preservatives, wheat, starches and ingredients of  questionable origin.

Real bones are the best option!

WHAT TO DO IF YOU DISCOVER A FRACTURED TOOTH?

Since my clients have learned about feeding the right bones, the number of  fractured teeth has dropped sharply.  However, no matter what you do, your dog can crack a tooth by munching on a rock or having an accident of some sort.

I remember Roz, a German Shepherd that chased a ball and tried to catch it mid air. Unfortunately, she missed the ball  and bit a big cement block instead. She fracture several teeth  and needed a medical attention.

The rule of thumb is if you can you should repair it. If a veterinary dentist is available in your area, he will give you the right suggestion.  Many general practitioners have also suitable dental equipment however, some over-prescribe extractions because they are not trained to do root canals.

Also, if a tooth is removed, the opposing one is usually affected by increased tartar build up and gum disease.   It will frequently be lost a few months or year later.

TIMELY RESPONSE IS IMPORTANT

The sooner you can get the fractured  tooth  examined  the better because because a freshly fractured tooth can regenerate and stay alive by applying a  cemment cap. In most fractures  older than a few  days, a root canal is most likely needed and sometimes, an extraction may be the only solution.

SUMMARY

RAW BONES ARE SAFE TO FEED.

NEVER FEED COOKED OR SMOKED BONES  – THEY ARE  HARD AND INDIGESTIBLE

Feed the bones of medium sized animals for optimal and safe cleaning effect

Large beef, buffalo and other large bones are too hard and can cause dental fractures.

RAW chicken bones are safe  to eat but too soft to clean teeth

It is ok for a dog to eat bone fragments. The stomach  acids disolve them and aid complete disolution and digestion.

Fractured teeth should be restored if possible.

Raw dental bones should fed 1 – 2 a week

DASH Diet for Heart Health

I guess that watching our diets could help prevent some health issues and improve life quality: less illness and less medications.

I am in the early stage of watching my diets. I first learn about this DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) from this article “DASH Diet for Heart Health” on this web page http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/ss/slideshow-dash-diet?ecd=wnl_chl_070315&ctr=wnl-chl-070315_nsl-ld-stry&mb=WYQVza0sEXokrko1%40IKOxShonS%2fH3cwyXPseqP5xtN0%3d.

I copy the entire article in the following.

I quote:

The DASH Diet can help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which is good for your heart. In fact, DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or high blood pressure. Even if you don’t have high blood pressure, the DASH Diet is worth a look. It may help you lose weight because it’s a healthier way of eating. You won’t feel deprived. You’ll have lots of vegetables, fruits, and low-fat dairy products while cutting back on fats, cholesterol, and sweets.

Cut the Salt

Too much salt causes fluids to build up in your body. This puts extra pressure on your heart. On DASH, you’ll lower your sodium to either 2,300 or 1,500 milligrams a day, depending on your health, age, race, and any medical conditions. Here are some ways to cut back:

Choose low- or no-sodium foods and condiments.

Watch foods that are cured, smoked, or pickled.

Limit processed foods. They’re often high in sodium.

Get Your Grains

Eating whole grains like whole wheat breads, brown rice, whole grain cereals, oatmeal, whole wheat pasta, and popcorn is a good way to get fiber. Some fiber helps lower your cholesterol and also keeps you feeling full longer. For a diet of 2,000 calories per day: Eat six to eight servings a day. One serving is a slice of bread, 1 ounce of dry cereal, or ½ cup of cooked whole wheat pasta, rice, or oatmeal (about the size of half a baseball).

Load Your Plate With Vegetables

Vegetables give you fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They don’t have a lot of calories or fat — a good recipe for controlling blood pressure. Have four to five servings of vegetables a day. That’s 1/2 cup of cooked or raw vegetables, 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables, or 1/2 cup of vegetable juice for each serving. Iffy about veggies? Start by adding a salad at lunch and dinner.

Don’t Forget Fruit

Fruits offer lots of fiber and vitamins that are good for your heart. Many also have potassium and magnesium, which lower blood pressure. Have four to five servings of fruit every day. One serving is a medium apple or orange, or 1/2 cup of frozen, fresh, or canned fruit. One-half cup of fruit juice or 1/4 cup of dried fruit also counts as a serving. Try adding bananas or berries to your breakfast cereal or have fruit for dessert.

Have Some Yogurt

Low- and no-fat dairy foods are good sources of calcium and protein, which can help maintain a healthy blood pressure. Try to get three servings of dairy every day. Choose skim or 1% milk, buttermilk, and low- or no-fat cheeses and yogurt. Frozen low-fat yogurt is OK, too. One serving equals 1 cup of yogurt or milk, or 1 1/2 ounces of cheese — about the size of three dice.

Go for Lean Meats and Fish

You can still eat meat. Just make sure it’s lean. Meats are good sources of protein and magnesium. Skinless chicken and fish are also on the menu. Limit your servings to six or fewer a day. A serving is 1 ounce of cooked meat, fish, or poultry, or one egg. A good rule is to have no more than 3 ounces of meat at a meal — the size of an iPhone. Limit egg yolks to no more than four in a week.

Cut Back on Fats and Oils

Eating too many fats can cause high cholesterol and heart disease. With DASH, you’ll limit fats and oils to two to three servings a day. A serving is 1 teaspoon of margarine or vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise, or 2 tablespoons of low-fat salad dressing. When cooking, use vegetable oils like olive or canola instead of butter.

Watch the Sweets

You don’t have to skip all sweets. But you should try to have five or fewer servings a week. That’s 1 tablespoon of sugar or jam, 1 cup of lemonade, or 1/2 cup of sorbet at a time. Choose sweets that are low in fat, such as gelatin, hard candy, or maple syrup. Instead of high-fat desserts, try having fresh fruit over low-fat ice cream.

Get Enough Potassium

Potassium is another important part of the DASH diet. Getting enough of this mineral may help lower your blood pressure. It’s best to get potassium from food instead of supplements. Aim for 4,700 milligrams (mg) a day. Try these potassium-rich foods:

Potato: 926 mg

Sweet potato: 540 mg

Raw diets seem better than commercial dry foods for healthy dogs

I have been feeding my now 3-year-9-month old female Rottweiler dog raw diet (fish, pork, liver, chicken drumsticks, beef) for almost 2 years now since June 2013; she has been healthy with normal weight of 80 lb.
Recent news of Salmonella outbreak of more than 50 people being sickened across 9 states in the U.S. prompts me to revisit this question: Whether my healthy dog could have higher risk of being sickened by Salmonella because of eating raw meats? The following quoted article seems suggesting that raw diets are better than the commercial processed dog foods (including kibbles) for the healthy dogs because raw meats and bones are more natural for the dog’s digestion system. See the following quotes for the above notion. The article is on this web page http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/salmonella/

A brief quote from this article “Salmonella: The Bad Bacteria”, by Dogs Naturally Magazine in Featured Articles: March/April 2010 Issue, by: Kim Bloomer VND & Jeannie Thomason VND

Dogs, being opportunistic carnivores, designed to eat things we humans shudder at the thought of, have gastrointestinal tracts which are designed with many unique features that prevent pathogenic bacteria such as salmonella and e.coli from taking over their body and upsetting the healthy balance of intestinal flora.

A dog’s saliva has digestive enzymes that contain properties which neutralize bacteria and help prevent harmful pathogenic micro-organisms from migrating in significant numbers into the gut. Any remaining bacteria is then eliminated by strong hydrochloric acids designed, and specific to carnivores, to create just the right pH (1 to 2) for the inherent enzymes to kill any residual bacteria making their way into the gut.

When the pet’s immune system is healthy, the few bacteria that might survive the high acid content of the stomach will then pass into the small intestine which in a healthy animal contains the naturally occurring digestive enzymes, bicarbonate and bile salts which are deposited by the liver and pancreas.  These enzymes are designed to digest the cell walls of any harmful bacteria that may persist and the bile salts from the liver will digest fats (in their natural, raw state) and transport antimicrobial agents. The healthy digestive tract also secretes a potent enzyme called lysozyme which attacks bacterial cell walls. Any bacterium that may survive this arsenal will still need to adhere to the lining of the intestinal wall for illness to occur.
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When our dogs are fed foods which have been cooked and/or processed (as is the case with commercial pet foods), they are void of the live enzymes that are critical to proper digestion and health.  The dog’s body must then call on the enzyme reserves within itself to process this unnatural food thereby rapidly depleting these critical enzymes.  Despite the dog’s natural defenses against salmonella, only a small number of bacteria is required to create infection although, as previously stated, this number is directly related to the immune health of the dog.