Procedures for Filled Bone Pet Treats

There are many dog treats, but filled bones are often a favorite for dogs. They not only get to chew on the bone, an exercise that can last awhile, but also get to eat the tasty filling inside. However, there are certain procedures that should be followed when giving your dog these treats.

  1. Specific Times

    • Any treats are meant to be given to your dog only on special occasions. Give your dog a filled bone after he has done something good or as a disciplinary reward after he has completed a certain amount of training. Limiting these treats is important, so the dog is psychologically satisfied whenever they are awarded a filled bone. Therefore, give them only one at a time and wait until they earn the next one.

      These treats also take awhile for the dog to chew through, so giving them a filled bone when you will be leaving the house or apartment for an extended period of time will keep them occupied and not feeling lonely while you are away.

    What's Inside

    • It's important to look at what the filling is and whether it is healthy for your animal. Many store-bought dog treats are filled with processed meats, which can be fatty and unhealthy. Marrow from real bones is mostly fat, but it has some nutritional value. Your dog will usually enjoy either type immensely, but the natural bones are generally healthier.

      Some bones are filled with things not naturally found inside a bone, such as peanut butter. This is fine, as long as the ingredients are natural and not overly processed foods that are not healthy for a dog.

    Dangers of Bones

    • While chicken bones are widely known to be dangerous for dogs because they are brittle and can splinter in the dog's digestive track, almost all bones can be dangerous. It's best to give dogs beef or lamb bones that are stronger and will not shatter when chewed on vigorously.

      Once your dog has been chewing on a bone for a while, it is a good idea to take the bone away and give him a fresh one. That way there is less risk that bacteria is growing on the bone or bone shards are swallowed.