5 Best Dog Bones in 2021

It is an established fact that dogs love to chew. They need constant stimulation, whether by playing with you, playing with toys, or playing outside. If your dog has ever chewed up a favorite pair of shoes, you’ll know the benefits of having a good dog bone. If you don’t have time to play with your dog, then a good dog bone can keep them occupied and stimulate them mentally.

A good dog bone will ensure that your dog is occupied, healthy, happy, and distracted from chewing on your belongings. These dog bones also help your dog exercise their jaws while keeping their teeth healthy and clean in a safe way; it’ll also reduce, if not totally, get rid of canine boredom.

However, not every dog bone is well made, which can make it difficult to choose. There are different types of bones available on the market, and it could be difficult finding the safest and best bone for your pet. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for an elk antler, classic dog biscuit, or a plastic bone; there is definitely a good dog bone available for you.

You might be wondering if you should go for a synthetic or natural bone and why it matters which one you choose. That is why we have provided you with a buying guide that will answer all your questions and help you choose the right bone for your dog.

BEST DOG BONE BUYING GUIDE

Selecting the right dog bone can be quite confusing as there are some factors that have to be considered before choosing a bone for your dog. Even though we have created a list of the best dog bones available on the market, you need to know what to consider before choosing a bone; that is why we have provided you with this buying guide.

BENEFITS OF CHEWING A DOG BONE

Dog bones come with different benefits for your dog, but the benefits tend to vary from bone to bone, whether synthetic or natural. The main differences in these bones are their nutrient content; some synthetic bones are fortified with nutrients that may not be found in natural bones. These substances can either be beneficial to your dog or cause them harm. Nevertheless, dog bones, regardless of the type, can provide your dog with the following benefits.

Promotes Better Dental Health

No matter your choice of bone, chewing can help your dog clean its teeth and gums, leading to a healthy oral cavity. However, that doesn’t mean chewing on bines overshadows a dog toothbrush and toothpaste, but the mechanical action of the teeth scraping and rubbing against the bone helps to get rid of debris and any large food particles left on the gum and teeth of your dog. There are dog bones that come with specialized ribs that act as brush bristles that remove stubborn particles. It helps to prevent gum diseases, tooth decay and also promotes optimum dental health.

Stimulation To Improve Canine Cognitive Development

Dog bones are a great way to keep your dog stimulated. If you give your dog a natural bone that still has the meat attached, your dog will have to work to get the different tendons and ligaments off the bone. It will feel like solving a puzzle that will keep them engaged and active. The same also goes for synthetic bones; when your dog bites and chews them, they can smell, taste, and feel what they are working on. Because they are using their sensory organs, they are technically working on their sensory perception. Dog bones also provide your dog with something to keep them occupied while you’re away or too busy to play.

Provides A Non-Destructive Means For Chewing

It is well known that dogs love to chew; it’s in their genes. If you don’t provide them with bones or chew toys, then they would turn their attention to your things. They’ll chew your shoes, carpet, furniture, bedding, and anything they can get their teeth on. There are instances of people coming home to find their house turned upside down because their dog decided to go on a chewing rampage; providing your dog with something to chew on will keep your house in one piece and also ensure that they do not get bored and start looking for what to chew on.

Nutrients

Raw or natural bones can be beneficial to your dog’s diet. These types of bones have a lot of nutrients and minerals that will be beneficial to your dog’s health. These nutrients include calcium, phosphorous, and protein. Bines that come with marrow have extra nutrients. Your dog will love the taste of the natural bone as it mimics what they would normally consume in the wild.

Alleviates And Sometimes Eliminates Canine Boredom And Behavioural Issues

We know that chewing bones can aid cognitive development in dogs. However, it also helps to reduce canine boredom and behavioral issues. Giving your dog bones to chew on keeps it busy; it will keep focusing on the bone in its mouth, thereby reducing behavioral issues and also boredom.

TYPES OF DOG BONES

There are various types of dog bones available on the market, and they come with different benefits. You will have to decide which one will best serve your dog’s needs.

Raw Dog Bones

Raw dog bones reflect the meals dogs used to have when they were still living in the wild. These bones usually come with ligaments and tendons still attached to them, so your dog has to work to get them off. These bones contain many nutrients for your dog and keep your dog mentally stimulated as they work hard to get the meat off the bone. It is best if you give your dog raw natural bones instead of cooked natural bones. Cooking bones dry out the moisture, which makes them more brittle and prone to splintering. The raw bones are softer and have a lesser chance of causing a splinter in your dog’s mouth, which could be dangerous. The raw bones contain more nutrients than the cooked bones.

Natural Bones

If you worry about germs in raw dog bones and if they can contaminate your dog, then you can go for natural dog bones. Good quality natural dog bones have gone through slow cooking and slight roasting, which helps sterilize them. But you should know that this can reduce the bones’ nutrient content and make them prone to splintering, which isn’t safe.

RawHide Dog Bones

These types of bones are actually not bones; they are made from other parts of the animal. They are mostly made from the hide or inner layer of cattle or horse skin, so they are still considered a meat product. But, they lack nutrients and flavor, so ensure that the rawhide bone you get is enhanced with a natural flavor and a good amount of nutrients. If you go for this type of bone, ensure that it is made out of all-natural ingredients.

Dental Dog Bones

If you would like to keep your dog’s gums and teeth healthy, then you should go for a dental bone. They help keep your dogs breath fresh and scrub their teeth for any food particles; in general, they help improve the health of your dog’s oral cavity. They also help to prevent tooth decay and gum diseases; sometimes, they help to soothe and massage inflamed gums.

Synthetic Dog Bones

These types of bones do not contain any type of meat. The most common type is made out of nylon. They are extremely durable and suitable for power chewers. They mimic the taste and feel of real bones, but they are safer while providing your dog with something to chew on. They don’t leave residue behind when your dog is chewing on them, so they are easier to clean up.

Healthy Chews

If your dog doesn’t eat its regular food properly, you should consider getting them a healthy chew, since they do not get enough nutrients from its diet. Healthy chews are fortified with nutrients, and they provide your dog with a fun way to get the nutrients they need.

Chew Toys

Chew toys are majorly made for dogs that love to chew any and everything. These toys are made to be durable and will withstand heavy chewing from the biggest of dogs with a powerful chew. The chew toys last longer than normal bones, and they are less likely to break, which makes them a safer option. They are made to be difficult to splinter or break apart.

WHICH IS MOST SUITABLE FOR MY DOG – NATURAL OR SYNTHETIC DOG BONES

The type of bones you choose for your dog depends on your preference. If you want a bone that is similar to what dogs have in the wild, then the natural bones are for you. But if you worry about germs and the safety of natural bones, then you can go for the synthetic option. We have listed the type of bones for you and their benefits, so you can go ahead and choose the one you want.

Natural bones can replicate your dog’s ancestors’ diet and provide them with more nutrients from the tendons and ligaments that will be attached to the bone. It also provides them with something to do by working on getting all the meat off the bone. This work also keeps them stimulated. Even though some synthetic bones are enriched with nutrients, the ingredients used are very different from the natural composition of nutrients in natural bones.

If you’re worried about contamination and bone splintering, then synthetic bones will be best for your dog. Your dog can chew the bone without getting hurt, and it leaves a lot less debris when it is done. But they do not have the same nutritional value as natural bones. They also contain preservatives, artificial colors, gluten and flavors, and other chemicals that might be harmful to your dog. Ensure you check the packaging of the dog bone to make sure it’s healthy enough for your dog.

Choosing between natural and synthetic dog bones relies on your understanding of the pros and cons both have and which one you think would benefit your dog the most. No matter the bone you go for, it is vital that your dog has something to chew on as it greatly affects their overall health.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING DOG BONES

In order to buy a good dog bone, there are factors you need to consider. These factors include;

Durability

The first factor you need to consider is the durability of the dog bone. As we mentioned before, dogs love to chew, and the bone will be useless if it breaks easily. The durability of the bone matters a lot, especially if your dog is a power chewer or has a large jaw. Synthetic bones tend to break less than natural bones. But if you would prefer a natural bone, then it would be best to go for a raw natural bone because they splinter less; splinters can cause harm to your dog if it’s swallowed. You should go for bones from strong animals like cows or horses.

Size Of Your Dog

The size of the bone that you choose should relate directly to your dog’s size. If your dog is small or a puppy, you’ll have to go for a smaller bone because of their small mouths. In the same way, if you have a big dog, you should go for a larger bone. If you get a small bone for a large dog, then there is the risk of swallowing, so it is best to go for a larger bone if you’re unsure of the size.

Flavor

Synthetic bines are often enhanced with flavor to entice your dog as they are mostly flavorless. They come in different flavors that your dog may like, such as chicken, bacon, and beef. This ensures that your dog stays interested in bone and keeps chewing on it instead of your furniture. However, you have to make sure the flavorings are natural and not artificial to ensure they are healthy enough for your dog.

Nutrition

As we have mentioned before, natural bones have more nutrients than synthetic bones mostly because they are gotten from animal parts. Bones that still have marrow in them are exceptionally nutritious because that is the part of the bone that contains most of the nutritional ingredients.

Ingredients

You have to make sure that the bone you purchase is made out of natural ingredients, especially if you’re going for a synthetic bone. Doing this will ensure your dog is not exposed to any artificial ingredient that could be harmful to their health.

CAN I GIVE MY DOG ANY DOG BONE?

Raw bones are the safest to feed your dog because they are filled with moisture, making them softer and less prone to breaking. Yes, they will eventually break, but because they are dense with cartilage, the splinter they make will be softer and have rounded edges.

However, cooked bones are brittle due to the heat used in the cooking process. The heat takes away the moisture, so the splinter it produces is harder and sharper than that of raw bones.

If you would like to give your raw dog bones, it is important that you supervise the dog while it’s playing with the bone. At the first sign of breaking, you can remove the bone, and if signs of choking are seen, you can start your safety measures immediately.

It might tempt you to give your dog leftover chicken or turkey bones, but veterinarians advise against it. Cooked bones tend to splinter easily, which forms sharp points that could injure your dog. Most commercial dog bones are made from raw bones which can withstand the torture from your dog’s teeth.

Providing your dog with dog bones takes care of their innate need to chew; it also helps keep their teeth and gums healthy, stimulates them mentally, and helps prevent behavioral problems. That is why it is vital that you choose the right bone for them.

CALORIES IN DOG BONES

As a pet owner, one of the most important things you have to do is help your pet maintain a healthy weight. Some types of dog bones have high amounts of calories in them, so you might have to consider your dog’s dietary needs before getting a dog bone.

Veterinarians recommend that snacks and treats should make up about 10 percent of your dog’s diet. If you’re looking for a dog bone that could serve as regular entertainment for your dog, then you need to choose one with low calories, especially if it still has meat on it or is filled with marrow. Options that contain low calories include synthetic bones.

DO I NEED TO CLEAN MY DOG BONES?

If you go for a synthetic dog bone, you’ll have to clean it regularly to prevent any form of bacteria build-up. These types of bones are easy to clean with hot and soapy water. If your dog’s synthetic bone has started to come apart, then you need to replace the bone.

However, real bones are harder to clean, but they can build-up unhealthy bacteria. A lot of commercial bones have been sterilized before being packaged, but after your dog has had the bone for hours, they can cause bacteria build-up, which is unhealthy. For real bones, you’ll have to refrigerate them between chewing sessions and ensure you replace them frequently.

DO DOG BONES LAST LONG?

The main reason for getting dog bones is to keep your dog busy, so you have to go for a dog bone that lasts long. You have to consider what kind of chewer your dog is, how strong their jaw is and what the bone is made of. The hardest options are usually real bones and plastic bones. They allow your dog to chew for longer; if your dog isn’t a serious chewer, then it’ll be best if you go for a softer bone that won’t cause harm to its teeth but still keeps it busy.

Shopping for the perfect bone can be hard because of the different types of dog bones available on the market, but don’t worry; we are here to help you. We have compiled a list of the best dog bones out there, so you simply have to go through the list and choose the one that best meets your requirements. Let’s take a look at the list.

We have provided a detailed review for every product on the list, comparing their specifications, key features, and other important factors.