What’s the best way to store my bones?
Store them in the freezer and thaw one at a time before feeding, or give frozen for a chilled treat. For best quality, use within 8 months of purchase.
What size should I choose?
To prevent choking, bones should ideally be larger than your dog’s mouth. Other than that, go by your dog’s personality! Lots of big dogs like the challenge of getting all the marrow out of a medium bone, and we’ve seen little dogs go to town on a knuckle!
Are they messy?
Because there is meat, marrow, cartilage and other organic material, we recommend feeding bones outdoors, in your dog’s crate, or on a towel or other surface you can clean, or outside as long as you can supervise him. Fresh raw bones can become a gooey, greasy mess until your dog has gnawed them clean, so make sure to protect your flooring and furniture.
Are fresh bones safe for all dogs?
– Don’t give them to a dog that has had restorative dental work/crowns.
– Don’t give them to your dog if she has a predisposition to pancreatitis. Raw bone marrow is very rich and can cause diarrhea and a flare-up of pancreatitis. Instead, you can feed a “low fat” version by thawing the bone and scooping out the marrow to reduce the fat content, or contact us to source other treats that fit their needs.
What kind of bones are these?
We sell only locally sourced Angus beef bones from grass-fed, free range, chemical and rBGH free USDA inspected cattle. No steroids or antibiotics, no flavorings, no basting, no chemical preservatives or processing agents. Bones are smoked just long enough to kill bacteria and dry up the majority of the blood, without drying out the organic material or making the bone brittle.
How are bones packaged?
For maximum freshness, bones are individually vacuum sealed. For reduced plastic, you may opt for bulk packaging in silicone freezer bags for all but femur bones. Silicone bags are yours to keep. For local delivery, bags are packed with ice packs in insulated bags; a $5 refundable deposit will be charged at checkout and a $5 credit will be issued if a bag is returned at a future delivery.
What should I do with bones once the meat and marrow are gone?
Dogs will enjoy gnawing bones once they’ve “cleaned” them. We sometimes wash and refill old bones with wet food or other treats, and freeze again for a long lasting chew. Take away any bone that’s cracked or small enough to be a choking hazard.
What else should I know?
Supervise your dog closely while he’s working on a bone. That way you can react immediately if your pup happens to choke, or if you notice any blood on the bone or around your dog’s mouth from over aggressive gnawing. Do not allow your dog to chew a bone down to a small chunk he can swallow.