Fresh Deer bones - question

[JoiseyMom]

I will be getting some fresh deer bones for my dogs. I have googled and gotten conflicting info.

How to store, and give to my dogs. Some say don't freeze, some say boil, some say don't. What is the safest way for this treat for my dogs??

Thanks...

 

[Micca]

I'll give you a bump here and remark that of all the topics that get recycled here on a regular basis, I believe you may have posted a first!

 

[java]

Do you mean antlers? That's what we give our dogs. They last forever. Bones? Never heard of that one.

 

[Scott'sAuntJill]

I will be getting some fresh deer bones for my dogs.

So jealous! Our dogs are raw-fed and deer is one of the proteins I have the hardest time getting.

Do not cook the bones - cooking is what causes bones to splinter. You don't need to freeze them either, but you can if are getting a lot and want to store them.

My only concerns would be introducing such a rich treat (all the bone marrow) into your dog's diet and the type/size of the bone. If the bones are cut and you can remove some of the marrow, do this. It will help prevent/minimize any post-treat tummy upset. If you get ribs, neck bones, or other non-weight bearing bones, your dogs can consume the entire bone. If it is a heavier bone = think leg or knuckle, it's a recreational bone and you want to take it away and discard whatever is left once they've finished gnawing - left to air dry the bone becomes too brittle. Are you getting antlers? They are the best dog chews.

 

[JoiseyMom]

So jealous! Our dogs are raw-fed and deer is one of the proteins I have the hardest time getting.

Do not cook the bones - cooking is what causes bones to splinter. You don't need to freeze them either, but you can if are getting a lot and want to store them.

My only concerns would be introducing such a rich treat (all the bone marrow) into your dog's diet and the type/size of the bone. If the bones are cut and you can remove some of the marrow, do this. It will help prevent/minimize any post-treat tummy upset. If you get ribs, neck bones, or other non-weight bearing bones, your dogs can consume the entire bone. If it is a heavier bone = think leg or knuckle, it's a recreational bone and you want to take it away and discard whatever is left once they've finished gnawing - left to air dry the bone becomes too brittle. Are you getting antlers? They are the best dog chews.

Nope, not getting antlers. It was DS's first kill (he got a doe and a small buck). He is keeping those suckers. So we are getting bones, leg bones and he said ribs too. For all I know he could be bringing me all the bones. He is having the meat butchered as we speak.

Our older dogs were once on the BARF diet. So when DS started hunting, DH asked for the bones. Knowing my DS I am sure my pups will be getting deer bones every year.

How should I store them?? Just put them in the fridge?? Should I rinse them? I am clueless! Any advice would be great.

 

[Scott'sAuntJill]

How should I store them?? Just put them in the fridge?? Should I rinse them? I am clueless! Any advice would be great.

I don't see any reason to rinse them. If the deer is being butchered then everything should be pretty clean. It sounds like you might get a good supply of bones so you probably will want to freeze them for longer storage. I sometimes get beef neck bones and beef knuckle bones as recreational bones for our German Shepherds. I just bag them in storage bags and toss them in the dog-food freezer. I rarely ever defrost them before the dogs get them and they are happy as could be; I work from a home office and a knuckle bones have gotten me through many lengthy conference calls.

Are your dogs big? little? If they are smaller you might want to see about asking the butcher to cut the larger bones to a more appropriate size. I would just give the rib whole though to anything but the tiniest dog. If you are familiar with the BARF diet then this shouldn't seem too unfamiliar. Will your DS use the heart and liver? Can you get the hooves? Those are also a great chew toys.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I don't see any reason to rinse them. If the deer is being butchered then everything should be pretty clean. It sounds like you might get a good supply of bones so you probably will want to freeze them for longer storage. I sometimes get beef neck bones and beef knuckle bones as recreational bones for our German Shepherds. I just bag them in storage bags and toss them in the dog-food freezer. I rarely ever defrost them before the dogs get them and they are happy as could be; I work from a home office and a knuckle bones have gotten me through many lengthy conference calls.

Are your dogs big? little? If they are smaller you might want to see about asking the butcher to cut the larger bones to a more appropriate size. I would just give the rib whole though to anything but the tiniest dog. If you are familiar with the BARF diet then this shouldn't seem too unfamiliar. Will your DS use the heart and liver? Can you get the hooves? Those are also a great chew toys.

Ok, I now have a bag of deer bones (some ribs with meat, since DS's fil dropped them on the floor). It is so strange...the butcher and his friend both said to boil and freeze .

I didn't ask DS about the liver and heart or hooves. I also don't know whats in the bag. That is up to DH to look at. He was the one that fed our past dogs BARF. They will be eating these bones outside though!

The dogs are mid size, one is about 35 the other a bit bigger about 45 pounds tops. THey are going to have fun.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

If you boil them, they will splinter. It's not the bones that are the problem with dogs, it's the fact that they are cooked. It changes the consistency and causes them to splinter. No raw foods diet will call for cooked bones.

You need to watch them tho, because raw bones will get maggots eventually. So it's kind of a one chew, toss, thing. Freeze them raw.

 

[JoiseyMom]

If you boil them, they will splinter. It's not the bones that are the problem with dogs, it's the fact that they are cooked. It changes the consistency and causes them to splinter. No raw foods diet will call for cooked bones.

You need to watch them tho, because raw bones will get maggots eventually. So it's kind of a one chew, toss, thing. Freeze them raw.

I know...that is what we have been told with bones. But it is amazing what different advice is out there. DS was like, well so and so is a butcher and he always boils them. Now I have fed out pups store bought raw..but never freshly caught raw.

RIght now it is in the fridge. DH will wrap and freeze tonight. With my dogs I don't forsee the bones being around very long. Whenever we have given them "real" bones from the feed store they are devoured. They are going to be very happy campers .

 

[Molliday]

I'm sure a vet would cringe hearing the advice to boil!

With that said, I used to BARF my dog, and I would quickly sear her chicken to get her to eat it. I had to at first, just to make it more appetizing to her. She had no clue what to do with it. After awhile I didn't have to anymore.

I don't feed raw anymore (too much work, and too expensive with two big dogs), but I would kill for those antlers!

 

[ilovejack02]

Antlers ! I had no idea, hubby is a hunter so I will make sure he keeps them for our dogs if he isn't going to mount .. which he normally doesn't do because no way in hell is a deer head going on my wall. He knows if he wants that he has to buy me a new house with a man cave haha.

 

[Scott'sAuntJill]

They are going to be very happy campers .

How was the venison party?

 

[Molliday]

Antlers ! I had no idea, hubby is a hunter so I will make sure he keeps them for our dogs if he isn't going to mount .. which he normally doesn't do because no way in hell is a deer head going on my wall. He knows if he wants that he has to buy me a new house with a man cave haha.

They're pricey!

http://www.petexpertise.com/dog-toys/antler-chews.html?sef_rewrite=1&sef_rewrite=1

 

[denisem]

How was the venison party?

Heck, I want pictures of the venison party!

(ETA: first time we fed raw chicken necks to our bengal, he was a one-man band with his purring, growling & "nom-nom-nom's".)