Why Daisy and Her Buddies, Potato and Sammi, Recommend Raw Marrow Bones For Your Pup!

Have you ever spent your well-earned money on expensive chewable treats such as rawhide, pig ears, bully sticks, etc, only to find that they did not last as long as you hoped? Or have you found that your dog had absolutely no interest in your chew treat choices at all? If you answered "yes" to both of my questions then my advice is to purchase raw marrow bones (please do not cook them) in your grocer's freezer (some butchers will personally cut them to size and quantity) and I promise that your dog will be entertained for hours or days at a time!

 

Because I knew that my coon hound, Daisy, and her Teacher's Pet Sitting Service pals,

 

Potato and

Sammi could use some extra entertainment I spent ONLY $6 on these bones which equaled three days of serious teeth cleaning! Now that's what I call a bargain!

Before purchasing marrow bones please bear the following in mind:

* Since these bones are initially very messy I advise that your dog chew them on flooring that can be washed easily.

* The size of the bones shouldn't be any smaller than the ones I've presented to you or else they could easily lodge on their jaw. 

* Bones should be larger than the length of the muzzle so it is impossible to swallow whole.

* It is best to monitor your dog while he chews and to keep the chewing to 15 to 30 minutes at a time and then rinse the bone in cold water and then store it in the freezer. Toss the bone out after 3-4 days.

If you have a success story about marrow bones I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below! 

Reasons Why Your Dog Should Adopt a Raw Diet

  

If I ever saw my dog, Daisy, carrying her prey like this wolf is doing I would be horrified but I would have to remind myself that Daisy is a natural-born carnivore, after all. She needs meat and raw meaty bones just like her cousin's (the wolves) do. She needs to gain energy from fat rather than from carbohydrates like her humans do. 

 A dog’s digestive system is designed in a way that facilitates the digestion of meat, bones and fat, while also eliminating harmful bacteria. 

Many owners believe it is important to purchase dog food containing vegetables and grains but this is a recipe for gas, stomach upset, and excessive waste. 

  

When I came to the startling realization that a dog’s digestive system is the same as a wolf’s I felt better about Daisy's affinity for raw meaty bones and raw food. 

Even though Daisy has been bred to look and behave differently from wolves, they still digest food the same way as their cousins. Wolves and dogs are natural hunters and they will not stop to boil or bake their prey; instead they rip and tear meat from fresh kill -- their teeth were created to work that way. Heart, lung, liver, and other internal organs are eaten. Bones are crushed to get at the marrow, and bone fragments are eaten as well. 

They use their neck and shoulder muscles as well as their teeth and jaws when they eat raw meaty bones. It’s a great workout, keeps them strong, and adds to their overall health.

Many dog owners fail to give their dog a raw bone (not cooked, ever!) because they fear their dog could choke on them and there certainly is a possibility if we fail to monitor them. However, it is next to impossible for a dog to choke on a bone because dogs have strong digestive enzymes made for the purpose of chewing on raw bones. Canines have teeth made for ripping raw meat and jaws made for crunching raw bones.

 
One very important thing to note about raw bones is that they must be raw and definitely not cooked because a cooked bone will get soft and splintery and will be dangerous if swallowed. Remember, the dogs digestive system is the same as the wolves and they are made to eat in the raw!

Daisy's Surprise Treatment Plan for Arthritis

If you've been reading my blog for the past five years you may recall that my dog, Daisy, was hit by a car causing her back left hip to become displaced and then surgery soon followed. 

While at the vet's office recently I failed to remember (selective hearing?) the surgeon predict that Daisy would eventually be diagnosed with arthritis in either her left hip or knee due to the trauma that she endured from the accident and unfortunately he was right. She now needs to take dasuquin to lubricate her knee (Thank goodness she doesn't have arthritis in her hip as well!) and keep her joints supple. 

As you can see from the picture above, Daisy was not thrilled to get this news but I told her she'll soon be able to climb stairs in comfort if she follows doctor's orders!

Since I am very thrifty I was thrilled to learn that the human version of dasquin (glucosamine) was not only cost effective but also safe for Daisy! However, I soon learned that saving money caused Daisy to have an upset stomach and lots of flatulence! 

Because I've given this supplement to many Teacher's Pet Sitting Service clients over the years it was second nature to compare prices on Chewy com at $80 vs. Drs Foster and Smith at $50! Now that's quite a savings!

As many of you know, Daisy thrives on taking long walks with clients and with me so I'm hoping the veterinarian is correct in that she will be able to walk comfortably soon! 

What advice do you have for prices and products to help Daisy (and my clients included) combat arthritis? Please comment below! Thank you!