Dogs and bones tend to be inseparable ”friends”. Dogs love bones but on the other hand, you must have heard that bones can be quite dangerous for dogs. This contradictory information can be rather confusing.
Belgian Malinois can eat bones but the consumption should always be supervised. Raw bones are the best choice. Cooked bones should be avoided as there is a risk of broken teeth, mouth /tongue injuries, rectal bleeding… Pork bones and ribs should also be avoided, it is better to offer raw chicken, lamb, or beef bones.
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Which Bones Are Safe For Belgian Malinois?
Edible bones like raw chicken, beef, lamb, or turkey bones are pretty safe for your Belgian Malinois. Edible bones are softer than Recreational bones, hollow and covered with some soft tissue.
Make sure the bone you feed your pet has some soft tissues on it. The purpose of bone feeding is to gnaw off soft tissues like marrow or tendon.
Bones with marrow are high in fat. Bear that in mind if you have Malinois on a low-fat diet. Too much fat can lead to pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening condition.
If we talk about raw chicken or turkey bones you should know that not all bones are safe for consumption. Feet, necks, backs, and wingtips are rather safe.
Chicken bones are more suitable for small to medium size dogs while turkey bones are better for medium to large breeds. Since Belgian Malinois is medium size dogs, they can enjoy both!
No matter raw bones are safer than cooked, still there is a choking risk. Raw bones shouldn’t be given to Belgian Malinois puppies until they are at least 3 months old.
One of the benefits of feeding a dog with a bone is calcium intake. Poultry bones have the highest level of calcium of all edible bones. For a healthy dog’s bones, the balance of calcium and phosphorus is important.
Raw bones are very high in calcium and phosphorus while the meat is high in phosphorus but not so rich in calcium. For a healthy Malinois, you have to combine both – meat and bones.
Of course, raw bones and meat carry some risk of bacterial contamination. This risk can be reduced to a minimum with proper handling.
Don’t forget to refreeze or refrigerate the bones that still have some soft tissue on them if you plan to give them to your Mal again.
Recreational bones are much harder than edible bones. These are big hip or femur bones, knuckles, kneecaps or necks, from moose, deer, or bison.
While they can be a perfect jaw exercise or great fun for your Malinois, these bones are not meant to be eaten. They are too hard so they can only serve for gnawing.
But if your Mal has a habit of swallowing big pieces of bones, then recreational bones are not the best option for him.
Don’t forget that recreational bones do have some nutritional value but since the dog is not eating the actual bone, he doesn’t take all these nutrients.
If you decide to give such a bone to your Mal, don’t forget to treat him with edible bone as well.
When it comes to the size, recreational bones should be the size as your Mal’s head, that is a general rule of thumb.
Which Bones Are Not Safe For Belgian Malinois?
Cooked or smoked bones are not recommended food for your dog. There are a number of risks associated with them so it is better to skip them entirely.
The only cooked recreational bones you can serve to your Mal are knuckles and kneecaps. These bones have a round shape, which makes them more difficult to swallow.
Also, they have some really tasty bites like cartilage or other soft tissue which will keep you Mal entertained and happy.
Another bone you should skip is weight-bearing bones or chicken legs, even if they are raw. They are not recommended because they can easily splinter.
Splintered bone parts can be very sharp and cause great damage to your Mal’s throat, stomach and intestines.
Pork bones, no matter raw or cooked are not recommended for dogs according to AKC article – Can dogs eat bones . They can easily splinter and crack while your Mal chews on them.
If he swallows even a small bone fragment, that could cause choking, esophagus, or intestine injuries as well as intestinal blockage.
Avoid fish bones completely. These bones are so small, fragile but extremely dangerous.
What Should I Do If My Belgian Malinois Ate A Beef Bone?
If you Mal picked the steak bone from your table or ingested the bone you gave him to gnaw on, you are facing rather a serious situation.
The first thing you need to do is to stay calm.
Take your dog and put him in the crate or isolate him in some room and make sure you collect any bones you run into. The point is to prevent your dog from taking some bone again.
The next thing you should do is to call your vet for advice. You will need to say the age and size of a dog, a breed, and to give more information on the bone he ate.
Follow the instructions given by the vet. Most probably the vet will advise you to feed your dog with bread or pumpkin. This kind of food will ensure that bone fragments get absorbed which would prevent internal injuries.
Never try to make your Mal vomit. This is very wrong, as the bones could make great damage on their way back. It is better to wait for the bone pieces to come out naturally.
Monitor your Mal’s behavior closely for 24-48 h. If you notice that he is lethargic, has bloody diarrhea, or has difficulties passing stools, you should rush to the vet.
In case your Mal ingested the whole bone or you see that your dog is choking on a piece of bone, consider this as an emergency and go to the vet immediately.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Raw Bones in Belgian Malinois Diet?
We have already mentioned the calcium and phosphorus intake is one of the greatest benefits of bone feeding. But that’s not all.
According to PetMed source, Mr. Robert Mueller ( vice president of BARF, ) says that bones provide benefits similar to fibers. That means feeding bones can help with scooting for example.
If your Mal has impacted anal sacs, he scoots on a carpet. If he consumes raw bones, his stool starts to harden which helps to clean anal sacs.
Chewing recreational bones promotes stronger teeth. Chewing bones also create a lot of salivae, which again keeps the teeth clean.
We shouldn’t forget the mental benefits as well. Chewing helps your Mal to fill the spare time during the day but also keeps him happy, as dogs really enjoy chewing on bones.
When Should I Give Bones To My Belgian Malinois Puppy?
You should start introducing raw bones in your Mal’s diet once he is around 12 weeks old. At the time, the permanent teeth start to grow and grow rapidly ( approximately at the age of 4-6 months).
It is important to give your Mal puppy some nice, meaty bone to chew on, as chewing in that period can alleviate ”teething” issues and pain as well as keep teeth and gums healthy.
Always give your puppy a raw bone, never a cooked one. The best options are raw lamb ribs and flaps as well as chicken wings. Don’t exaggerate with raw bones though, too much of them can cause constipation. One raw bone per week is acceptable.
Make sure the bone you offer is large enough so your Mal puppy cannot swallow it. Avoid large marrow bones, T-bones, chop bones ( like lamb chops) large knucklebones as your puppy may hurt his teeth on these bones.
Don’t forget always to supervise your Malinois while he is chewing on a bone.
Related question:
Belgian Malinois Bones consumption – Safety Guidelines
- Always supervise your Mal while he is chewing on a bone
- Don’t give a bone to your Mal if he had some teeth/gum issues
- If your Mal should be on a low-fat diet, avoid giving him marrow bones ( marrow is high in fat)
- Let your dog chew on the bone for 5-15 min only. This will reduce the chance of injury.
- Refrigerate the bone after your Mal has done with it. This will cut the chance of bacterial growth and contamination. If the bones remain in the fridge for 3-4 days, throw them away, don’t give them to your dog again.
- If your Malinois ate all soft tissues from the bone, throw it away, don’t offer it again to your dog.
- If your Mal eats fast, swallowing the food quickly rather than chewing, the bone can pose a great risk.
- Offer the bone after the meal. If your Mal is full, the chance of eating the bone quickly and injure himself is very slim.
- Always be aware of the bone size, you should offer the bone that is longer than the length of your Mal’s muzzle.
