Our Top 5 Choices For The Best Dog Bones To Keep Your Dog’s Teeth Busy And Healthy

You may be wondering what the best option is when it comes down to choosing something that can keep your pup happy in terms of chewing, boredom, and nutrients. dental hygiene, cleaning the built up tartar and plaque off of their teeth, while massaging their gums, and appease whatever urge they have to chew. This helps reduce bad breath, stress, and keeps them busy.

As for nutrients, dog bones are known to be high in calcium and rich in fat, thanks to the bone’s marrow. Plus, you can clear up behavioral problems, and even avoid damage to the home when you throw your dog a bone.

Best Dog Bones to Consider

When you start your search for the perfect dog bone, you want to keep a few things in mind. Make sure that you determine what kind of bone you want, whether that’s rawhide, a nylon bone, or something cooked with meat in them.

Rawhide is known to be a healthy choice, given the jam-packed nutrients in them. They include untanned hides of animals that bring flavors your dog will absolutely love. Nylabones are made with artificial materials, and are not digestible; their sole purpose is to hold ingredients such as meat, peanut butter, and other tasty alternatives, so your dog can enjoy a nutritious treat, while also getting the satisfaction of longevity in chewing.

It is crucial that you pay attention to if the bone is cooked or not, as cooked bones tend to be more brittle than uncooked rawhide, which can cause serious implications like stomach protrusions and ulcers, if stray bits of splinter make their way into your dog’s digestion system.

Make sure that whatever bone you choose is durable, and not too small for them to choke on. Keep in mind their diet, preferences of flavor, and what you’re trying to accomplish. Is your dog’s breath smelling bad? Do they chew everything in sight? Maybe they’re bored… Whatever the reason, you will want to account for all of these factors when choosing the best dog bone for your furry friend.

Butcher’s Block Bones 1”, Dog Delight Beef Bone Slices

Best for an afternoon snack, consider buying a package of Butcher’s Block Bones Doggie Delight beef bone slices. The center cut femur bones measure at 1” thick, and are best for dogs 18-pounds or under. Slowly roasted and smoked for a delicious blend of hickory smoked goodness, its tastiness isn’t the only benefit these bone slices offer.

The beef Doggie Delights help relieve boredom or stress, and give them something they can enjoy chewing on, guilt-free, while they unknowingly catch up on their dental hygiene. Chewing on these beefy hickory smoked treats allow them to remove tartar from their teeth, while also given the advantage of ingesting nutritious vitamins and minerals. It’s a win-win.

Pros:

• Hand selected from U.S human grade facility from USDA inspected beef
• Helps with dental hygiene
• Relieves boredom and keeps them busy
• Satisfies the need to chew
• Great source of vitamins and minerals
• Smoky and slow roasted for flavor
• All-natural hand trimmed chewing treat

Cons:

• For 18 lb and under
• Some owners say the pieces were too small for their dog
• Some customers reported their bones to splinter, but most customers have been satisfied

K9 Connoisseur Natural Marrow Bone Chew Treats

Avoid having a bone to pick with your dog, and keep them busy with K9 Connoisseur’s all natural, single-ingredient, beef flavored bone chews. Featuring natural marrow that was responsibly sourced from local grass-fed, free range cattle, born and raised in the USA.

Some dogs are naturally aggressive chewers, which can mean destruction. While it feels personal, we have to remember that when we leave our dogs during the day, whether it’s for work or to run an errand, dogs can feel anxious without their owner. This, mixed with an aggressive chewing problem, can lead to damage in the home when dogs begin to feel restless.

The long-lasting hickory smoked meaty bits will keep your pup occupied for hours on end, all the while, they receive nutritional benefits of protein, and a low-calorie treat that serves as a healthy alternative to cooked, processed artificial treats.

Pros:

• Offered in: 3, 6, and 12 pack
• Beef flavored
• Made with zero preservatives, no additives, no artificial flavors or colors, and non-irradiated
• Low-calorie, and contains 30% protein, along with no filler or grain
• Responsibly sourced
• Long-lasting and helps avoid aggressive, destructive chewing

Cons:

• Some customers reported the marrow to be gone quickly
• Not ideal for smaller breeds of dogs according to reviews
• Pricey

Cadet Peanut Butter Stuffed Shin Bone

If you are interested in treating your K9 to something delicious for being a good dog, turn to Cadet’s stuffed shin bones. Available in packs of one, two or three count, you can sufficiently promote healthy dental hygiene, keep your dog happy, and even curb aggressive chewing.

With the smaller bones ranging from 3-4”, and the larger measuring around 5-6”, the Cadet store offers regular stuffed, double stuffed, or junior stuffed shins, along with a rib option as well. Plus, you can choose from a wide variety of some tasty flavors, including peanut butter, bacon and cheese, cheese, chicken, beef hide, and beef.

If you find that all of the marrow is gone, simply fill the empty bones with their favorite treats to make them last even longer.

Pros:

• Assists with aggressive chewers
• Promotes dental healthy
• Refillable to last longer with their favorite treats
• Responsibly sourced, and minimally processed
• Undergo thorough inspection under the U.S. FDA guidelines for premium quality standards

Cons:

• None, this product has rave reviews and is affordable

Nylabone Healthy Bison Flavor Dog Chew Treats

Nylabone’s Natural Healthy Edibles keep your dog busy, for long-lasting chewing, keeping them occupied and stress free. Made with real bison, this highly digestible treat was made with natural ingredients, and does not include any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

Choose between a package of two medium bones, or a giant bone, and get value for your buck when you invest in one of these long-lasting, bison flavored dog chews that offer real, natural ingredients, along with pea protein.

Pros:

• Made in the U.S.A
• Easy to read ingredients so you know what your dog is eating
• Offers a sizing chart with weight for the optimal bone
• Pea protein and real bison

Cons:

• Customers reported that this is not a good option for aggressive chewers, as they don’t last as long as advertised

SmartBones Peanut Butter Dog Chew

The SmartBones peanut butter chews are made with natural vegetable and chicken, along with real peanut butter, meaning your dog is going to go crazy over these. Highly digestible, this is a dog bone that contains zero rawhide, so you can feel at ease.

Plus, as always, they serve as mentally enriching rewards that maintain healthy teeth and gums, and contain essential vitamins and minerals.

Pros:

• Available in 1, 4, and 96 count
• Offered in flavors: peanut butter, sweet potato, beef, chicken, bacon and cheese, chicken with no artificials, and gluten free chicken
• Highly digestible, and contains no rawhide

Cons:

• Not manufactured in the U.S.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of dog bones should I stay away from, or be weary of?

You definitely want to make sure that you are straying away from giving your dog small bones that they can easily swallow or choke on. Also, try to avoid bones that are cooked, as that causes the bones to become more brittle and splinter. Some people stay away from rawhide, as that can also cause stomach issues, so you want to always try and strive for uncooked bones, and maybe even consider refillable nylabones. This can help you avoid broken teeth, intestinal damage, and many other health risks.

What dog bones should I consider?

Nylabones tend to be a fantastic option for owners that are nervous to give their dog a bone. They usually are made from rubber or nylon, and act as toys, but also come in designs that are refillable, so you can insert your dog’s favorite treat to keep them occupied and happy.

Another option includes bully sticks. Bully sticks are completely digestible, and do not splinter, so you don’t have to worry about any digestive damage. Regardless of the bone you choose, make sure they are always uncooked, and for extra precaution, consult your veterinarian and take into account your pup’s needs prior to purchasing if you have some doubts.

Can I give my dog a bone if they have stomach issues?

We don’t want any pup to feel left out or short of a treat. If your dog has stomach issues, you definitely want to stay away from cooked bones and rawhide, but also consult with a veterinarian. The best option for your doggy would be a refillable nylabone; that way, they can get a delicious treat, and it spares you some worry. Make sure to monitor your dog if they are aggressive chewers, and be weary of any stray pieces they chew off, as that can pose as a choking hazard, or a digestive issue later on.

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