I first learned about raw meaty bones for dogs back in 2014. That was when my kibble-fed Boxer mix Missy was being treated for thyroid cancer and I was doing research on raw dog food.
Fast forward 5+ years and by now I’ve fed a ton of different raw meaty bones. Everything from chicken feet to rabbit heads and duck frames.
I’ve also published 3 raw dog food ebooks and got my raw dog food nutrition specialist certification from Dogs Naturally Magazine.
That said, I know a thing or two about raw meaty bones for dogs! 🦃
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Raw Meaty Bones Diet For Dogs: 10% Of Raw Dog Food
Raw dog food consists of 70-80% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bones, and 10% secreting organs (5% liver, 5% other secreting organ).
If you want to add veggies to your dog’s raw diet, feed 70% muscle meat and 10% veggies.
Raw meaty bones can and will be eaten entirely, which is normal and nothing to worry about. A dog’s stomach is much more acidic than our human’s. Therefore, it’s designed to break down raw cuts of meat including raw meaty bones.
Although raw meaty bones only make up 10% of the overall raw diet, they’re an integral part of it. That’s because they’re rich in calcium, phosphorus and trace minerals. Those are essential to a dog’s skeletal health. Without the bone content, a raw diet would be nutritiously incomplete and considered unbalanced.
Never Feed Your Dog Cooked Bones
I have to stress the importance of never feeding your dog cooked bones!
They should NEVER be fed because the cooking process changes their structure and makes them brittle. That said, they can splinter and cause choking as well as lots of internal damage to a dog’s body.
Raw meaty bones on the other hand are soft and pliable.
The only time where you can cook bones for your dog is when you’re making homemade bone broth.
Best Raw Meaty Bones For Dogs
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The best raw meaty bones for dogs are poultry legs, feet, necks, wings, frames and heads as well as rabbit chunks and heads. It’s important to always feed your dog the appropriate size raw meaty bone.
That said, raw meaty bones should always be larger than a dog’s mouth. That’s especially important when your dog is a gulper to ensure that the bone gets chewed and not just swallowed whole.
For example, don’t give your gulping Great Dane a duck head, and don’t give your gulping Boxer a chicken wing.
Raw Meaty Bones That Are Safe To Feed Small Dogs
Small dogs should be fed smaller raw meaty bones that are appropriate in size to their mouths.
They can be fed chicken wings/necks/feet, duck feet/necks, and very small beef oxtails.
Grind Your Dog’s Raw Meaty Bones If They Have Trouble Chewing Due To Age Or Poor Dental Health
Dogs suffering from tooth decay or those that might have had the majority of their teeth pulled should not be offered raw meaty bones for obvious reasons – they can’t chew them.
But that doesn’t mean that those dogs have to miss out on the health benefits of bone content. You can buy a meat/bone grinder and grind your own bones and then add them to your pup’s raw diet.
If no teeth are left you’ll have to grind the entirety of the meal, to include the muscle meat and organs.
Another option is to buy pre-made raw meals from companies such as Darwin’s Natural Pet, Raw Paws Pet Food, and Raw Feeding Miami.
They offer raw, balanced meals that have been put together following the 80/10/5/5 raw feeding formula and that have been completely ground. Some brands like Darwin’s add veggies and fruit to their formulas.
Be aware that those meals are more expensive than purchasing the individual components of the raw diet and putting them together yourself. You’re paying for the convenience factor!
That said, every now and then I buy pre-made raw as well, but usually only when I can get a good deal on it. That’s why I recommend browsing Raw Feeding Miami’s Monthly Specials section and Raw Paws Pet Food Sales section on a regular basis.
Raw Meaty Bones I Feed My Dogs
My former Boxer mixes Missy (50 lb) and Buzz (75 lb) ate duck frames/heads/necks/wings & feet, turkey wings & necks, as well as chicken leg quarters and feet. They also had the occasional rabbit head, stuffed quail, and beef oxtail.
Missy eating a duck frame
Raw Feeding Miami carries quails stuffed with beef green tripe. A 2 pack of those is $12.25. Each quail weighs just under 1 lb. They also carry whole quails that aren’t stuffed. A 4 pack of those is $14.
My current pup Wally is a 38 lb Feist mix and eats duck heads/necks/wings & feet, turkey wings and necks, as well as chunked rabbit. The only raw meaty bone he won’t eat are rabbit heads. Bummer!
Wally eating a raw duck head
There are a few raw meaty bones I don’t feed him like a) duck frames (they’re a bit too large for him), b) quails and c) any raw meaty chicken bones. The reason why he can’t have quails and chicken is because he’s allergic to both.
Don’t Feed Your Dog Weight Bearing Bones From Large Hooved Animals
I don’t feed weight bearing bones from large hooved grazing animals such as beef and bison (knuckle and femur bones). Neither should you! They should be avoided because of their density, which can fracture teeth.
It makes sense when you think about it – they have to hold up hundreds of pounds of animal weight after all! In comparison, poultry bones are considerably less dense because they only hold up a few pounds of animal.
I also don’t feed deer legs, but I do let Wally rip the meat off of them. I can do this because he’s OK with leaving the bone alone and he accepts me taking it away when he’s done with the meat. It’s important to know your dog’s chewing habits!
Don’t Feed Your Dog Smoked Beef Bones
Also don’t feed your dog smoked beef bones! I made the huge mistake of offering Buzz a large, smoked beef bone from the grocery store for Christmas back in 2014. This was before I started feeding raw dog food and assumed that all recreational bones for dogs were safe.
I couldn’t have been more wrong as it resulted in Buzz fracturing a molar that had to be removed in its entirety. It was a painful and expensive experience I don’t wish on anyone else.
Where To Get Raw Meaty Bones For Dogs
You can get raw meaty bones from dog food retailers like Raw Feeding Miami, Raw Paws Pet Food, and My Pet Carnivore. You can also find some at your local grocery store, Walmart, or farm.
Raw Feeding Miami
Raw Feeding Miami sells these raw meaty bones:
- Chicken: Feet, leg quarters, necks, and rib cages
- Duck: Chunked duck, feet, frames, heads, necks, wings
- Goose: Chunked goose, heads, necks, and wings
- Pork: Tails
- Quail: Stuffed quails and whole quails
- Rabbit: Chunked rabbit, ground rabbit bones, whole bones, and heads
- Turkey: Ground turkey necks and whole turkey necks
- Pheasant: Chunked pheasant
- Wild boar: Baby back ribs
Raw Paws Pet Food
Raw Paws Pet Food sells these raw meaty bones:
- Chicken: Necks, feet, wings, leg quarters, and backs
- Duck: Necks and frames
- Turkey: Necks and tails
Tip: Save 10% off your orders from Raw Feeding Miami with my referral link, and 15% off your orders from Raw Paws Pet Food with my discount code K9Savings.
My Pet Carnivore
My Pet Carnivore sells these raw meaty bones:
- Beaver: Ground whole beaver
- Chicken: Coarse and fine ground whole chicken, feet and necks
- Duck: Coarse and fine ground whole duck, feet and necks
- Goat: Coarse ground whole goat, chunks and tails
- Lamb & Mutton: Coarse ground whole mutton, mutton chunks, ground lamb supreme (only about 5% bone content from ribs), lamb breast ribs
- Muskrat: Ground whole muskrat
- Pork: Coarse and fine ground whole pork and chunks
- Rabbit: Coarse and fine ground whole rabbit and feet
- Turkey: Coarse and fine ground whole turkey and necks
Grocery Stores & Walmart
It’ll depend a little on what your particular grocery stores and Walmart carry, but I’ve been able to find the following at my local ones:
- Grocery stores: Chicken leg quarters, wings, and turkey necks
- Walmart: Chicken feet, wings, leg quarters, and turkey necks
Farms
Local farms can be particular great for finding bone-in rabbit cuts. I don’t know of any local rabbit farms near me, but I found one in TN who sells online (including on Ebay) and ships nationwide:
J & A Farms carry a wide variety of rabbit – coarse & fine ground, with and without fur, as well as whole prey.
Benefits Of Eating Raw Meaty Bones For Dogs: Tooth, Gum, and Jaw Health
I’ve already mentioned their calcium, phosphorus and trace mineral content which are all important for a healthy skeleton.
But raw meaty bones also act as a natural tooth brush by scraping off food residue and therefore helping prevent plaque buildup. The latter can cause a plethora of diseases as the bacteria enter the bloodstream and travel to vital organs.
Gnawing on the bone is also a wonderful means of exercising a dog’s jaws and providing mental stimulation. It’s OK to offer raw meaty bones that are still partially frozen for a longer lasting workout, so to speak.
Raw Meaty Bones For Dogs: Bottom Line
Raw meaty bones are an integral part of balanced raw dog food. They’re safe to feed to your dog as long as a few guidelines are observed.
Remember to feed the appropriate size raw meaty bone. You’ll also want to avoid weight bearing ones from large grazing animals as well as smoked ones. Your dog’s teeth will thank you!
Do you feed raw meaty bones? As always, we’d love to hear from you in our comment section!
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Raw Meaty Bones For Dogs: How To Feed & Where To Get Them was last modified: September 13th, 2022 by Barbara Rivers
Barbara Rivers
Barbara launched her blog K9sOverCoffee in 2014 and has been feeding her dogs raw dog food since 2015. As a former professional dog walker, she's passionate about balancing species-appropriate exercise with healthy dog nutrition. Barbara is raw dog food nutrition certified from "Dogs Naturally Magazine" and the author of 3 e-books about minimally processed, balanced raw dog food.