Giving your husky a raw bone to chew on can be a great way to give them mental stimulation, but it’s important to know how to do it safely and how to choose the right type of bone to achieve this.
The best types of bones for huskies are large raw bones (not cooked) that don’t contain lots of saturated fat. Large, hard beef knuckles, shin bones, and large lamb or goat bones are great options with a lower risk of breaking up.
Keep reading to learn about feeding huskies bones, the associated risks, and how to keep these risks to a minimum.
Contents
The Two Viewpoints On Bones
There are two arguments for giving huskies raw bones – some people avoid it due to the risk of bacteria, choking, and splinters causing internal damage. In contrast, others like to give their huskies bones every once in a while as a treat, carefully selecting the bone to reduce the risk of these problems occurring.
I have given raw bones to my dogs for many years, but this obviously is a personal choice. I’m on the side of using bones as treats while sticking to a regular dry food diet rather than a completely raw diet.
As long as you choose the right type of bone and supervise your husky while they chew it, there is a minimal risk of anything going wrong.
You still need to be aware of the risks, though, and this guide will go through the associated risks and benefits and tips for keeping your husky safe if you decide to give them a bone.
Why Do Huskies Like To Chew Bones?
Huskies love to chew bones for two main reasons:
- Bones are packed full of flavor and flavors that your husky likely hasn’t tasted before from their regular dog food.
- It’s natural for huskies to chew bones. Working huskies are fed a lot of raw food, and bones are no exception to this.
If you haven’t given your husky a bone before, you might be surprised by how much they like it!
Make sure to follow the tips below to learn how to do this safely, though.
Benefits Of Bones For Huskies
Before we go through some tips for safely giving your husky bones, let’s look at why you should consider it in the first place.
Nutrients
Most raw bones that you can buy will still have some meat left on them, which contains many nutrients like calcium and phosphorus.
Just ensure the meat has not spoiled, and always put it straight into the fridge when you get home.
These nutrients are essential for huskies, help keep their teeth and bones strong, and contribute to overall health.
Helps To Keep Their Teeth Clean
Bones with raw meat are great for helping your husky keep their teeth clean.
This shouldn’t replace actual teeth cleaning, but it’s an excellent supplement for keeping your husky’s teeth and gums healthy.
Mental Stimulation
Huskies will spend a lot of time chewing a bone if you give them one, and it’s a great way to keep them distracted and give them mental stimulation.
It’s nice to have this option with a breed as high energy as the husky.
No Added Ingredients
I’m a big advocate of chew toys and stick products, but sometimes, it can be hard to know exactly what has been put into them.
This is why we recommend all-natural treats for your husky, but bones obviously don’t have the same problem as they are completely natural with nothing added to them.
Should You Give Your Husky Raw Or Cooked Bones?
Always give your husky raw bones rather than cooked ones.
Cooked bones become more brittle through the cooking process, which results in a higher risk of them breaking when your husky chews them.
How Often Should You Give Your Husky Bones
Before you give your husky a bone, always consult with your veterinarian, as they will advise whether the type of bone you are considering is safe; they will also be able to tell you how often you should give them to your husky.
I like to use bones as treats that are given once or twice per week at most, depending on the type of bone and how long it lasts.
Best Types Of Bones For Huskies
Large beef knuckles or shin bones are my preferred bones to feed to huskies as they are large enough not to be a choking hazard while containing enough meat to keep your husky distracted for a good while.
Large lamb and goat bones are also great options that tend to be a little softer, making them easier on the teeth.
I always ask my butcher to prepare these so that there is as little risk of splinters as possible, as they are able to assess the bone quality to see how likely this would be to occur.
What About Bone Marrow?
Beef marrow bones are an option for huskies, but the marrow is incredibly high in fat, so you should limit their amount and only feed it as an irregular treat and watch out for signs of pancreatitis.
Always Supervise Them
When you give your husky a bone, always supervise them while they chew on it.
Although the risk is low with some types of bones, there is still a chance that a small piece could break off and cause them to choke or cause damage internally.
If you notice any signs of discomfort, take them to the vet as soon as possible.
Give All Your Dogs A Bone
If you have more than one dog, make sure you feed them all a bone at the same time.
Huskies aren’t aggressive, but they can become possessive of a bone and get angry at other dogs who try to come near it.
Distract all your dogs at the same time by giving them all a bone, but make sure you can supervise them all at the same time as well.
Limit Their Time
Large beef bones are ideal because they don’t break as easily as some other bones, but this also means that they are very hard, which can potentially cause damage to your husky’s teeth if they chew on them for an extended period.
Let your husky chew for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. You can up the time if the bone still has a good amount of meat on it, but if not, it’s time to stop them.
Types Of Bone To Avoid Giving To Your Husky
There are certain types of bones that you should never feed your husky, which are listed below:
- Chicken Bones
- Turkey Bones
- Pork Bones
- Rib Bones
This is because these bones are all too small and can be broken easily, which is the last thing you want to happen.
Broken bones can be swallowed and get stuck; they can also perforate the esophagus or intestinal tract.
Chicken bones also carry a high risk of salmonella, just like feeding your husky raw chicken or eggs.
Rib bones, especially pork ribs, as well as marrow bones, are very high in fat, which is not ideal for your husky. A large amount of saturated fat can cause pancreatitis, which is the inflammation of the pancreas often caused by too much fat in their diet.
Risks With Giving Your Husky Bones
Giving huskies bones is something that I’ve done for many years – I love going down to the local butcher and getting bones from them that are fresh and full of flavor for my pups.
Risks are always involved, so you should always supervise your husky if they have a bone. The main risk to look out for is if they manage to break any part of the bone, as they could swallow pieces that break off or cut their mouth.
This is why we recommend larger, tougher bones that are harder to break. You should also ask your butcher to prepare the bones for your husky, as they will be able to identify any splinters in the bone that could become a choking hazard.
Your butcher will also be able to cut the bones in a way that reduces the risk of any breakages.
Some bones can also carry harmful bacteria, and although this is most problematic with chicken bones, it can also be an issue for beef bones.
If you notice any symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, or anything else that concerns you after your husky has chewed a bone, then take them to the vet as soon as possible.
You can also opt to give your husky a chew toy as an alternative, and these are great if your husky enjoys them. I personally love the Kong chew toys as they’re durable enough to last for along time and don’t pose a choking risk.
- Treats can be put inside
- Extremely durable rubber
- Dishwasher safe
- Can be frozen for added entertainment
- Persistent chewers are likely to break it eventually
- Dark color is not very visible
In Summary
Feeding your husky raw bones can be a great treat with several benefits, but you need to be aware of the risks and always supervise them.
By choosing larger bones that are less likely to break, you can reduce the risk of splinters, which are one of the major concerns with feeding any dog raw bone.
Try to give them bones that have lots of meat still attached, as this will make them last longer and protect your husky’s teeth from potentially breaking.
