Fresh Venison Bones

[Duke]

I need some advice about giving my dogs venison bones. We have a friend that hunts in the fall during deer season. He's harvested the meat and gave me 2 frozen leg bones over the weekend. Should I prepare them in a way so they are safe to give Duke and Daisy? Is a raw best or par-boiled a better idea?

[tanza]

@Duke:

I need some advice about giving my dogs venison bones. We have a friend that hunts in the fall during deer season. He's harvested the meat and gave me 2 frozen leg bones over the weekend. Should I prepare them in a way so they are safe to give Duke and Daisy? Is a raw best or par-boiled a better idea?

Raw should be fine. If he is a hunter, then he/she know how to prepare the venison…

[Duke]

@tanza:

Raw should be fine. If he is a hunter, then he/she know how to prepare the venison…

OK, thanks Pat. I'm the squeamish one on this - because raw is sort of gross to me. I'll treat the kids tomorrow, outside in the snow with this surprise and see how they like it - camera in hand. Sometimes nasty happens when they each get a special treat - as if one will steal from the other…

[sharronhurlbut]

My 2 b's love raw beef shin, and knuckle bones.
I have the meat guy cut them down into small portions and they are
then frozen…they b's love them when they can get them.

[Duke]

@sharronhurlbut:

My 2 b's love raw beef shin, and knuckle bones.
I have the meat guy cut them down into small portions and they are
then frozen…they b's love them when they can get them.

Do you give your b's the bone frozen or thawed? Also, do they gnaw the bone into bits until gone? I worry about them swallowing a piece too big.

[sharronhurlbut]

If its the marrow shank bone, I give it to them frozen..the bone is hard, the marrow is softer, and its like a kong, where they lick it out like icecream.
I like to give the end pieces of bone,the knuckle a room temp.
They will eat them until they are gone…no harm from sharp pieces.
The shank/marrow bones, are just licked out and the hard bone is left for us to step
on in the dark, with our barefeet...

[Duke]

@sharronhurlbut:

If its the marrow shank bone, I give it to them frozen..the bone is hard, the marrow is softer, and its like a kong, where they lick it out like icecream.
I like to give the end pieces of bone,the knuckle a room temp.
They will eat them until they are gone…no harm from sharp pieces.
The shank/marrow bones, are just licked out and the hard bone is left for us to step
on in the dark, with our barefeet…

Ha-ha-ha…very funny Sharron - good sense of humor! I don't know what part of the leg bone I have, doesn't look like a knuckle - but very meaty on the outside. I'll serve it frozen so they'll have some time chewing off the meat on the outside. We got 7 inches of snow today - it'll probably stay frozen on the inside for some time. I might retrieve the bones before they're completely finished. Then offer them again the next day - if possible...

[tanza]

@Duke:

Ha-ha-ha…very funny Sharron - good sense of humor! I don't know what part of the leg bone I have, doesn't look like a knuckle - but very meaty on the outside. I'll serve it frozen so they'll have some time chewing off the meat on the outside. We got 7 inches of snow today - it'll probably stay frozen on the inside for some time. I might retrieve the bones before they're completely finished. Then offer them again the next day - if possible...

How big are they and if the entire leg, can you cut it into smaller pieces? Remember that if this is the first time they have ever had this, too much can really cause some tummy upset…..

[Basenjimamma]

Wow, what a treat..as a raw fooder I would highly recommend feeding it raw..they will love you for it, well they will love you either way…let's be realistic, huge bone cooked or raw, its all good.
Yes, pictures please....my dogs are very jealous of you fellas.

[Woofless]

I second what Pat said. We have a couple of deer in the freezer that were given to us in December & January. I saved most of the leg bones on one of them (my neighbor's dogs got the ribcage and spine- they're 3 big Labs, so they made short work of it).

Giving my dogs big, meaty leg bones gave the Basenjis a little diarrhea/loose stool for a day or two. (Chloe, the canine garbage disposal, had the biggest bone & was unaffected). It wasn't anything major, but next time I'll stick to giving smaller pieces.

I've used an old hacksaw for cutting bone; venison leg bones aren't too thick & you may be able to get them at least cut in half yourself.

Your pups will absolutely enjoy the bones- I know mine did! Kept 'em busy most of the day.