Thread: Puppies and small rabbit/ hare bones

At what age do you think it’s ok to give pups fresh meat on the bone? We have about 10 hares being butchered up and were hoping to just do quarters for the dogs. We have a 14 week old pup. Do you think the small bones would be safe to feed? I have always given beef shins which been so big seem much safer as they tend to just chew them rather than eat them.
Sorry for the dumb question but want to be safe.

I will TIE UP HIGH a hare leg so they can tear it with teeth but not get the bone itself...trick B I L showed me with mutton leg for pups..... the worst a pup could do then is chew end of femur...unlikely to be able to shatter it...

I can’t edit the post, pup is 12 weeks today. Tying ups a good idea however we have 3 dogs loose and I could see that turning into a fight when the older dogs are done and decide they want his too

nope.....you are the boss,you decide who eats what......and its really east to tie it inside pups cage,just tie it to the roof...
agree feeding time is problimatic if you not watching ...had a couple of recent scares ourselves untill pup learnt to leave the big dog alone when she eating...no issues if Im feeding them...but Mrs....yeah not so flash....
treat the hare leg as a treat for the pup.not part of its main feed.

With the other dogs around, I wouldn't be feeding any high desire thing like a bone to any dog without standing there making sure it doesn't turn into a fight. Even giving them all bones at the same time, will either make them eat it too quickly trying to eat it before another dog comes to take it, or 1 dog finishes first so then goes for a bone that hasn't been eaten yet by the pup.
You could just slice some of the meat off the leg and freeze it, then give it to the pup while you wait for it to be eaten, to make sure another dog doesn't try to take it. Even the best of mates can and do get into a fight over food as prized as a bone. It only takes 1 second for a big dog to give a pup a "warning" chomp, and it's big money at the vets or even worse.

After having Rocky my huntaway for a few months, he decided he would try to take my Rottie boys bone and got a warning chomp. That 1 was only $500 at the vets so 1 of my cheaper bills, but if rocky had been a pup and not a 2 year old it would likely have been a much worse result.

Re the question of hares, I would feed the ribs and spine with the only qualifier being that the pup should not get grain kibble at the same meal because kibble neutralizes the dogs stomach acid and makes it difficult to digest bone.

Our whippet does raw chicken frames no trouble (sometimes only half thawed). Did so from about 12 weeks. It's cooked bones of any kind which are dangerous. The raw ones are soft and pretty safe

Identify your target beyond doubt, because you never miss and I'll be missed

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Re the question of hares, I would feed the ribs and spine with the only qualifier being that the pup should not get grain kibble at the same meal because kibble neutralizes the dogs stomach acid and makes it difficult to digest bone.

good to know man Ill stop feeding my new mutt kibble and bone around the same time