Beef Marrow Bones

I recently received some free beef marrow bones from a friend of my husband who makes/sells dog food and treats. I've never given Casey something like this before (she had rib bones as a puppy, but that's about it), so I just wanted some advice.

My question regarding the bone is this: do I actually allow Casey to consume the entire bone? I've read a lot of different things on different website but I'm still unclear about whether or not she should actually be eating the bone itself. As in, I give it to her, and then when she's done, there will be nothing left, because she will have consumed the entire thing? Or is she only supposed to eat out the marrow from the inside, and chew on it a bit, and then I take it away?

I've attached a picture of the product in question, if that affects things at all.

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Permalink Reply by Aj on May 20, 2010 at 1:47pm

When I give it to Ein and Brian, they only lick out the marrow. So I take what's left of the bone (which is the whole bone itself) and fill it with any filling of my choice; i.e. wet dog food, peanut butter. I wonder if Casey will be interested in consuming the bone itself as well...

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Permalink Reply by Carla on May 21, 2010 at 10:06am

I'm about 99% sure that, if I didn't take it away and it was physically possible, Casey would eat the entire thing. This is why I'm wondering if it's OK for them to eat the bone itself, or if I should just take it away after she cleans out the inside.

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Permalink Reply by Denise Hawkins on May 20, 2010 at 7:10pm

Mine have always licked the marrow from the inside and then kind of mouthed the outside, I was careful to keep checking it for rough edges or splinters, when I notice that they have not touched the bone then I will lift it and throw it away.

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Permalink Reply by Avyon on May 21, 2010 at 10:36am

If you have a chewer and sometimes these little guys can eat through things we wouldn't imagine lol. Then I think it's ok till they get about a swollowing size. Once they get it to that point then you take it away because they don't think about chewing that last bit to a smaller piece. That part can get lodged and cause trouble.

So just keep an eye out. It can go either way. We've had bones that have sat around for months while others I have to take away within 30 min because they've already chewed em down too far lol.