Why Do Dogs Like To Chew?

But, after all, why do dogs like to bite so much?

You don’t even need to understand the pet world to know that dogs love bones, don’t you? At first, it is enough to offer a beautiful bone to a dog for it to be gnawing and chewing for hours and hours. But, after all, why do dogs like to bite so much? This is just one of the behaviors inherited from their ancestors who were not domesticated and, therefore, practiced hunting to survive.

As much as they seem to be not at all nutritious, much less healthy, the bones were used as a way to make up for the lack of fat in the meat of animals that suffered from territorial and climatic adversities. In other words, these animals that were slaughtered did not always have a good amount of fat needed to meet the hunters’ needs. Soon, they were forced to gnaw the bones of the prey – since it is the place where the last reservoir of fat of an animal in nutritional difficulties is.

For those who do not know, bone marrow has more than half of its fat composition, not to mention that bone grease, linked to calcium, which is also made up of a considerable amount. Imagine that you are a predator and your prey is very thin, with a very low percentage of body fat. Promptly, the best alternative, in addition to eating meat to supply protein needs, is also to consume bones, as fat is like a nutritional multiplier, which offers a well of energy for you to continue exercising other fundamental activities.

Although our dogs live indoors and have a rich diet with all the nutrients they need to survive, bones can still bring some benefits to them. Unlike wolves and other ancestral canines, which used them as a nutritional supplement, bones are efficient resources for chewing, massage the gums, assist in oral health, reduce stress and anxiety and even strengthen dogs’ jaws.

What bones can I give my dog?

It is necessary to be very careful when offering bones to a dog, because the wrong choice can cause several health problems and, in some cases, death. Chicken ones, for example, due to their size, break very easily as the dog bites. These small, sharp pieces can injure the fur at the time of chewing or choke it, and can cause serious damage to the stomach and intestine, including perforating these organs.

Boiled, roasted and fried bones are also off the list of consummation, as high temperatures change bone conformation, making it easier to break or, in some cases, helping the pet to break its teeth.

If you want to give a bone to your pet, the most recommended are the ox, raw and large (such as a femur, for example), so that it does not swallow at once and use it for entertainment. Remember to consult a veterinarian first! The options that are sold here at Petlove are also a good choice!

Nylon Bones

In the absence of real bones, adult dogs adapt this behavior and can use nylon bones, which are made with high-quality, non-toxic and durable materials – but not indestructible. They are categorized as chew toys, meaning they are not edible. There are several options of nylon bones that can be offered to your pet, other good requests to make the pet more satisfied through chewing are the smoked bones.

Offering a bone to a dog helps to satisfy his natural instincts, but you need to be careful and follow all the recommendations of a veterinarian. Still, if you feel a certain insecurity, a toy bone will be enough for your furry.