You can give your dog a deer leg, whether you are looking for something new to snack on or if you love hunting and want to share your bounty with your dog.
As we all know, dogs love bones, and deer legs are safe for dogs and nutritious enough to make it worth it.
The Nutrition Dried Deer Legs Provide to Dogs
You would be wrong if you think deer legs aren’t very nutritious, considering they’re mostly bone. Dried deer legs can provide dogs with many beneficial nutrients, including protein, fat, and iron.
Your dog will also get nutrients from the cartilage within the bones and the soft tissue outside the bone.
Collagen is good for dogs as it boosts bone, joint, and coat health. Dogs cannot digest bones, and it is vital to remember that dogs shouldn’t eat the whole bone but the cartilage.
What are the Other Benefits of Chewing on Deer Legs for Dogs?
The benefits of deer legs extend beyond nutrition. You should give your dog deer legs only for 30 minutes, but they will last hours if you count all the sittings.
It will entertain your dog for hours and combat boredom. All dog owners know that a bored dog is a bad thing. Your dog’s dental health really improves by chewing on deer leg bones.
The texture of deer bones helps remove tartar and plaque buildup on dogs’ teeth and strengthens their jaw. Deer legs are an excellent snack for low-fat dogs.
Before we get into the potential drawbacks of giving your dog deer legs, let’s address an issue we haven’t touched yet: dog bone storage.
How Do I Store Partially Chewed Dog Bones?
First, you should store deer bones because dogs should not be allowed to finish one bone at a time. Second, since we buy bones for our dogs, throwing out a partially chewed bone is not a good idea.
However, it is hard to store used bones. You will not only be dealing with raw meat but also with lots of dog slobber. Who would want to keep that in their freezer or fridge? You can store old bones in a refrigerator for a few days or in a freezer for several weeks.
You will need a separate freezer or fridge for your dog food. Wrap the bone in plastic bags to keep bacteria dribbling out. If you have frozen them, allow the bones to cool before giving them to your dog. Frozen bones can cause severe tooth damage.
What Dangers Could Dried Deer Legs Pose?
Choking and intestinal blockages are the main dangers to dogs who eat deer legs. Choking can happen when the deer bones are too large or if they splinter. Intestinal blockages can occur when your dog eats too many bones or large pieces.
It is important to watch your dog closely and limit its time with the deer leg. You should not give deer legs to your dog if it is a fas eater. If your dog is a gentle eater of treats and only takes small pieces off, don’t give them deer legs.
Can I Give My Dog the Deer Bone I Found in the Woods?
Deer bones are safe for dogs, but you shouldn’t give your dog any deer bones you find in the woods. Although this option may seem appealing because it’s completely free and seems like a good treat for your dog, it’s not safe.
There could be lots of bacteria, and it is impossible to know how long the bone has been there. Aside from that, older bones become more brittle. Brittle bones can seriously injure dogs. They can break or damage teeth and pose a danger to your pet’s health.
Should My Dog Eat Raw Deer Bones or Cooked?
Although it is better to give your dog uncooked bones in most cases, there are times when you might need to feed your dog cooked bones. An older dog may not be able to chew on a raw bone but can still receive nutrients from a cooked bone.
Cooked bones
When giving a deer bone to your dog, your first instinct is to boil it or bake it to kill any germs. Right?
This can pose a danger to your dog. A boiled bone is more fragile and more likely to break when chewed, which can lead to teeth fractures and possible perforation of the throat or intestines.
You can slow cook the bone for a few hours if you don’t want your dog to eat it raw. This will make the bone soft enough that your dog won’t hurt themselves while chewing on it. If your dog is small and can’t chew raw bone, slow cooking deer bones is a good option.
Raw bone
Dogs’ enzymes and digestive systems kill more harmful bacteria than humans, so many dog owners feed them BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food).
BARF diet includes deer bones, raw meaty bones, and other natural raw foods. Deer bones with meat are a great snack for dogs, especially if they’re still raw. Uncooked deer bones with some meat left on them are safe for dogs and won’t splinter as easily as boiled bones.
Deer bones should not be cooked or baked before being given to dogs because heat processing can cause the bone to lose most of its nutrition. You can freeze the bones for later to preserve them and help cool your dog down during hot summer days.
You can give your dog raw deer bones or cook them yourself, but you must always supervise your dog. This will allow you to control the breaking of the bone and protect your dog from any injury by taking it away. You can give your dog air-dried bones if you don’t want to feed them raw bones.
What are the Costs Of Deer Legs?
Prices for deer legs will vary depending on the source, quality, and size. The average cost for deer legs is $5-10 per leg. They are usually sold in packs of 2-12, so you can buy them in quantities, depending on your dog’s appetite.
Where Can I Purchase Deer Legs?
You can find deer legs at many places, or you might be able to find them locally. Online shopping is possible through a variety of private/third-party shops. You could also shop on one of the bigger shopping sites like Amazon, Etsy, or eBay, where they are all available.
What Can a Dog Eat From the Deer?
If the deer is properly processed, your dog can safely eat most of it. They can eat venison (deer meat), provided that it is frozen to kill any bacteria.
Venison can be a good choice for your dog, so if you are trying to feed your dog a raw diet, venison can be served raw to the dog. Dogs may also consume the liver, heart, and lungs, and it is also safe for your dog to chew on the deer antlers. Because Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) can infect the deer’s brain, eyes, spinal cords, lymph nodes, and tonsils, you should not give them to your dog.
What are Some Other Dried Animal Feet That your Dog Might Like?
Even though chicken bones can be hazardous, chicken feet make a delicious snack for your dog.
In the same way as all other animal bones, chicken bones can be extremely dangerous if ingested after they’re boiled, fried, or cooked. Raw, they are packed with nutrients and can be eaten by dogs if they are not exposed to the elements.
Raw pig’s feet may also make a great snack option. These treats will keep your dog busy for hours, providing it with some food. You could also sneak peanut butter or another healthy snack into most hooves for more nutrition.
Like with the deer legs treat, you should only give such treats to your dog if they’re not an aggressive chewer. Aggressive chewers might splinter the hooves or swallow them, which could threaten their health or could simply crack their teeth.
The Benefits of Giving Dogs Deer Bones
- Oral Health
The raw deer bone is used as a natural toothbrush. It removes plaque buildup and keeps your dogs’ gums healthy.
- Nutrition
Deer bones are also very nutritious and can be added to any dog’s diet, whether it is kibble or fresh food.
- Entertainment
Dogs love deer bones because they provide entertainment and relieve boredom. They can chew on deer bones for hours without difficulty.
- Training
Training with deer bones is easy. These bones have a strong smell, so you can drag them on the ground and then hide them from the dogs.
Potential Dangers of Giving Dogs Deer Bones
It is important to be aware of the potential dangers you may present when giving your dog any new items.
Even though there aren’t many dangers in giving your dog deer bone, here are a few things to be aware of.
Bacteria
Raw deer bones can cause diarrhea, fever, and lethargy in dogs. Everything is dependent on how the meat the bone was handled before being given to your dog. You can process deer meat and bones to have total control.
Swallowing Bone Shards
You should avoid giving your dog bones smaller than the size of your dog’s mouth because they are more likely to cause choking. You should also be able to see if the larger bones are broken into smaller pieces or if your dog has chewed them. If the bones are too small, there is a chance of injury.
Broken Teeth Bowel Problems
Like all toys and treats for dogs, Deer bones are best when used in moderate amounts. Deer bones can cause health problems if exposed to your dog for too long. These may include constipation, bowel problems, loose stool, and damaged teeth.
You won’t find most deer diseases crossing over to dogs, so don’t worry about diseases that deer carry, such as Blue Tongue and CWD.
Which Dog Breed is Best Suited for Chewing on Deer Legs?
All breeds of dogs can chew on deer legs except for tiny breeds such as toy dogs. Unless they are aggressive chewers, medium-sized to large breeds should be able and safe to chew on the legs of deer.
A dog that gently chews on its treats is the best dog for chewing on deer leg bones. The bone will last longer and won’t pose a danger to their health.
Do Puppies Need to be Fed Dried Deer Legs?
You shouldn’t give Dried deer legs to puppies due to their small size and impatience. However, they should be able to chew on deer legs when they are grown up.
Conclusion
Dogs can safely eat deer legs as long as they’re not cooked. The exception here is for dogs that are aggressive chewers, puppies, or toy breeds. Dogs can benefit from the deer legs and other parts. They also contain lots of nutrition.
Deer legs are a great way to keep your dog busy and also clean its teeth. Deer legs are a wonderful treat for furry friends, provided that they are properly controlled and monitored. Other parts of the deer can also be great additions to a raw diet.