If your dog is anything like mine, they go through many bones. I usually buy the big bags of 25-30 bones at a time, and my dog will chew through them in about two weeks. I used to toss the old bones in the trash, but then I found out there’s a way to make them good again. This article discusses how to make old dog bones good again.
Dog bones can get extremely dirty and stinky after one use. My dog leaves them all over the house, and it’s not pretty. Just last week, I found a bone in my shoe! How embarrassing! However, luckily there is a simple way to fix this problem.
Contents
A Step by Step Guide on How to Make Old Dog Bones Good Again
Step 1 : Preparation
To make old dog bones good, you must first prepare yourself for the process. Old bones are usually sturdy and rugged. This makes them difficult to chew on, which can be frustrating since their purpose is.
If you have a stricter time chewing things that should generally be easy to break down, it may help cut your dog bone into smaller pieces using a small saw before giving it as a treat. A quick file through the center of the bone will allow it to stay together as one piece while still being easily broken into manageable chunks once chewed.
Step 2 : Soaking in Warm Water
If the sheath is inflamed, apply an anti-inflammatory cream such as generic topical aspirin. Again ask a vet for help on which type of cream to use if your dog has skin issues and you need advice. The cream should be applied to the base of the dog’s penis. The whole length of the sheath may not need to be treated, just the inflamed area if your dog only has a localized problem. Apply the cream three times a day and continue to do so until the sheath is no longer inflamed.
When you first give your dog a bone, the soaking time may vary depending on the type of bone and how old it is. Since older bones are typically more brittle, they will take longer to soak through than newer bones. Start by letting them soak for ten minutes before giving them to your pet.
If the bones are still too hard after soaking them for a while, let them soak for longer until they are soft enough to break off easily by hand without causing any damage or discomfort to the dog. However, bones should not be left in water for more than an hour at most, as this can lead to serious health problems and complications if the dog ingests them later on.
Step 3 : Cleaning the Bones
After the bones have had a chance to soak, you will need to ensure they are adequately cleaned before feeding them to your dog or putting them into their daycare bag. This is important for two reasons. The first reason has to do with hygiene and safety when giving your pet treats. The second reason why cleaning the bones is vital is that it has more to do with humans than with dogs.
You want you’re acting as a responsible pet owner by taking care of any potential health risks that come from giving your dog old, dirty food items to keep everyone safe and healthy in the end. Cleaning the bones well will also ensure that there’s no risk of getting broken glass pieces in their mouths or having them ingest any other dangerous items that could have been left inside the bone by a prior homeowner.
Step 4 : How to Clean Old Dog Bones
Cleaning bones is relatively easy once you know how to do it. It just takes time and patience and a few everyday household items, all of which can be found around most kitchens. To Properly Clean an Old Dog Bone, You Will Want to Use the Following Supplies :
- Pliers or small clamps – A strainer or colander – Two pots – Coldwater – Something abrasive (optional) – Dish soap/dishwasher detergent – Air dry
After gathering all your supplies together, take hold of each end of the bone with the pliers or clamp and pull away in opposite directions. If you are lucky, the bone will simply remove apart without any effort at all.
If the bone does not pull apart after gently pulling on each end with pliers or clamps, it is probably too old to eat safely, so you should discard it immediately.
This will help keep your pet safe from choking or other problems associated with eating old bones. You can use a small saw to remove the bone if it is too difficult to do so by hand.
Step 5 : Clean Bones in a Strainer
If the bones are easy to pull apart or if your dog likes to eat dried or wet rawhide bones, then you can clean them quickly by using the strainer method.
To do so, place the bone inside a colander and run cold water over it. As you do so, try to scrape away any dirt or hair that might still be clinging to it with your hand or fingers.
The water will wash off most of the remains within seconds, while any more challenging bits remaining should come loose for several minutes if left under running water. After about 10 minutes, give or take, depending on how strong you want it cleaned, bring out your pliers (or another gripping tool that can hold the bone tightly) and pull apart.
Step 6 : Clean Bones in a Dishwasher or With Dish Soap
If you want your bones cleaned more quickly, you can also use dish soap combined with a clean dishwasher cycle to do most of the hard work for you. A few things need to be noted, however, before doing so. First, this method is typically only efficient on tiny bones such as chicken feet or necks.
Anything larger than that will probably not clean properly using this method, leading to choking if your dog swallows any of the shards during consumption.
Second, it will be much easier to clean bones if they are cut into smaller pieces first. This will allow water and dish soap to reach the inside of the bones more easily and scrape away any grime or bits of meat still trapped within them.
Step 7 : Air Dry Old Bones
You should cut bones into smaller pieces before cleaning them so that it is easier to reach the inside of the bones and remove any dirt or meat.
Lay each bone flat on a couple of pieces of paper towel placed over a countertop or cutting board. If you can do so in a warm environment, leaving them out overnight should be fine while the weather is dry and mild.
Otherwise, you may want to stick them in an oven, or beneath a hairdryer for a bit if you live somewhere that is cold and wet right now. Make sure you only do so for 30 minutes at most, however, to avoid any possibility of burning or drying out your bones too much, which can cause them to become brittle and dangerous. STEP 2: CREATE YOUR MOLD
Step 8 : Finish by Washing Hands and Placing Bones in the Refrigerator
Once your bones are dry, do not forget to wash your hands thoroughly before handling them again after cleaning. Also, be sure to place any bones you plan on giving your dog in a sealed bag or container in the refrigerator if using within 24 hours; otherwise, it is probably best to freeze them for later use. These steps will help in how to make old dog bones good again.
You can check it to Long Does It Take a Dog to Digest Heart gard
Precautions
- Old dog bones are not exactly ideal. They can cause bad breath, upset stomachs, and even break off in your pet’s mouth, leaving sharp edges that could injure them.
- When your dog is done with his meal, it’s essential to take the old bones away immediately.
- Also, keep an eye on any odd behavior during mealtime.
- If your dog is gnawing away at something for more than 10 minutes, it’s probably time to take the bones away.
- You don’t want your dog to choke on their bone, so keep an eye out for any odd behavior during mealtime.
- Also, if you’ve noticed signs of gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea after a meal, take the bones away immediately.
- If your dog has swallowed too much bone material or broken pieces that are sharp or jagged, your veterinarian may recommend endoscopic removal of this foreign material to prevent damage to the gastrointestinal tract.
Conclusion
We hope this article on how to make old dog bones good again is helpful for you. Rawhides are an excellent way to keep your pup entertained and mentally stimulated.
You can also purchase hard rubber toys that will last longer than the average chew toy, but be sure they’re made with all-natural ingredients like peanut butter or cornstarch, so you don’t expose yourself and your pet to any harmful chemicals which could cause allergic reactions. And, of course, always supervise when giving your dog anything new, so he doesn’t choke on it.
