[a-vixen]

I have a 10 week old daschund puppy called zak,the problem I am having is when I go to work for 4 hours a day he whines constantly upsetting those who live around me.I have a 7 year old daschund but have to separate them due to my older dog getting stressed by the pup.I went to my local butcher who gave me a bag of bones for zak to chomp on,it seems to have done the trick.. he chomps I work,problem solved? Or is it..?. will I harm my pup at by giving him a bone at such a young age?. this is a knuckle bone and not one that could splinter.

[labman]

In general, dogs don't need bones. I have seen dogs that never had any bones, and as they get older, their teeth are in much better shape than those that get bones. I watched my Aster and her mother age. Aster's teeth have never shown much wear, while her mother that was given bones showed much wear.

Still, it might not hurt that much at least for a while. And Aster's mother lived to be 15, bones and all. Do stick to the large knuckle bones.

[Tuscany]

Doxies due to their size are more Susceptible to choking then other bigger dogs (but all dogs can choke). I believe much like Labman that bones are not necessary and could cause long-term harm to a dog. If a doxie is given a bone it should be with constant human supervision.

[labman]

I was assuming it was large knuckle bone even a Great Dane might not be able to swallow and choke.

[Tuscany]

You are right even Great Dane's can choke, but the occurrence of choking on a bone is significantly higher in smaller breeds. But, like I stated all dogs can choke, which is one of the reasons I do not like bones for any dog.

[bushg]

Too many bones could equal hard dry stools that could hurt your dog. I have heard about terrible case's down home from a dog eating to many bones.

[labman]

I am surprised choking on bones is worse in small dogs. I would thing they would be less likely to swallow them or gnaw them down to where they could be swallowed. Of course most of my dog info comes from a program that forbids giving their large dogs any bones at all. If you have good numbers from somewhere, I will accept it. Won't change my usual stance that not getting bones never hurt a dog yet.