Marrow bone for a puppy?

[mckenzie]

I've just got some from the butchers. One piece is 20cm long and about 13cm in diameter. Is this ok to give a 4 month old do you think?
I'll scoop as much marrow about either end as I can so he does not get too much.

The other two pieces are massive! Can I give them but just take away after a certain length of time or will they be fine as long as I scoop out some of the marrow?

TIA

No no NO!
These are from a cow right?
If your dog tries to crunch these babies (and some dogs are silly enough to try!) he is very likely to snap a tooth which will cost a LOT to fix.
They are called 'wreck bones' for good reason.

Some people let the dog chew off all the meat then remove them but I don't like the idea of this, I think removing super enjoyable items like this encourages guarding.
Better to stick with fully edible bone in meats that can be eaten entirely.

Also, the teensiest, weeniest bit of marrow gives my dog explosive, liquid squirts.
We are talking literally, a lick less than the size of my little fingernail for a big border collie.

Please just stick to puppy food! Dogs don't need bones to chew on. They can break teeth as PP said but they can also splinter and small fragments can cause all sorts of internal damage. Get a good quality teething toy like Kong puppy stick if you want something for them to chew on.

I was recommended to give him this by a representative from a highly regarded raw dog food provider.

Raw bones don't splinter...marrow bones are a bit controversial because there is a school of thought that weight bearing bones are too dense for dogs to eat, so shouldn't be given as they may chip teeth.

Personally, I'd give him the small one and freeze the bigger ones till you see how he gets on...but then I give mine antlers and they're supposed to chip their teeth as well.

Eric has had bones since about 4 months.Not marrow bones because the butcher charges for them but the ones he gives me free. He demolishes them, sometimes there is nothing left for me to throw away even. We've had no trouble with teeth or tum.

Mine have marrow bones every week from butcher. They spend ages getting the marrow out and then leave the bone. Better to start them young so they are used to having them and they get used to you taking them away too. My Labrador, if he has a big knuckle bone ,will occasionally break a piece off so I'll go and take the small piece off him. He has never ever growled at me for doing this as he has been having them since he was a pup and I always take chokeable size bits away.

Thank you for the posts.

I'm reminded of weaning DC1 and asking weaning questions of, say, 3 friends and getting 4 different answers

Just to confirm, that wasn't a criticism. Merely an observation.

Everyone is different and will give their dog different stuff. My neighbour is terrified of her dog choking and won't give him any bones unless I've said to her, here's a chicken carcass, he can eat all the bones no problem. She doesn't know which bones are safe and which aren't. A friend told me recently she gives her dog cooked lamb bones. I was horrified and told her they aren't safe but she said, well he always has them and loves them so she won't stop just cos I've told her to. So yeah, you're right, it's just like weaning babies