How Long Do Dog Bones Last? How I Make the Most of Chew Time

The other day, my lab mix, Bruno, and I were strolling through the arts and entertainment district in town. A few times a year, they host an Art Walk where all kinds of local artists come out to put their creativity on display and make a little rent money. I get to enjoy the vibrant colors, one-of-a-kind masterpieces, and artist-to-artist convo while Bruno gets to say "hi" to the other dogs on the street whose pet parents had the same idea I did.

My lab mix has boundless energy. He can run, play, hide, and chew on his dog bone for hours—if I let him. But unlike his endless vitality, dog bones don't last forever. So, how long do dog bones last?

Can Dogs Eat Bones?

Yes, dogs can eat bones. But it's crucial to choose the right type of bones and monitor them while they chew to ensure their safety and health. It's also important to realize that these long-lasting dog chews should not replace a normal vet-approved healthy dog diet. Dog bones are a treat for dogs, like the human treat dark chocolate I keep on the top shelf in the cupboard where my kids and spouse can't find it.

Here are some key points and questions to consider when finding long-lasting bones for dogs.

How Long Do Dog Bones Last?

When it comes to dog bones, how long they last comes down to several factors:

• Type of bone
• Durability
• How it's prepared
• How ferocious a chewer you have

Safety is paramount. Letting your dog continue to chew on a bone that's become unsafe is never a good bet, especially when you can get a month's supply of high-quality, single-ingredient, grass-fed dog bones for not a lot.

Type of Bone

The type of bone not only impacts how healthful the dog bone is and how long a dog bone lasts. Dog bones can be synthetic, raw, cooked, or made from rawhide. Some of these last longer than others and deliver a powerhouse of nutrition; others are just chew toys.

Durability

Some bones are naturally more durable. That's important because the whole point of a bone is that a dog should be able to chew it safely for a long time.

You want a bone with the right density so it's not super hard to damage your teeth. But it also shouldn't be so soft that it splinters. Of course, chicken and turkey bones are notorious for this and never make good dog bones. Beef bones are best!

How It's Prepared

The cooking method can impact durability and how long a dog bone lasts. Some cooking methods like boiling and baking can make bones unsafe from the start. Within a few minutes, your aggressive chewer has already bitten the bone in half. Please take it away before they get hurt.

Serving raw bones can also impact how long dog bones last. Pathogens start to multiply once you thaw it and give it to your dog. You wouldn't leave a raw steak on the counter for an hour and stick it back in the refrigerator. So, a raw bone should always be a one-time treat and throw it away where your dog—and those pesky raccoons in the neighborhood—can't get to it.

How Ferocious a Chewer You Have

Dogs like my Bruno are aggressive chewers. It's important to look for the longest-lasting bones for these dogs—especially those that say "for aggressive chewers". I have tried giving him some bones and had to take them away within minutes—especially those synthetic ones.

Grass-fed beef bones are the best long-lasting dog chews for these dogs. They last a long time and are also healthy treats for dogs, with glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen, healthy fats, and vitamins and minerals.

Free Marrow Refill Recipe Guide

Do Unused Dog Bones Go Bad?

All natural bones will have a shelf-life, so check the expiration and follow safety guidelines.

If it's a raw bone, keep it in the freezer until a day or two before giving it to your dog. A raw dog bone can theoretically stay good indefinitely in the freezer. But freezer burn probably doesn't taste good to dogs, either.

Now, I like to give my dogs smoked dog bones instead. Smoking is one of the oldest food preservation methods in the world. The smoking process kills bacteria and preserves the bones for longer. When kept sealed in a cool and dry environment, a smoked dog bone can stay good for a year or more.

Did you know that evidence suggests that people in the Paleolithic era (basically cavemen's times) used smoking techniques to make food last longer? So, yes, smoked bones are paleo-friendly too!

How Long Will Marrow Bones Last?

A marrow bone can be served to a dog raw or smoked, so how long the bones last depends on the preservation method. Raw dog bones have to stay in the freezer. Smoked dog bones can be kept at room temperature for around a year. The great thing about smoked marrow bones vs raw bones is that you can give the same bone to your dog for around 20 minutes 2–3 times a week.

Veterinarians recommend that you not allow your dog to have their bones for more than that amount of time. That's because it should only be around 10%-15% of their diet. While dog bones are healthy treats for dogs, they are higher in fat, which could irritate sensitive tummies if they ate nothing but their dog bone for the day.

Now, here's the thing! It takes a dog 2–3 sessions to get most of the marrow and meatiness out of the bone, so I honestly feel like I wasted the bone if I can't give it back to them multiple times. You're probably a lot like me, and I know I don't like to waste money.

That's why hickory smoked grass-fed beef bones are the long lasting dog bones I look for.

How Long Will Raw Dog Bones Last?

Raw bones are single-use. That's unfortunate when you consider the cost of raw dog bones. If you follow the usual veterinary advice and limit the use to 20 minutes, you paid a lot for that 20 minutes.

Are Long-Lasting Rawhide Bones Bad for Dogs?

Rawhide bones aren't real dog bones. They're dried animal skin shaped into a bone. These don't last a minute with my aggressive chewer. In the wild, dogs do not eat dried animal skin. I find this a little unnatural. Plus, rawhide can be a choking hazard I prefer to avoid. Rawhide is cheap, but it's definitely not among the long lasting dog bones.

Healthy Treats for Dogs

The healthiest treats for dog are also the longest lasting. They're real, meaty, all-natural bones from grass-fed cattle raised in the USA.

Bone-Chewing Bliss on a Timeline

As the day wound down and the artists started packing up their displays, Bruno and I headed home. My fur baby eagerly pulled me along, knowing he'd get his dog bone when he got home for being such a good boy at the Art Walk. By giving him a smoked bone several times a week, I get to pamper him more often while ensuring his long lasting dog chews are healthy too.

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