Best Natural Highly Digestible Bones for Dogs: The Dog Treat Bake Off

It was a breezy Saturday morning. And I was standing behind a table in front of the local bakery. Knowing how dog-enthused our little community is, they were hosting a dog treat bake-off and had invited the local dog parents to bake up their best recipes for all our furry friends to try and hopefully buy some freshly baked bread and pastries for humans at the same time. All proceeds were going to our favorite dog shelter.

As I glanced around, I saw so much variety on the tables—treats of all shapes and sizes. So creative. Dog-friendly pumpkin pies, peanut butter cookies, kibble-topped yogurt parfaits, and, of course, bacon-flavored "donuts." I made bone broth collagen dog treats shaped like little paws. They were a big hit.

It reminded me of the fact that dogs will eat almost anything. And aside from chocolate, coffee, and xylitol, for the most part, they enjoy fun foods in moderation. But some are more digestible than others. Take the best natural, highly digestible bones for dogs. What's my dog actually getting out of that bone? Can they eat all of it?

Why Digestibility Matters?

Some dog bones don't digest well. This can lead to blockages in the digestive tract that may require surgery. They can cause choking as well. And to be fair. The most digestible bones can also pose a risk if they're too small for my dogs. So, it's important to buy digestible dog bones that are at least as big as your dog's head in one direction.

Are Bones Digestible for Dogs?

Yes. Bones can be very digestible and nutritious. But that depends on the bone. Some dog bones aren't very digestible. These include ones that a dog can technically eat, but it goes straight through them. Bones made of wood pulp, rubber, plastic, and even rawhide are common culprits.

The first 3 have relatively no nutrition. Then, rawhide does have some protein. But because it's tough and over processed with chemicals, a dog's relatively short digestive tract can't break it down before it passes.

But just because it isn't digestible doesn't mean it's not leaching chemicals. For example, plastic can contain harmful hormone-manipulating chemicals. And I won't even start with the bad stuff in rawhide. I was shocked!

Are All Digestible Bones Natural?

Then, you have bones that fall into the digestible category. They're usually baked treats that a dog can technically chew and swallow. They may have added vitamins and minerals. But they're not all natural and may include preservatives, additives, GMOs, and even added sugar because they don't taste very good on their own.

So, are they digestible? Certainly. Is this really what I want to give my dogs? Not really.

Can Dogs Eat Bones?

Dog bones can be an important part of a dog's diet, giving them added nutrition often lacking in kibble, especially omega-3 fats.

Dogs don't technically eat the bone part, or at least not much of it. It's what's inside that counts.

Are Natural Bones for Dogs Highly Digestible?

Natural dog bones can be highly digestible if filled with bone marrow.

First of all, my dogs use the hard bone part to scrape their teeth clean and massage their gums, which can freshen their breath, significantly reducing harmful bacteria. But that's not the real prize.

Just because the dog can technically eat the bone doesn't mean it's giving them optimal nutrition.

They will paw, claw, chew, flip and lick at the bone, trying to get the bone marrow out. It's like a game for them and very stimulating for mental health. It's better than a dog puzzle for my extra energetic terrier Pixie.

An all-natural bone for dogs calms here right down.

That marrow is nutrient-rich, buttery in texture, and slightly sweet—all natural, with nothing added. It contains a lot of collagen, a structural protein that helps build strong bones, joints, tendons, and pretty much everything in the body. Collagen is also a key nutrient in the intestinal lining, so it can help sensitive and inflamed tummies.

Bone marrow also contains a lot of healthy fat, including essential fats that dogs don't get a lot of in their usual diets—primarily omega 3 and 6. Plus, if you choose grass-fed beef bones, they're worth it because they have up to 50% more omega-3 and less saturated fat.

Then, there are lots of B vitamins for energy, and B12 is important for mood. Calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamin E are all in there.

And all of this comes from real, whole food. So, it's highly digestible. The best natural, highly digestible bones are marrow bones by a landslide.

They're digestible, and they also last a long time. My lab mix, Bruno, is an aggressive chewer. And he can get hours and hours of chew time out of one bone. These bones seem to last forever.

I haven't seen anything else withstand his powerful jaw. This allows him to get a little marrow out with each 15-20 minute chew session. And that's all he needs because this stuff is so nutritious. It's like the bone is a measuring device that ensures my dogs only get as much marrow as they can digest in a sitting.

And when that marrow is gone after many, many chew sessions, I like to refill the dog bone with the fun bone refill recipes in this free downloadable guide.

Best Natural Highly Digestible Bones for Dogs

Hands down, grass-fed beef marrow bones are the best all-natural digestible bones. I always keep a supply for my pups in our treats cabinet. I like to get ones that are individually wrapped so they last up to two years unopened. And after I open them and give them their dog bones, I can freeze them in between uses so they last a long time.

Best Natural Highly Digestible Bones for Small Dogs

For dogs up to 15lbs and most older puppies (6m or older), I like beef kneecaps, and I think you will, too. They are perfectly shaped from smaller jaws to get a good grip and allow even the tiniest of pups to enjoy a big, juicy dog bone.

Best Natural Highly Digestible Bones for Medium Dogs

Medium dogs are over 15lb, like my terrier Pixie, and this will include some bigger puppies like my neighbor's Great Dane pup. For these perfectly in the middle-sized K9s, Crown Knuckle Bones are clear winners. Why do I love these so much? They're bigger than you'd expect, so larger dogs can enjoy them, too. But they have crevices that make it easier for a medium-sized dog to get their jaws up around it to massage their teeth and gums.

The compact design makes them perfect for those aggressive chewers because, let's face it, tough chewers with jaws of steel come in all sizes. Pixie will destroy most bones in seconds, but not these.

Best Natural Highly Digestible Bones for Large Dogs

Then, for large dogs like my lab mix Bruno, Meaty Mammoth Bones are a BIG hit. Find them on Amazon here.

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