Knuckle bones

Question
Hi Labman,

    What's your opinion on knuckle bones (cooked, raw, or smoked) for dogs?  Some say they can break teeth, others say they can't. Thank you.

Answer
Partly it has to do with the size and the size of the dog.  Some dogs may crack their teeth.  Even the gold standard for safety, Nylabones, can crack larger dog's teeth if one is small enough to get clear to the back of the mouth.  As part of the contract we sign to foster puppies for a dog guide school, we agree not to let them gave any real bones.  The FDA warns against them, http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/Cons.../ucm208365.htm

With 2 such credible sources against bones, I wouldn't give one to any dog.  We had one Lab whose teeth were in excellent shape when we put her to sleep at 15.  She never had a real bone in her life.  Her mother did.  I don't know if any of hers were cracked, but before she was 10, they were heavily worn.