raw meaty bones

[coppab]

I'm giving Tully raw meaty lamb shank bones, he really takes his time eating it and so far hasn't even made it to the bone.
My question is how long is it safe for the bone to be laying out in the yard? I am in the middle of an Ozzy summer and the flies love to land on it, so is it safe for him to eat the fly eggs that would have been put on the bone when the flies land on it?
Also is it ok to refreeze bones once they have had a chew and you want to put it away for a few days so he can finish it then? I know you can't with people food so I assume it wouldn't be ok for dogs, however I have seen some dogs eat some truely disgusting stuff.
Thanks for your thoughts
Bianca

[gmacleod]

Technically, the fly eggs won't hurt him and dogs aren't vulnerable to bacteria in the way people are. But there's the ick factor to consider LOL I wouldn't let him eat obviously rotten meat, but something that has suffered a little in the sun isn't going to bother him.

Yes, you can refreeze the bone. Just pick it up when he isn't interested in chewing it and put it in the freezer. He can have it back later. With people food, it's more of a quality issue than a safety one, I think, when saying food shouldn't be refrozen. But it doesn't seem to bother dogs. Many people refreeze raw dog food on a regular basis.

[LNsBeatles]

THANK YOU for posting about this issue -- I had just logged on to ask the very same question ;)

I gave Louis a bison bone the other day and he never lost interest in it, but at some point I had to take it away from him so we could both go to bed. :lol:

I put it in the fridge and gave it to him again the next day, but then I worried about the meat rotting, so I threw it away.

Glad to know you can just re-freeze the bone! Poor Louis, I guess I'll have to get him a new one :D

[coppab]

thanks for that, it makes life easier just to refreeze.