Pigs and Trichinosis

[vogel002]

Does anyone have any thoughts on feeding the raw bones of a wild pig to the dog or had issues with Trichinosis?

Thanks,
M.V.

 

[dthome]

Trichinosis has been found in bone marrow:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13092064

Also, there could be traces of blood and bits of muscle tissue left on the bone. I would just throw the bone in a pot of boiling water for a short time and then let your dog have at it. My two cents.

 

[OPAH]

I always boil the bones, better safe than sorry

 

[Wolfe]

The guys I know in Texas always cook the meat and bones before they give it to the dogs. Those guys don't give a crap about the dogs and use the hell out of them. If they cook the bones and meat I know there is a reason.

 

[TheGDog]

You have to be careful though about your dogs and cooked bones. I'm pretty sure the vet told me Chicken and pork bones are a no-no to give them to your dogs because the bones have a tendency to splinter in the way they break after being cooked... and what happens is your dog... well... just being a dog.... woofs down those sharp-pointed bone slivers and they have perforations occur in their esophagus. Personally... I'd say... if it's a bigger bone from a pig... like their humerus and shoulder bones... should be fine because those particular bones are soo darn thick. But... I'd be very wary of giving them like... for example pork rib bones.

I often shoot pork rib bones for target practice with my Air Rifle and they definitely DO break apart and create SHARP spear-like edges.

 

[vogel002]

thanks gentlemen

 

[Captjgray]

For some reason wild pig bones do not splinter like domestic pig bones or chicken bones which are the worst. Wild pig bones will crumble much like a cow bone.

Nothing wrong with throwing them in the oven at 500 degrees or into the smoker for a while to add some flavor for Fido...

my lab puppy doesn't seem to mind when I do that at all...

 

[vogel002]

Good to know, thank you

 

[Bubblehide]

If I recall correctly, DFW is currently doing a study to determine the prevelance of Trichinosis in wild pigs. I am hoping to read the study when it comes out.