[BarryMcD]

EVERYTHING YOU'LL EVER WANT TO KNOW ABOUT MARROW BONES! (Been using them for years!)

The picture that Soapy's link goes to is definitely what we here in New York call a marrow bone. Others call them soup bones, and who knows what else, depending upon where you live in this great country of ours.

In the supermarkets and butcher shops around me, they sometimes cut them in 1 1/2 to 3 inch lengths, which is perfect for dogs because they can get at all the marrow. (Also look at the things before you buy and try to get ones with a large opening where the marrow is. Some have such a small opening that the dog's tongue can't get in there.)

Other butchers will cut them in lengths as long as 6 or 7 inches. These are pretty useless unless you want to torture your dog for hours! When I can only find these long cuts, I take the package and go to the meat counter and ask the butcher to cut them into shorter pieces, and they always oblige.

Some marrow bones will be almost bare on the outside (just white bone), while others may have a fair amount of meat hanging on them. I always try to grab the ones with a little meat left on them.

The marrow does has fat, but it also is rich in amino acids, minerals, and other nutrients. However, as some previous messages have pointed out, the real purpose of marrow bones, as far as dogs are concerned, is to give them a bone to chew that is filled with tempting stuff that is moderately difficult to get to. The effort to get the marrow, and the biting and scraping of the dog's teeth on the bone are a major aid in dental health, removing plaque and helping to clean the teeth.

101 THINGS TO DO WITH MARROW BONES:

1) Boil the bones in an uncovered pot on medium heat for several hours to reduce the water to a yummy marrow stock. Then use the cooled stock to make a special meal for your dog, such as pouring it over dry kibble overy now and then. You can get most dogs to eat any kibble, no matter how fussy they are, if you soak it in marrow juice! Yummy!

2) Do the marrow bone thing and let the dog chew on the bone and then discard it as "used."

3) Put the empty marrow bones through the dishwasher, or clean them thoroughly by hand to remove any remaining meat or marrow. You now have a perfect chew toy that is great for the teeth that is the equivalent of some plastic or rawhide piece of junk that you would pay $10.00 for in a pet store! Stuff the now empty marrow bone with the food of your choice (or of your dog's choice). Peanut butter, embedded with some kibble, is a favorite around here. Once your pet has again scraped his teeth clean, gotten his treat, and discarded the bone, repeat this step. We have four marrow bones that are just the right shape and size that we have been recycling for six months this way!

4) Same as 4, but prepare a couple bones in secret and hide them around the house for the dog to find when he least expects it.

5) Ever see the question on the Forum Board: How do I get my dog to swallow a pill? Fill that marrow bone hole up with creme cheese, peanut butter, canned dog food, whatever... and jam that pill right in there. Problem solved, teeth cleaned again, and back in the dishwasher.

6) Also, if you leave even empty unfilled marrow bones around here and there on the floor, most dogs will during a boring moment chew them, move them, bury them, dig them up, etc. I have four dogs who are constantly playing hide and seek, hiding marrow bones from each other!

7) Stick a clean and unfilled marrow bone right into your dog's kibble at supper time. Let some of the kibble get inside the bone. Brushing your teeth while eating, we call it.

8) Collect all the marrow bones you buy and keep them in a special box. Occasionally put this box full of dozens of bones on the floor or outside and let your dog discover it and pick out the best one, or paw through it to try out several! More teeth cleaning.

9) In all their uses, marrow bones have the advantage of being close to indestrucible. I have a hundred pound Rottweiler who will crunch a T-bone or Porterhouse bone into five pieces with a single bite and them swallow them whole, but he's never cracked a marrow bone. They are the safest bone you can give a dog.

10) Put a rope through a dozen or more marrow bones and tie it in a ring. Another $10.00 dog toy!

Well, I'll let you think up the remaining 91 uses, but I'll tell you, we buy marrow bones at least once a week, and the only thing I know how to use in more ways is duct tape!