Thankfully raw feeding is growing in popularity, but not all raw diets are made equal. One major risk is high bone content, which can lead to serious health issues.
Here’s what you need to know to keep your dog safe.
What Happens When There’s Too Much Bone?
Bones provide calcium and phosphorus. But too much can do more harm than good.
Here’s what vets and nutritionists warn about:
Constipation: Hard, dry stools and painful passing
White chalky poo: A clear sign of excess bone
Blockages: Sharp fragments can cause obstructions
Dental fractures: Weight-bearing bones can break teeth
Mineral imbalance: Can affect kidney and liver function over time
The PDSA advises:
“Bones can get stuck in your pet’s stomach and block it, or splinters of bone can damage your pet’s delicate insides. Chewing on bones can also cause fractures in your pet’s teeth. Even if your pet is lucky to avoid these issues, bones can often cause stomach pain and constipation due to their high levels of calcium.”
Spotting the Signs: What to Watch For
Some UK raw food brands use a lot of bone to bulk up meals. Why? Because its a cheap filler.
Here’s how to know your dog’s food may be too bone-heavy:
White or grey poo that turns crumbly
Straining to go or skipping poos altogether
Crunchy texture in defrosted food – indicates ground bone shards
Too firm mince when raw – bone raises density
Why You Should Never Cook Food Containing Bone
Raw bones are digestible when fed raw.
Cooked bones are dangerous.
They splinter easily and can pierce the gut
They don’t break down in the stomach like raw bones do
They cause blockages, tears and even death
That’s why you should never cook raw meals with bone in them.
How Poppy’s Picnic Does It Better
At Poppy’s Picnic, we’ve designed every range to be safe, natural, and easy to digest.
✅ RAW POWER: Carefully Balanced with the Right Bone Ratio
Our RAW POWER meals are FEDIAF-compliant and include 7-8% bone in our RAW POWER meals, the perfect amount for safe for long-term feeding and contain no additives or fillers. Our bone is ground on a 8mm plate, where many producers use 10-12mm.
Shop the range: RAW POWER Meals
✅ MIGHTY MINCE & POWER BALLS:
Boneless for Cooking and Sensitive Tummies
Need something easy to cook or for dogs with bone sensitivities?
Try our MIGHTY MINCE or POWER BALLS.
No bone
Perfect for home-cooking
Ideal for pups, seniors or dogs with sensitive digestion
Shop our MIGHTY MINCE and POWER BALL ranges
“Poppy’s Picnic gives me peace of mind. The meals are clearly labelled, and the Alfie has enjoys the food”
says pet owner and raw advocate, Sarah Walker
Be Careful Out there
Ask questions when trying another supplier:
What percentage of bone is in the meal?
Are their meals FEDIAF balanced?
Can you speak to a qualified pet nutritionist?
Do they offer boneless options?
Are bones ground or whole?
If you get vague answers, walk away.
Final Thoughts
Too much bone is a hidden danger in many raw diets.
At Poppy’s Picnic, we make it easy to feed raw safely:
We clearly label bone content
We offer boneless ranges you can cook
We balance every meal to FEDIAF standards
Your dog’s health starts with the bowl.
Ready to switch to bone-safe meals?
Explore our complete raw food range: Poppy’s Picnic Shop