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Post by MoonstoneGerbils on May 17, 2012 19:47:31 GMT -8
The heat treatment of the bone changes the structure of it. Which will cause the bone to become brittle, and have HAIRLINE FRACTURES! Hard bone is actually NOT what you want. The point of chewing the bone is not to be chewing a rock. A raw bone does have nutritional values. A cooked bone has significantly less.
The things with cats and dogs is they can swallow the entire bone, and the splinters
Gerbils on the other hand can't swallow an entire bone. But they can swallow splinters. Please, err on the side of caution. Don't feed your gerbils cooked bones.
The softer bones are actually better, especially antler. Spongy bones are more nutritious simply because that's where the LIVING bone is. This is why pumice stone is a great gerbil toy, because it has texture (spongyness), and it crumbles rather than splinters.
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Post by Shooting Star on May 18, 2012 4:38:53 GMT -8
To clarify a previous statement: I wasn't saying spongy bone was bad, not at all. Just pointing out that, spending most of their time buried in gerbil bedding, bones do tend to develop a smell from absorbing urine. This is especially noticeable in bones that have spongy areas. When you talk about how long bone/antler will last, you have to consider not only the durability, but the ability to absorb odor. Unless I can figure out a way to clean my marrow bones without changing the structure, I know I'll have to throw them out because of the smell long before the gerbils actually destroy them. I imagine the same would go for antlers-- more so, since all that spongy bone would be more absorbent.
It's not a reason not to use antlers, just something you'd have to take into account. Although antlers are probably durable enough to last gerbils months or years before complete destruction, in reality you might have to replace them much more frequently. And that brings cost back into the equation. That is what I was getting at.
The thought of cooked bone being good for rats surprised me when I first came across it, so I figured I'd throw it out there to be debunked. Thanks for that, Katie.
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Post by MoonstoneGerbils on May 18, 2012 6:17:46 GMT -8
true, which is why I have always smashed my marrow bones. They do tend to absorb smells, and i imagine you're very right about them. I either take a hammer to the marrow bones, and rap them until they break, or i throw them against the drive way (however this method is crude, and usually involves me searching for the bone chips).
Antler would be more difficult to chunk up, and without a bone saw or ceramic saw breaking them into smaller pieces would be difficult.
I suppose you could always get a piece of wire and suspend the bone so that it doesn't get lost in the litter.
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Post by emilyr252 on May 23, 2012 16:44:02 GMT -8
I see. Do you think i should try it? See how it goes?
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Post by akane on May 24, 2012 13:32:39 GMT -8
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Post by emilyr252 on May 24, 2012 16:51:15 GMT -8
Nice website, and cheap prices, but high S&H. I might get a piece. i noticed that the outside has rough grey "skin". Should i take it off or leave it on?
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Post by akane on May 24, 2012 17:07:41 GMT -8
There are other sites with companies that might be closer. I don't have the link to the dog specific one someone posted once that had all sorts of antler sizes and shapes with slices and buttons.
I doubt any natural coating left on the antlers would pose a problem.
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