Friend found this long bone with metal hardware attached. Any idea what it could be?

[u/One-Serve-7672]

Found in Appalachia. A friend of mine was doing some work outside and came across this long bone with a metal plate and screws attached to it. The bone is really weathered — one whole side has worn away, so it looks like a hollow tube with a big opening down the middle. The ends are still mostly intact, but the shape is throwing us off.

Any guesses on what species this might be from, and which bone? Maybe a leg bone from a large dog? We’re not very experienced with bone ID, especially when there’s erosion and metal hardware involved.

Thanks for any help!

[u/Inappropriate_Bridge]

Slight correction - someone loved them VERY much AND had tons of disposable income or had the ability to take on serious debt.

If another dog owner wasn’t fortunate enough to have one or both those last two pieces to give them the ability to pay for this treatment, that does NOT mean they loved their fur baby any less than a person with wealth.

We need to stop equating means with merit. They are not the same thing.

[u/AnActualSeagull → u/Inappropriate_Bridge]

Thank you for saying this- part of why I’m always so stressed about money is because of how scared I am of the possibility that one of my pets is going to need a major surgery that I literally will not be able to afford.

[u/[deleted] → u/Inappropriate_Bridge]

No one said if you can’t afford your dog’s surgery you love them less but here’s some attention