Should Dogs Be Given Bones to Chew

Giving a dog a bone seems natural, but an FDA alert cautions otherwise. Here we will look at why bones aren’t safe for dogs and offer some alternatives.

Giving a dog a bone seems like a great way to treat our best friend. People who feed their dog’s raw diets often advocate that feeding raw, uncooked bones to an animal is healthy, but is giving a dog a bone safe? A recent consumer health alert from the FDA says no. This alert states that pet owners should never give their dogs a raw bone. Many veterinarians also agree that feeding bones to dogs can be harmful. The reasons why dogs should not be given raw bones are:

Bones may cause injuries to a dog’s mouth. Chewing on bones may cause a dog to break teeth. Sharp slivers of bone can penetrate and injure the soft tissue of the mouth and tongue of a dog.
Bones may cause injuries to a dog’s esophagus or windpipe. If a piece of bone gets stuck in the esophagus of a dog, it could cause the animal to gag and possibly vomit. If a bone gets stuck in the windpipe of a dog, the consequences are more severe, and the dog will need immediate veterinary care.
Bones may cause digestive problems. If a dog swallows pieces of bone, the bone fragments can get stuck in the stomach or intestines of the dog, which can cause constipation. If bone shards pierce the intestine of the dog, severe rectal bleeding can occur. Intestinal perforations can also cause peritonitis, which is a severe and sometimes fatal bacterial infection.

Some bones available in pet stores have been specially treated to prevent splintering. These bones have been boiled in saltwater and smoked. This process causes the bones to harden and wear away slowly when chewed, preventing the dog from chewing off big pieces.

Caution should still be exercised when giving a dog a smoked bone. Once the bone wears down to a piece small enough for the dog to swallow, it should be taken away. When a smoked bone is given to a dog, it is wise for the owner to be nearby to ensure the dog doesn’t manage to bite off and swallow any big pieces.

Many pet owners choose not to risk giving their dog a smoked bone. There are many synthetic bones and chew toys on the market that are made of nylon or rubber. No matter how powerful of a chewer the dog is, nylon and rubber dog toys will only break into very small pieces. If the dog swallows these pieces, they pass through the animal without a problem.

One of the reasons people give their dog a bone is to keep the dog occupied and prevent them from chewing up the house. Dogs chew things because they are bored. Rather than give a dog a dangerous bone to keep them occupied, many pet owners choose to introduce their pets to interactive toys.

These toys force the dog to perform a task, such as rolling a ball, or sliding a door with their paw, to get a treat. Interactive toys not only keep a dog busy but help make the dog more intelligent and trainable. Tricky Treats and Aikiou are name brands of some great interactive dog toys that should be available at your local pet shop.

Connect with My Four and More on Social Media!

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

Share on Facebook

Save