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We鈥檝e all heard the phrase 鈥済ive a dog a bone,鈥� but you might want to consider alternative treats to .
Bones can be a good source of minerals and other nutrients and help satisfy your dog鈥檚 appetite. Chewing stimulates saliva enzymes and helps buildup on teeth and gum disease. And a dog chewing on a bone is less inclined to excessively scratch or lick their paws.
However, chewing bones can pose potential dangers to dogs. If you鈥檙e considering giving your dog a bone, consider whether it鈥檚 the right treat for your pet.
Potential Health Hazards
Fatty Bones Can Cause Pancreatitis
Rib bones, especially pork rib bones, are high in fat. Dogs aren鈥檛 built to handle this amount of saturated fat, which can cause pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by too much fat in the diet. It can range from mild to severe, but symptoms typically include vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Severe cases can be deadly, so it鈥檚 important to seek veterinary attention right away if you suspect your dog may have pancreatitis.
Cooked Bones Can Shatter and Cause Damage
Cooked bones splinter into shards. So if your dog eats one, they might choke on the tiny pieces. These pieces can cause serious damage to the dog鈥檚 mouth, throat, or intestines. Cooking can also remove nutrients from the bone.
If your dog does ingest cooked bones, give your veterinarian a call for advice or schedule an appointment to rule out any serious outcomes. Be careful to keep platters containing bones out of reach when you鈥檙e cooking or putting food on the table. And avoid putting bones in any trash cans that your dog might be able to get into.
Fragments Can Be Choking Hazards
When your dog gnaws on a bone, they might chew it down into small pieces. Those fragments聽are a major choking hazard. Bone fragments can easily get lodged in your dog鈥檚 throat, blocking the airways and creating an emergency situation.
Also, these chunks are typically very sharp. They can puncture and cut the inside of your dog鈥檚 mouth, tongue, stomach, and intestines. Fragments of bone, especially rib bones, can also lodge in the descending colon near the rectum, causing constipation-like symptoms and pain. If this occurs, bring your dog to the veterinarian or emergency clinic for treatment.
Chunks of Bone Might Cause Blockages
The chance of bone chunks getting stuck in the intestines is fairly high. Blockages can occur if a bone fragment is too large to pass through the gut and obstructs the flow of all other digested food through the gastrointestinal tract. Obstructions are very serious and can quickly lead to severe illness and death.
Bones Can Irritate Canine Stomachs
A bone and its marrow can cause diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. Bones could also further irritate already sensitive stomachs.
What to Do When Giving Your Dog a Bone
Ask Your Vet About Raw Meat Bones
Some veterinarians suggest raw meat bones for dogs. But raw meat bones may carry bacteria like salmonella. And bones that are too hard, even raw bones, could damage your dog鈥檚 teeth. If a bone is harder than a tooth, the tooth can fracture and your dog will need an expensive dental evaluation and treatment. So before giving your dog a raw meat bone, ask your vet if this would be a safe treat.
Give Your Dog a Bone if They鈥檙e Alone
It鈥檚 a good idea not to give your dog a bone if there鈥檚 another dog visiting. Even friendly dogs can be very protective of their bones.
Try a Bone After a Meal
Because they鈥檝e just eaten, your dog is already full. As a result, they鈥檙e not likely to chew the bone as quickly.
Put the Bone in the Fridge After 10 to 15 Minutes
After your dog has spent 10 to 15 minutes chewing on the bone, take it away and put it in the refrigerator. Dogs have powerful jaws, and you don鈥檛 want your dog to ingest too much bone.
Throw Out a Bone After a Few Days
Dispose of a bone after three or four days. Bacteria can grow on the surface and cause intestinal problems for your dog.
Give Large Breeds Large Bones
Bones should be larger than the length of the dog鈥檚 muzzle, so they can鈥檛 be swallowed whole. So try giving large breeds, such as German Shepherd Dogs, Bloodhounds, and Mastiffs, large bones. A beef shank bone is a good example of the type of bone to give to a large dog.
Supervise Your Dog
It鈥檚 very important to check periodically on your dog when they are chewing a bone. Be ready to remove the bone if it鈥檚 breaking apart or getting too small.
Bone Alternatives
Consider playing it safe and only providing commercially available and that are made for dogs of all sizes.