Bones can be an enriching treat for your dog. Chewing can relieve boredom, anxiety and stress, and helps keep your dog's teeth clean. However, bones can be also harmful to dogs. Today, our Liberty Lake vets explain.
Are bones good for dogs?
Yes is the most frequent response.Bones satisfy your dog's appetite while also supplying minerals and other nutrients. Chewing increases salivary enzyme production, preventing plaque accumulation and gum disease. Additionally, a dog who is chewing on a dog bone is less likely to overly lick or scratch his paws.
So can you give a dog a bone?
A better question to ask is "should dogs chew bones?"
In general, raw bones tend to be better for dogs than cooked bones. So if you ever wondered "are cooked bones bad for dogs?" the answer is yes, but again, in general.
This is due to the fact that splinters from raw or cooked bones can both hurt or even kill your dog by getting into their mouth or digestive tract (although cooked bones are more likely to do this). The following are some effects of a dog chewing on raw or cooked bones.
- Lacerations or punctures to the gums and tongue
- Cuts and wounds to the throat
- Damaged or broken teeth
- Choking
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Severe constipation
- Intestinal blockage
- Perforation of the intestines
- Rectal trauma and bleeding
What bones are not safe for dogs?
Cooked Chicken and Turkey Bones: These bones are most likely to splinter. Small bones are also more prone to getting lodged in the throat and esophagus than larger, more solid bones.
T-Bones: T-bones, due to their shape, can become stuck in a dog's throat while the other end is down the esophagus or trachea. This can lead to severe swelling that can block the airway, preventing your dog from breathing.
Small Bones and Circular Bones: It is dangerous to give your dog any bone that is too small for their mouth or is prone to breaking. Each one poses a risk of choking, as well as causing damage to the mouth and digestive system. Due to their potential to become stuck in a dog's lower jaw, circular bones are also unfavorable. Since this causes them great fear, sedation is frequently required when cutting the bone to release the dog's jaw.
What bones can dogs eat?
Generally, you want to get raw bones from a reputable butcher large enough to be easily grasped and about the size of your dog's head. It should also have bulges or lumps on both ends.
Although raw bones are regarded as a "safe" bone option, there are still risks. Your dog can still have a tooth broken, gums cut, or a bone splinter. Constipation can result from excessive chewing on the bone. Before using, the bone should be refrigerated and discarded after a few hours.
General Rules for Bone Safety
If you are considering giving your dog a bone, here are some general safety rules to follow:
Do:
- Serve raw meat bones.
- After 10 to 15 minutes, remove the bone from your dog and place it in the refrigerator.
- After three or four days, discard the bone.
- Give large bones to large breeds like German Shepherd Dogs, Bloodhounds, and Mastiffs.
- When you give your dog a bone, keep an eye on him.
- Be an educated consumer
Do Not:
- Give your dog the wrong type of bone.
- Don't give your dog cooked bones of any kind.
- Allow your dog to chew any type of bone into small pieces.
- Don't give your dog a bone if he has stomach problems.
- If another dog is visiting, don't give your dog a bone to chew on.