Throw the Dog a Bone… or Maybe Not?

We all grew up watching cartoons showing dogs going to town on a bowl full of juicy bones. Mickey’s dog Pluto even took it a step further, carrying his big bone everywhere he went – digging, hiding, and finding it again, always with a massive smile on his face.

It’s the stuff myths are made of, but that’s the thing about myths – they’re not necessarily true.

Dogs love to chew on bones. That part is true. There might even be certain dental benefits to doing that. But the tradeoff is that bone chewing can be dangerous, potentially even deadly, for your pup. So, what do we do with all this conflicting information? Allow us to clear things up.

The dangers (and there are many)

It’s true that there are certain bones that dogs can chew or play with (we’ll get to them later). But generally, if you don’t pay attention to the type and structure of the bone, as well as follow some very important safety rules, bones can indeed be dangerous for your dog. What might happen, you ask?

Injuries to the mouth and tongue – the jagged edges of bones may be as sharp as razors and can puncture the tongue, cheek, or the soft palate at the roof of the mouth. Rounder bones, meanwhile, can get stuck in the lower jaw behind the lower teeth. Most dogs will need to go under full anesthesia to remove bones that get stuck there.

Damage to teeth – dogs can easily shatter or crack their teeth, especially if they chew on harder bones.

Choking and obstruction of vital organs – on their way to the stomach, bone fragments can get stuck in the esophagus. They can penetrate soft tissues at the back of the throat and even enter the windpipe, causing inability to breathe.

Bones stuck in the stomach – in the case of large bone fragments (or if the dog accidentally swallowed a small bone whole), they can become trapped in the stomach, leading to irritation that results in chronic vomiting. Surgery or endoscopy will be needed to fix things up here.

Injuries to the stomach and intestines – bone fragments can penetrate the walls of the stomach or intestines, allowing food to leak from the intestines into the abdomen. This can lead to an infection called peritonitis, and it can be fatal if not treated in time. Bones can also cause complete blockage in the small intestine, which will require surgical removal of the blockage, or accumulate in the colon, which causes pain, bloody feces, and sometimes constipation.

Go and no-go types of bones

Fish bones – big no-no! They’re very small and sharp and can be very dangerous. It’s almost like giving your dog pins for breakfast. You can probably imagine the dangers here – choking, puncturing intestines, piercing internal organs… Long story short, absolutely not.

Chicken bones – these, too, should really be avoided. They’re quite small and break apart easily when dogs chew on them. Their fragments then turn into sharp splinters, and again, there’s a significant risk of puncturing and blocking internal organs, choking, and more.

Beef bones – big dogs may enjoy large, hard beef bones that haven’t been cooked for a long time (we’ll elaborate on the cooking issue later). Some pups will love the taste, and maybe they’ll ingest some minerals (though bones don’t have much nutritional value), reduce tartar buildup on their teeth, and mainly, provide a fun ol’ time for the dog.

Hellbent on giving your dog bones? Better safe than sorry

If you’ve made it this far and still insist on giving your dog bones, we highly recommend following a few important rules:

1. Bones should be free of sharp edges, thick, and most importantly, larger than your dog’s mouth.
2. Raw meat can also be dangerous in terms of bacteria, so you can cook beef bones – but not for more than 5 minutes. Prolonged cooking will make them soft and breakable, which, as we mentioned, can be very dangerous.
3. Even if you decide to give your dog bones, be sure to supervise them. Always let them have bones for only a limited amount of time, and always watch them during chew sessions. Never let the bone reach a state where the dog can swallow it. If you notice that your dog managed to break or split the bone apart – take it away from them.
4. It’s always important to consult your veterinarian beforehand and determine which types of bones suit your pup.

How to stop your dog from nibbling on bones

As dog owners, we need to take ownership of our dog’s diet and ensure it’s as healthy and balanced as possible. Not to be a nag, but your dogs should eat only at home, from their food bowl, and get treats only from you. But life’s a bit more complex than that, and we need to pay attention to what our dog eats even when they’re outside. So, as a general rule, it’s important to ensure they don’t scavenge in trash or waste thrown on the street.

If you’re invited over to a family or friends’ barbecue and your dog is your plus one, there’s bound to be some well-meaning auntie who’s unaware of what’s allowed and what isn’t. They may even want to treat your dog to a juicy bone. Remember – the responsibility is yours to make sure what they get doesn’t put them in danger, even if you’re not the one giving it.

What if your dog swallows a bone?

Suspect your dog swallowed a whole bone or, heaven forbid, is in distress due to bone fragments that aren’t digesting? Don’t hesitate and immediately contact a veterinarian, who’ll perform all the necessary tests and X-rays.

Here are some signs to help you recognize whether your dog accidentally swallowed a bone.

• If your dog is drooling or licking their “lips” constantly
• If you notice their belly is bloated
• If they refuse to eat, vomit a lot, have diarrhea, are slower than usual, or seem exhausted for no apparent reason
• There might even be a change in their behavior – they’re reluctant to play or are uncharacteristically fatigued

If you see any of these, don’t mess around and rush to the veterinarian. They’ll decide on the appropriate course of treatment and whether surgery is needed to remove the bone and prevent infections. Remember – damage may be discovered only several days after a bone, or part of it, was swallowed, so it’s important to monitor your dog for any such unusual changes.

Dental chews – the healthy, safe alternative

You can do everything we’ve talked about so far… but just know that there are safer and healthier alternatives than real bones. And you can find them in any pet store. Dental chews of various kinds are the perfect solution for strengthening your dog’s teeth and chewing, but no less importantly – they provide them (and you) with many hours of fun. Today, there’s a huge variety of such chews that are widely available, differing in shapes, materials, and density. There are chews for large dogs, for older dogs, for younger dogs… In short, not a single dog – or dog owner – will be left without a safe and appropriate chew.

No matter which bone you decide to give your dog, we at Animalia Pet Insurance are here for you if something goes wrong. Our comprehensive dog insurance will ensure that your dog continues munching safely for years to come with our first-rate coverage.

Roi Kadosh

Adores dogs and writing, not necessarily in that order. Left his heart in New York City, but lives far, far away from it.

All my articles

Reviewd by

Dr. Paula Simons