When it comes to bones, dog owners often wonder what types are safe for their pup to chew and eat. Cooked bones tend to be more brittle than raw bones, so not all types are recommended. This article provides guidelines on what cooked bones dogs can and cannot eat.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Bones?
In general, veterinarians recommend avoiding cooked bones. The cooking process makes bones more brittle and prone to splintering than raw bones. When chewed, cooked bones can easily shard and splinter, which can cause mouth lacerations or become lodged in the esophagus, windpipe, or intestines.
Despite this risk, some dog owners still opt to give their dog cooked bones for recreational chewing or as part of their diet. If you choose to give your dog cooked bones, stick to larger weight-bearing bones of larger animals. The dense structure provides an acceptable chewing challenge while minimizing splintering risk.
Cooked Bones to Avoid
There are certain cooked bones that should always be avoided:
- Cooked poultry bones – Chicken, turkey, and other bird bones tend to splinter easily when cooked. They should never be fed to dogs.
- Pork bones – Pork bones also easily splinter when cooked.
- Rib bones – Rib bones have a curved shape that makes them easy to accidentally swallow in large chunks. This can lead to intestinal obstruction.
- Fish bones – Small fish bones pose a significant choking hazard and can pierce the digestive tract.
- Cooked bones that have been cut – Sawing or cutting bones makes sharp edges that splinter easily.
Giving a dog any type of cooked bone is risky. But steering clear of the bones above helps minimize danger.
Safer Options for Cooked Bones
If you want to give your pup cooked bones, some potential safer options include:
- Weight-bearing leg bones from beef, deer, elk, or other large mammals. Choose bones with smooth ends rather than sharp points.
- Knuckle and hip joints from beef or bison.
- Hearts and necks from chicken, turkey, or other birds (with bones removed).
- Always select larger animal bones – Beef over chicken, etc. The dense structure resists splintering.
- Avoid bones from smaller animals like rabbits or birds that are more delicate.
However, safer does not mean risk-free. Any cooked bone can potentially splinter. Supervise your dog when chewing and take away if you notice splintering.
Raw Bones are Ideal
For recreational chewing and dental health, raw meaty bones are safer than cooked. Raw bones are less likely to splinter and provide additional benefits:
- Cleaning teeth – The meat and cartilage clean teeth and massage gums.
- Mental stimulation – Chewing provides physical and mental activity.
- Nutrition – Raw bones contain calcium, phosphorus, and trace minerals.
Raw bones to try include raw chicken wings and legs, lamb femurs, pork or beef necks and knuckles. Always supervise your dog with any chew.
What About Bone Broth?
Bone broth made by simmering bones contains minerals and nutrients. Small amounts are safe for healthy dogs. Do not give bones after cooking – discard them. Avoid broth with onion or garlic, which are toxic to dogs.
Signs of Trouble
Watch your dog closely when chewing any bone. Signs of trouble include:
- Coughing, gagging, or retching
- Attempting to vomit but being unable to bring anything up
- Drooling more than usual
- Whining or distress
- Bloody stool or black, tarry stool
- Loss of appetite
If you notice any of these, take away the bone and call your vet. Do not let your dog continue chewing. Cooked bone splinters can cause mouth lacerations, intestinal perforation, sepsis, peritonitis, or death.
Are Bones a Choking Hazard?
Any type of bone has the potential to become a choking hazard for dogs. Signs of choking include gagging, pawing at the mouth, wide eyes, inability to breathe, and collapse. If your dog is choking, follow these steps:
- Stay calm. Anxiety can make the blockage worse.
- Open your dog’s mouth and look for the object. DO NOT reach into the throat – you may push it down further.
- If you can see the blockage, use pliers or tweezers to try grasping it. Be extremely careful.
- If you cannot remove it, place your hands below the rib cage and administer sharp quick chest compressions to try and dislodge the object.
- GET EMERGENCY VET HELP. Choking can kill quickly.
While choking can happen with any chew, bones require extra supervision. Avoid bones that are too small or the wrong shape.
How to Choose Safe Bones
Consider these factors when selecting bones for your dog:
Bone Size
Bones should be larger than your dog’s mouth. Select joint bones at least as large as a tennis ball. Avoid bones small enough to swallow.
Animal Size
Choose bones from cattle, bison, deer, etc – NOT chicken, turkey, or pork. The dense bones of larger mammals resist splintering better.
Your Dog’s Chewing Ability
Consider your individual dog’s chewing power. Aggressive chewers need thicker, denser bones such as leg bones or knuckle bones. Less powerful chewers can handle necks and backs.
Bone Shape
Avoid bones with sharp points or curved shapes that dogs may accidentally swallow. Round, ball-shaped joint bones work best.
Freshness
Always serve fresh raw bones, never ones that seem dried out or are smelly or moldy.
With the right bone and plenty of supervision, recreational chewing can be safe for most dogs. Talk to your vet if you have questions.
Are Bones Safe for Puppies?
Puppies have developing teeth and jaws. Bones can chip or fracture teeth or damage soft tissue. Most vets recommend waiting until a puppy is done teething before offering bones:
- Small breeds – 7 to 9 months
- Medium breeds – 8 to 12 months
- Large/giant breeds – 12 to 18 months
Until then, consider safer chews like rubber toys. If offering bones, select softer raw bones like chicken wings and supervise closely.
Cook Meat Off Bones Before Discarding
If cooking meat for your dog, cook the meat fully before removing it from the bone with a fork. Bones can then be discarded. Never give a dog cooked bones with meat or tissue still attached – the cooked tissue can stick to the teeth and pose a choking hazard.
Are Bones a Good Idea for Dogs?
The risks and benefits of giving dogs bones are hotly debated. Some key considerations:
Benefits
- Cleans teeth and prevents tartar buildup
- Satisfies natural chewing instinct
- Provides mental stimulation
- Raw bones provide minerals like calcium and phosphorus
Risks
- Potential for cooked bones to splinter and cause internal damage
- Can be a choking hazard
- May lead to tooth fractures, especially in aggressive chewers
- Raw bones carry bacteria risks
There is no definitive right or wrong answer. Supervision, selecting appropriate bones, and knowing your individual dog’s chewing habits reduce, but do not eliminate, the risks.
Are Bones a Choking Hazard for Puppies?
Puppies are at high risk for choking on bones or other objects. Their small throats and developing teeth make them vulnerable. Keep these tips in mind for puppies:
- Avoid any size bone small enough to fit entirely in the mouth or swallow.
- Select softer raw bones like chicken wings over thick weight-bearing bones.
- Supervise constantly – do not leave puppies unsupervised with chews.
- Teach your puppy the “drop it” command so you can easily take an object away.
- Know canine CPR and first aid in case of emergency.
While choking is always a risk, proper supervision and bone size reduce danger. As your puppy ages, their chewing skills will also mature.
Best Bones for Dogs to Chew
The best bone choices combine safety, enjoyment, and dental health. Top options include:
Raw Meaty Bones
Raw meaty bones provide recreation and nutrition. Try raw chicken wings and legs, turkey necks, lamb shanks, or beef knuckle bones based on your dog’s size and chewing ability.
Recreational Bones
Nylon bones and rubber chew toys designed specifically for sustained chewing. These are fully digestible if swallowed.
Dental Bones
Edible raw hides, flexible rawhides, bones, or specially formulated dental chews. Look for the VOHC seal from the Veterinary Oral Health Council.
Avoid smoked bones, bones sawn lengthwise, small bones, bones from birds, or weight-bearing cooked bones. These present splintering and choking hazards.
Should I Give My Dog Bones Every Day?
Veterinarians typically recommend limiting bones to 2-3 times per week. Reasons include:
- Bone chewing fatigue – Regular, vigorous chewing can tire jaw muscles.
- Tooth fractures – Excessive chewing may lead to fractured teeth.
- Gastrointestinal irritation – Bones may cause digestive upset if given too frequently.
- Nutritional imbalance – Bones should not exceed 10% of daily calories.
Rotate different bone types and sizes to keep things interesting. Always separate dogs when giving bones to prevent resource guarding. Limit chewing to less than 1 hour per session.
Monitoring Dogs with Bones
Whenever you give your dog a bone, proper monitoring is crucial. Never leave dogs unsupervised with bones or any chew.
- Separate dogs when giving bones to prevent aggression or stealing.
- Select bones sized appropriately for your dog to reduce choking risk.
- Monitor chewing, especially intense chewers. Take the bone away if you notice splintering or damage.
- Do not allow bones that slip to the back of your dog’s mouth.
- Do not leave a bone unattended, even for a moment.
- Limit chewing sessions to less than an hour to avoid jaw fatigue.
With close monitoring, most dogs can enjoy bones safely. Pay close attention to your dog’s chewing habits.
Are Smoked Bones Safe for Dogs?
Veterinarians recommend avoiding smoked bones for dogs. Potential risks include:
- Toxins – Smoking introduces carcinogenic compounds.
- Splintering – Smoking dries out bones and makes them more brittle.
- Bacteria – Smoked bones are not sterile and can harbor pathogens.
- Blockages – Dry smoked bones may get stuck in the esophagus, windpipe, or intestines.
If you feed smoked bones, choose large thick raw bones and supervise chewing. However, raw meaty bones or rubber chews are safer alternatives.
Should Dogs Eat Bone Marrow?
Bone marrow in raw bones provides healthy fats, minerals, vitamins, and nutrients dogs thrive on. Many raw food diets for dogs include raw marrow bones on a regular basis. Cooked bone marrow should be avoided, as cooking makes the bones brittle and prone to splintering.
Signs Your Dog Ate a Bone or Stick
Watch for these signs your dog may have swallowed a bone, stick, or other object:
- Coughing, gagging, retching
- Drooling more than normal
- Acting anxious and restless
- Attempting to vomit but being unable to bring anything up
- Eating grass and licking lips repeatedly
- Swollen belly
- Loss of appetite
- Whining in discomfort
- Hiding or acting lethargic
If you notice any of these, call your vet right away. Do not wait for symptoms to resolve on their own. Time is critical for removing an obstruction.
Are Raw Bones Safe for Dogs?
Raw bones are ideal for dogs. Benefits of raw bones include:
- Safer chewing – Less likely to splinter than cooked bones
- Dental health – Cleans teeth and reduces plaque
- Enrichment – Provides mental stimulation and satisfaction
- Nutrition – Contains healthy minerals like calcium and phosphorus
To give raw bones safely:
- Select thick, dense raw bones – Avoid thin bones
- Supervise constantly to monitor chewing
- Choose bones from cattle, deer, bison – Not birds
- Always serve fresh, never old bones
With supervision, most healthy adult dogs can enjoy raw bones safely. They are a healthy treat in moderation.
Conclusion
Cooked bones should be avoided for dogs, as the cooking process makes them brittle and prone to dangerous splintering. Safer options include large raw weight-bearing bones or raw meaty bones under supervision. Bones provide chewing satisfaction, dental health, and mental enrichment. However, improper bone choices or inadequate monitoring can lead to choking, intestinal damage, or tooth damage. Dog owners need to weigh risks against benefits for their individual dog.