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Bones can pose a health risk for your dog.
Some dogs are frequently treated to tasty bones by their owners, but is it safe for dogs to eat bones? Are they actually as beneficial for canines as many believe? This article will delve into the advantages and risks associated with feeding bones to dogs, and what you should consider when selecting the right bones for your furry friend.
Before offering bones to your dog, it’s important to thoroughly explore the topic of dog nutrition. Feeding bones comes with not only benefits but also certain risks.
Following essential feeding recommendations, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with occasionally giving bones to your dog. However, choosing the wrong bones or excessive feeding can lead to health consequences that should not be underestimated.
Many dogs relish the flavour of bones. But besides taste, what other benefits does feeding bones provide for dogs?
Bones are largely composed of connective tissue and fat. They are also rich in valuable nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, and zinc. Hence, bones are often used in dietary supplements – for example, to bolster mineral intake.
Bones not only taste great to many dogs, they also serve as an engaging activity. However, keep in mind that bones consumed should be factored into their daily rations. Moreover, it’s crucial that you never leave your dog unattended while it’s eating bones.
Occasionally chewing on soft bones may promote oral health. Regular gnawing on bone material is thought to clean the surface of dog teeth, guarding them against plaque and tartar.
- Note: Remember that dental health depends on many factors, and despite feeding bones, your dog may still develop plaque and tartar.
Despite their benefits, there are also risks involved in feeding bones to dogs that every owner should consider:
The term bone faeces refers to undigested bone fragments that create dense clumps in the colon due to dehydration, causing a blockage. Such an obstruction is not only uncomfortable for your dog but also poses a serious health risk if it leads to a complete intestinal blockage.
Even more dangerous is when sharp fragments of bone cause internal injury to the dog’s mouth or digestive tract. This happens particularly often with sharp-edged poultry bones, which can easily pierce the intestinal wall.
This condition is life-threatening for your dog. It can lead not only to internal bleeding but also to severe inflammations if contaminated intestinal contents reach the abdominal cavity.
Hard bones can also frequently result in tooth fractures.
Raw meat and raw bones, as used in BARFing (raw feeding), can cause serious infections in your dog.
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Whether raw or cooked, pork or beef – not all bones are the same. Discover which bones you should avoid giving to your dog:
Cooking alters the structure of bones, making them more brittle and prone to shattering. This, in turn, increases the risk that bones could injure your dog’s mouth or gut.
Therefore, the rule is clear: Cooked bones are absolutely off-limits for dogs.
Pigs can transmit certain pathogens that can pose serious issues for dogs.
For instance, dogs can contract the deadly Aujeszky’s virus from eating pork meat and bones. Although some countries, like Germany, are currently free from Aujeszky’s virus, it is safer to avoid giving your dog pork bones.
Generally, bones from beef are the best option for dogs. However, bear in mind that the softer bones from veal are better than the hard bones from older cattle.
To be safe, avoid giving your dog bones from older poultry, such as chicken or turkey. Especially when cooked, poultry bones can easily splinter and cause injuries in the intestines.
Rabbit bones are generally considered tolerable for dogs. However, even with these, you should adhere to basic feeding rules.
Bones from game animals like deer or wild boar are popular among hunting dogs but can pose health risks. These risks include the potential for bacterial infections or parasite infestation.
Marrowbones are a real treat for many dogs. However, their disc-like shape with a central hole poses a significant danger.
As your dog licks the marrow from the middle, it can push the bone ring over its lower jaw. This ring can easily become stuck, leaving your dog unable to free itself. In a panic, your dog can quickly injure itself by scratching and struggling.
Therefore, it’s best not to give your dog marrowbones cut into slices as a precaution.
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If you decide to feed your dog bones, focus on the following:
To prevent tooth fractures and other injuries, you should opt for softer bones. Suitable examples include ribs or breastbone pieces from younger animals like veal.
The current feeding recommendation for bones is a maximum of ten grams per kilogram of body mass per day. For example, if your dog weighs 10 kilograms, it should not eat more than 100 grams of bones per day.
Note: For supplementing calcium and phosphorus intake during maintenance metabolism, one gram per kilogram of body mass per day is sufficient.
If your dog doesn’t tolerate bones or if your vet advises against feeding them, you can ensure your dog’s nutrient requirements are met in other ways. For instance, specific dietary supplements rich in nutrients and minerals are suitable.
Additionally, there are alternative ways to offer your dog a natural chewing pleasure. Popular solutions include special chew toys for dogs. Also, natural treats (such as dried beef head skin) made for dogs promote dental health through abrasion and provide longer-lasting engagement.
Whether your dog can eat bones depends on several factors. If you heed the prevailing feeding recommendations and warnings, you can occasionally offer your dog a bone in your presence.
However, if your dog shows early signs of bone faeces or injury, seek immediate veterinary attention and cease bone feeding. To fundamentally protect your dog from the disadvantages of bone feeding, consider safer alternatives.
Also, certain illnesses can be a reason not to give bones to your dog. Therefore, it’s always wise to seek individual advice from your veterinarian regarding your dog’s diet. Your vet knows your dog’s medical history and understands what is and isn’t good for your dog.
This article from zooplus Magazine is purely informative. If your pet is experiencing discomfort, contact your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
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