Why dogs should not have it
Boiling or roasting makes bones brittle. When a dog chews them, they split into sharp splinters that can lodge in the mouth or throat or pierce the stomach or gut. A larger swallowed piece can block the gullet or the gut, and a lot of bone fragments cause severe constipation.
Raw bones are less brittle, but they too can break a tooth or get stuck, and they can carry bacteria. Poultry bones and small bones a dog can swallow whole are especially risky.
What to watch out for
- Sharp splinters can injure the mouth, throat, stomach or gut.
- A swallowed bone can get stuck in the gullet or block the gut.
- Bone fragments can cause severe constipation.
- A hard bone can break a tooth.
- If your dog is choking or gagging, keeps vomiting, strains without passing stool, has a painful belly, blood in its stool, or is lethargic and not eating, contact a vet straight away.
What it can cause
Signs that can appear after eating it. Each page explains what to look out for and when to hurry to a vet.
What to give instead
Foods that are safer to give.
- Carrots Yes, carrots are fine for dogs: raw or cooked, unseasoned and cut into pieces, they make a crunchy, low-calorie treat. Safe
- Beef Yes, lean cooked beef without seasoning makes a good treat for a dog, but do not give fatty cuts, bones or raw meat. Safe
- Chicken Yes, plain cooked chicken without bones, skin or seasoning makes a good treat for a dog, but do not give bones or raw meat. Safe