Stop Feeding Your Dog Bones
While dogs in the wild eat raw meat and bones, at home feeding dogs bones may not be the best idea.
Sure there have been plenty of movies and television shows that show people tossing a bone to the family dog, but veterinarians say it's not always the safe thing to do.
The level of risk in feeding dogs bones differs by animal, and their chewing habits, but there is some risk for all dogs.
When a dog is given a bone, he gets to work chewing.
Not only does he pull the meat off the bone, but he then he gets to work on the bone itself.
Eventually he will break through the bone to get to the marrow inside, which is another tasty treat.
Now here's what's happening to the bone, and it's impact on your dogs' body during this activity.
First, as your dog works to break up the bone, he is putting a lot of pressure on his teeth.
This can cause chipping or cracking in the teeth.
If you have ever had a chipped or cracked tooth you know how painful that can be, especially when you try foods of different temperatures.
Now think of a dog with a chipped tooth and no way to tell you he needs a trip to the dentist.
He may be in pain for some time before you finally discover what is wrong.
Assuming his teeth hold up to the job, the bone won't.
It also will not break in half in two perfectly even pieces.
Instead, it is going to chip, then splinter before breaking open for your pet to get inside.
Those chips and splinters will likely end up in your dogs' mouth.
In the mouth they can cut up the insides of their lip, the roof of their mouth, and under their tongue.
If the bone shards and slivers make it down their throat, which they often do, your dog is being opened up to a whole world of other problems.
Many a veterinarian has x-rays of dogs who have various bone slivers and shards stuck somewhere in their digestive system.
Whether they choke on the bone piece and are rushed in to have it dislodged, or whether the bone becomes lodged somewhere in the digestive track and intestines, it's not a fun experience.
Even if the bones pass through, there is still a secondary threat that they will cut the lining of the stomach or intestine walls as the sharp pieces travel through the body.
If it's a choking problem you will know right away.
If the bone shards and slivers are doing damage elsewhere in the digestive system you may not know until you dog acts sick or even dies.
Unfortunately, you may not always know if your dog has gotten a hold of a bone.
It's not just table scraps that are a problem, but also any bone your dog may find, such as a dead bird in the yard.
It's best to always keep an eye out where your dog will be let to play to make sure there are no such threats lurking.
The better alternative is to feed your dog bone-like items that are not as risky.
Treats made of dog food are a good alternative, or a rubber-bone shaped toy that doesn't break apart.
You should also ask your veterinarian what they would suggest instead of feeding dogs bones.
Sure there have been plenty of movies and television shows that show people tossing a bone to the family dog, but veterinarians say it's not always the safe thing to do.
The level of risk in feeding dogs bones differs by animal, and their chewing habits, but there is some risk for all dogs.
When a dog is given a bone, he gets to work chewing.
Not only does he pull the meat off the bone, but he then he gets to work on the bone itself.
Eventually he will break through the bone to get to the marrow inside, which is another tasty treat.
Now here's what's happening to the bone, and it's impact on your dogs' body during this activity.
First, as your dog works to break up the bone, he is putting a lot of pressure on his teeth.
This can cause chipping or cracking in the teeth.
If you have ever had a chipped or cracked tooth you know how painful that can be, especially when you try foods of different temperatures.
Now think of a dog with a chipped tooth and no way to tell you he needs a trip to the dentist.
He may be in pain for some time before you finally discover what is wrong.
Assuming his teeth hold up to the job, the bone won't.
It also will not break in half in two perfectly even pieces.
Instead, it is going to chip, then splinter before breaking open for your pet to get inside.
Those chips and splinters will likely end up in your dogs' mouth.
In the mouth they can cut up the insides of their lip, the roof of their mouth, and under their tongue.
If the bone shards and slivers make it down their throat, which they often do, your dog is being opened up to a whole world of other problems.
Many a veterinarian has x-rays of dogs who have various bone slivers and shards stuck somewhere in their digestive system.
Whether they choke on the bone piece and are rushed in to have it dislodged, or whether the bone becomes lodged somewhere in the digestive track and intestines, it's not a fun experience.
Even if the bones pass through, there is still a secondary threat that they will cut the lining of the stomach or intestine walls as the sharp pieces travel through the body.
If it's a choking problem you will know right away.
If the bone shards and slivers are doing damage elsewhere in the digestive system you may not know until you dog acts sick or even dies.
Unfortunately, you may not always know if your dog has gotten a hold of a bone.
It's not just table scraps that are a problem, but also any bone your dog may find, such as a dead bird in the yard.
It's best to always keep an eye out where your dog will be let to play to make sure there are no such threats lurking.
The better alternative is to feed your dog bone-like items that are not as risky.
Treats made of dog food are a good alternative, or a rubber-bone shaped toy that doesn't break apart.
You should also ask your veterinarian what they would suggest instead of feeding dogs bones.
