No Bones about it. Bones are unsafe for pets.

Most of us like to give our pets treats.

What could be more natural than to give your dog a bone?  However, you should think twice before giving your pet any bones.

We do not recommend giving dogs bones for many reasons.  We frequently see medical problems as with the case of Daisy who came in on emergency in July to Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic.  As you can see Daisy got this bone stuck around her lower jaw.    This bone is much thicker than Daisy’s jaw bone so it had to be cut off.  Prying or trying to force it off could result in a broken jaw.  We had to sedate her to saw it off.  Daisy went home a little while later happy to have the bone off.

                   

  

 

          

Eating bones can result in all sorts of medical problems, some minor and some serious. The FDA warning lists some of the more important:

1. Broken teeth. This may call for expensive veterinary dentistry.
2. Mouth or tongue injuries. These can be very bloody and messy and may require a trip to see your veterinarian.
3. Bone gets looped around your dog’s lower jaw. This can be frightening or painful for your dog and potentially costly to you, as it usually means a trip to see your veterinarian.
4. Bone gets stuck in esophagus, the tube that food travels through to reach the stomach. Your dog may gag, trying to bring the bone back up, and will need to see your veterinarian.
5. Bone gets stuck in windpipe. This may happen if your dog accidentally inhales a small enough piece of bone. This is an emergency because your dog will have trouble breathing. Get your pet to your veterinarian immediately!
6. Bone gets stuck in stomach. It went down just fine, but the bone may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. Depending on the bone’s size, your dog may need surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a procedure in which your veterinarian uses a long tube with a built-in camera and grabbing tools to try to remove the stuck bone from the stomach.
7. Bone gets stuck in intestines and causes a blockage. It may be time for surgery.
8. Constipation due to bone fragments. Your dog may have a hard time passing the bone fragments because they’re very sharp and they scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move along. This causes severe pain and may require a visit to your veterinarian.
9. Severe bleeding from the rectum. This is very messy and can be dangerous. It’s time for a trip to see your veterinarian.
10. Peritonitis. This nasty, difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen is caused when bone fragments poke holes in your dog’s stomach or intestines. Your dog needs an emergency visit to your veterinarian because peritonitis can kill your dog.