Dog owners. quick question about bones.

[eliza61]

We had a standing rib roast last night for dinner and my SIL gave us a huge rib bone for our dog. We have a mutt (german shepard/lab mix) dog.

I thought you were not supposed to give dogs bones but big bro said beef bones are ok. It's chicken bones that arent ok.

We always had dogs growing up (german sheppard) and I know my dad gave them bones all the time.

So can I give Hobbes his tasty treat?

 

[Uncle Remus]

Hobbes looks like a sweet guy! I'd give it to him for awhile then throw it away before he cracks the bone 'n it slivers, I'd be scared he'd swallow it 'n it'd get lodged somewhere.

 

[onelilspark]

Growing up we used to give my dog beef bones, but not chicken bones.

So I know chicken bones are a definite no, but I think beef are ok.

This is from the AKC website:

Dear Lisa: I am a new dog owner. We have a male Maltese, about one-year-old, and we've had him about 10 months now. We were at a great dinner the other night, and we brought home a lot of leftovers, including a T-Bone steak. For the first time, we let him have the T-Bone (bits of meat and fat still on it!) He was in heaven! He chewed and nibbled on this for hours. Then, we noticed that a small piece broke off, so we took the bone away (it wasn't easy, let me tell you!) My husband and I got into a discussion about the safety of beef bones. Is there a danger if small pieces of bone are swallowed? – Down to the Bone in Detroit

Dear Down: There are two schools of thought about whether or not dogs should be allowed to eat bones. One school says they always ate them in the wild and that there is no harm in eating them, provided they are raw. Another school says you should never give dogs any bones cooked, raw or otherwise as they cause more potential harm than good.

Raw Meaty Bones
Many people who feed their dogs a raw diet, sometimes called BARF (Bones and Raw Food) claim bones with meat and some fat left on them are safe for dogs because they are easily digestible and will not splinter like cooked bones. Some of the popular types of bones fed on the raw diet are beef tails or necks from poultry and are usually available from your local butcher. One disadvantage about raw bones is that they can carry bacteria like salmonella or e-coli and can spoil in a few days if not eaten.

Avoid any bones that are already cut into smaller pieces as they pose a more immediate choking hazard. Be aware that any bone may cause a digestive upset in a dog.

Cooked Bones
Cooked, brittle bones are more likely to splinter which may cause fractured teeth and possible perforation of the intestine or throat either on the way down or on the way back up if the dog vomits. Veterinarians also report dogs eating bones run the risk of needing surgery to remove obstructions in the intestines.

Any bone should only be given under supervision so you can monitor if the bone is breaking into dangerously small pieces. If this happens you can ask the dog for the rest of the bone (because you've already taught him the "give" command - right?). Finding an alternative to a potentially hazardous situation is always in you and your dog's best interest rather than leaving it to chance.

 

[Lanshark]

Gave my Sheltie rib bones years ago and were very fortunate we didn't loose him. We woke up in the morning and found Pokie with his mouth wide open. He had swallowed the bone and it was stuck in the back of his throat with the other end poking the roof of his mouth. It was a Sunday and we took him to an emergency clinic where they were able to remove the bone. They told us to never give a dog rib bones. We were very lucky that it was wedged in such a way that he could breath and the vet could pull it out. We never have since.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Beef bones are fine. Raw beef bones are even better. Always supervise, though, to make sure that your dog is chewing on it and not "gulping". If they start trying to break off and swallow big pieces, take it away.

As a side note, raw chicken bones are actually perfectly fine, it's just the cooked ones that are dangerous. That's why you don't see wolves dropping dead in the wild after killing and eating a bird. Raw chicken bones (particularly necks and backs) make up the bulk of most raw feeders' diets.

 

[Uptown Girl]

We give our dog beef bones all the time. We can buy marrow bones at the grocery store even. Our dog loves them. We usually give her one when we stick her in her kennel for long periods of time, like on Halloween. Keeps her busy and not barking when everyone comes to the door.

 

[alex9179]

I would not give him a cooked bone. Cooked bones get very hard and can either chip a tooth or splinter and pierce an organ on it's way through the digestive system. This is why chicken bones are feared, cooked ones can wreak havoc because of how sharp a splinter can be.

We feed our dogs a RAW diet. Uncooked bones are a daily part of their meals and have been for the past 7 years or so. They have had NO problem. The only thing we don't give them are load-bearing bones from large animals. These are very dense and can cause a chipped tooth...which can lead to dental problems or infection.

An exception to cooked would be cooking them so long that they get rubbery. That would be fine.


Edited: we have a German Shepherd and a large breed mix, so similar to your pup.

 

[AlwaysMoving]

Beef bones splinter too. My dog threw up once after eating it and it scared me how many splinters I saw. It was like swallowing a handful of tiny toothpicks.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

Moose bones are the best. All natural and humungous! Maggie is funny with bones, she likes to hide them instead of chewing them...lol. If she is outside she will dig a small hole and bury it, but inside it is really funny; she will hide it under the stairs or just in the corner of a room or something. Then sometimes cover it with something.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Lots of dogs have eaten all sorts bones with no problem. Unfortunately, others have had major problems.

So we no longer offer bones as a treat. Too many other, safer treats out there and we don't want to take any chances.

And -if you must "supervise" the dog eating the bone (which means the ENTIRE time he's gnawing on it)--what fun is there in that???

 

[tweezybird]

personally I won't even take the risk, there are plenty of other treats I can give my dog and I don't have to worry it will hurt them.

 

[maxiesmom]

Lots of dogs have eaten all sorts bones with no problem. Unfortunately, others have had major problems.

So we no longer offer bones as a traet. Too many other, safer treats out there and we don't want to take any chances.

And -if you must "supervise" the dog eating the bone (which means the ENTIRE time he's gnawing on it)--what fun is there in that???

Exactly. When I was young my dad would give our dogs bones. That lasted until one of them got a piece stuck in her throat. Luckily it was in in such a way that we could grab it and pull it out.

I won't ever ever give my dogs bones. You can give them so many other treats, why give them something so dangerous?

 

[Tozzie]

We had a standing rib roast last night for dinner and my SIL gave us a huge rib bone for our dog. We have a mutt (german shepard/lab mix) dog.

I thought you were not supposed to give dogs bones but big bro said beef bones are ok. It's chicken bones that arent ok.

We always had dogs growing up (german sheppard) and I know my dad gave them bones all the time.

So can I give Hobbes his tasty treat?

Grew up with dogs, currently own three, we always gave them bones from the steak, never chicken bones nor small bones, they love it and marrow in the bone is good for them. Oh and my Dad's German Shepherd lived to the ripe old age of 14 on people food and the bones that went with them. The only reason my dogs don't get beef bones now is I am do not like steak so I don't have them to give them.l

I would give it to him

 

[roxysmum123]

My "night job" is a dog trainer and I'm currently working out of a vet clinic. I have seen more than my fair share of emergency surgeries from "bones gone wrong" in the relatively short time that I've been there so I now don't recommend bones at all for my clients. I used to be ok with it, but I've seen how quickly a tasty treat can go horribly horribly wrong. If you do give it to the pooch, make it's large enough that he couldn't fit the whole thing in his mouth to swallow it and be sure you're supervising. As soon as it starts to splinter or he starts to try to swallow it, take it away and throw it out.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We do not do bones as they can lodge in or puncture the digestive track.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

As soon as it starts to splinter or he starts to try to swallow it, take it away and throw it out.

Just watch your fingers. As a high value item, dogs will fight you for it.

 

[roxysmum123]

Just watch your fingers. As a high value item, dogs will fight you for it.

Very true! If this is a dog that "hoards", for lack of a better word, high value treats like bones, rawhides, or even big cookies, don't give it to him. Sometimes in the heat of the moment of trying to keep it to themselves they'll either try to snack on one of your fingers or try to swallow it quickly so you can't have it. Saw my friends fool yellow lab do that with a GIANT squeaky toy, their vet still has it hanging in their office years later of "things dogs have puked up at the clinic"

 

[pumba]

we gave our dalmatian a beef bone a few times and ONE time it splintered in her intestines...she had the runs and a bad infection...she was on chicken burger and rice for a week and antibiotics...we dont take any chances anymore ..even with the moose bones..

 

[Disneycrazy!!]

I don't like to give my dogs bones anymore. THe only time we give bones is when we cook ribs slow in crock pot and the bones are really soft. What we give our dogs now instead of bones is braided bullies. They are supposed to be safe for dogs.