↓ Read on to watch this amazing video
All forms of media share a common stereotype: dogs love bones. Lots of cartoons and movies have dogs gnawing on a ham bone the size of their head, or stealing bones off the table at Christmas dinner. There’s a good reason for this stereotype: chewing bones is great for your dog’s dental health and digestion! But did you know that, unlike in the movies, ham bones can be a hazard to dogs if you’re not careful?
That’s right; giving a bone from a festive feast to a furry friend could have serious consequences, including death. Read on to learn why this is, and how to safely provide your dog with the benefits of chewing bones while minimizing the risks to his health.
What happens if a dog eats a ham bone?
Canids, such as wolves and dogs, have evolved a very impressive trait: teeth that can break bones. Their sharp incisors are made for it, allowing them to eat their prey efficiently without having to eat around the skeleton like humans do. Bones are also an excellent source of calcium, which strengthens the bones of wild dogs!
The ham bone is a large, particularly brittle bone. When your dog starts chewing on one, those strong fangs can break it down into thousands of sharp pieces in minutes! Some of these bone fragments may be so small that you and your dog may not even notice that they have swallowed some. This is where our problem lies.
Unlike wolves who eat their prey, your dog eats a bone with no flesh to cushion the sharp edges of the broken bone. This means the splinters are more likely to create small tears in your dog’s intestinal wall, called bowel perforations.
These wounds are a source of internal bleeding that can cause inflammation of the intestinal lining. This is called peritonitis. Occasionally, larger pieces of bone can become lodged in various parts of the digestive tract and cause blockages. It can even prevent your dog from breathing if a large piece becomes lodged in your dog’s windpipe.
What should I do if my dog eats a ham bone?
If you find your dog has eaten a ham bone, it is highly recommended that you take them to the veterinarian. The risk of your dog eating a ham bone is very serious, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. However, not all situations are emergencies. There are specific symptoms to watch out for that will tell you how soon you need to get out.
troublesome symptoms
- Vomiting – If your dog starts vomiting, it means at least some discomfort after eating bone fragments. It could also indicate that a more important bone is causing a blockage in the digestive tract. Your dog is trying to vomit it out of the body. If your dog vomits after eating a ham bone, take him to the emergency room.
- Blood in the stool – If your dog’s poop is black-red and tarry, or at least darker in color than usual, there may be blood. If this is the case, your dog may be bleeding internally. It’s best to see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Loss of Appetite – If your dog doesn’t seem to want to eat, a bone may be lodged in your dog’s stomach. They get no hunger cues from their bodies. It could also mean an injury to the stomach, causing your dog pain while eating. This is an emergency symptom and should be responded to immediately.
- Difficulty passing stools – If your dog has difficulty passing stools, this means you should see your veterinarian. A bone can block a pet’s bowel, which can lead to serious problems if left untreated.
- Tiredness — If your dog is more lethargic than usual after eating a ham bone, it’s possible that some bone fragments have torn part of your pup’s digestive system and caused an infection. Such an infection can be life-threatening if left unchecked. It’s best to take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
Depending on your veterinarian’s recommendations, you may be advised to feed a soft food such as bread or squash to cover the bone fragments. These soft foods can reduce the risk of intestinal perforation as debris passes through the digestive system and help your pup pass the debris with less injury. The first 24 hours are critical. If your puppy is doing well after 72 hours, you can safely say you’ve dodged a bullet in most cases.
What other kinds of bones are unsafe for dogs?
It’s not just ham bones that pose a risk to your pup; any cooked bone can do the same! When a bone is cooked, it loses the collagen that strengthens it. So, as mentioned earlier, your dog can easily bite it into pieces with its teeth, which can lead to a host of problems. Plus, cooking the bones destroys the nutrients your furry friend wants from the bones.
Also, dogs should not be fed any bones that are small enough for them to swallow them whole. If that bone slips down their throat and gets lodged in their windpipe, it can suffocate them. The bone may also block other organs and become impassable. For this reason, bird bones should never be given to your dog, even to the most watchful eyes.
Finally, it’s best not to expose puppies to any type of naturally brittle bone. Pork bones or ribs from other meats, even raw, are more likely to crumble. This is the same risk as giving your dog cooked bones. Any cut bone also falls into this category.
what kind of bones yes Is it safe for dogs?
Here’s the good news; not all bones are scary for dogs! Bones don’t have to be a no-no for your furry friend. Some bones are good for your canine to chew.
A general rule of thumb is that raw bones are better than cooked. However, there are still risks depending on the type of bone and the meat it comes from. Raw bone still contains collagen, giving it greater strength and extra flexibility. This property prevents the bones from breaking down as quickly as your dog chews them. These bones also contain all the nutrients your dog can benefit from.
The bones you give your furry friend should also be large. Many owners recommend that to reduce the risk of your dog trying to swallow the bone whole, it should be a little larger than its head. However, please do not overdo it. Smaller dogs may break a tooth or injure their jaw because of the German Shepherd bone that fits! Cows and bison typically have larger and stronger bones than pigs or chickens. Therefore, they are an excellent choice for purchasing raw bones for your dog.
The most critical skill for safely chewing bones is supervision. Even if you choose the strongest, freshest, perfectly sized raw bone you can find, accidents will still happen. If you sit with them, you’ll have a better chance of spotting any breakage before your dog eats the chunks. For other safe and healthy food options, check out our dog food guide.
in conclusion
There’s never been a duo like the dog and his bones; that’s real. However, our pup needs supervision when it’s indulged. It is best to consult your veterinarian about the safe use of bones. In general, giving your dog a harder, more form-fitting raw bone to chew on while you watch is the key to unlocking the nutritional and dental benefits of chewing the bone while keeping your veterinarian’s bills low and allowing you to carefree night. Plus, your furry friend is munching on a giant bone for some adorable photos!
next
Ready to discover the top 10 cutest dog breeds in the world?
How about the fastest dogs, the biggest dogs, and those who are – quite frankly – just the kindest dogs on earth? Every day, AZ Animals sends out lists like this to our thousands of email subscribers. The best part? free. Join today by entering your email below.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.