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Is it safe for my dog to chew on bones? What are the dangers?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Is it safe to give my dog bones to chew on?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Christie Long, DVM

Answered By Christie Long, DVM

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on April 5th, 2018

No! Dogs should NEVER be given raw or cooked animal bones for several reasons. Raw bones run the risk of transmitting harmful bacteria, including Salmonella or Campylobacter, both to your dog and any exposed people. These bacteria can be transmitted through a dog’s stool and saliva. Bones can also pose hazards for foreign body obstruction in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines. Poultry bones are inherently filled with air and cooked bones become more brittle, both of which can splinter leading to perforation of the stomach or intestines. Bones and antlers are also quite hard and can lead to tooth fractures. Instead of offering bones, alternative products such as Nylabones, Kongs, or the dental treats approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (www.vohc.org) are safer and more effective alternatives for dogs that like to chew.
Vote Icon1012Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 18th, 2017

    My personal preference is compressed rawhide (not regular rawhide). Pig ears and Nylabones are OK too. Any of these types of treats you give them should only be given supervised.

    Antlers are not recommended - they are too hard and often break their teeth. Same with cow hooves.

    https://www.petsupplies.com/dog-supplies/rawhide-bones/pressed-rawhide/9398/

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 7th, 2018

    I do not recommend giving bones to pets as there can be a variety of problems that can arise from this, including broken teeth, choking, or intestinal obstruction. You can read more about these risks at:
    https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm208365.htm
    A safer option would be a kong toy https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/kong-classic-dog-toy stuffed with canned dog food and popped into the freezer or filled with peanut butter or another treat if you want something as a treat for prolonged chewing for your pup.

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    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 7th, 2017

    I would not recommend bones of any kind for your dog. There is danger of breaking teeth, as well as ingesting pieces of the bone which could cause a gastroinestinal foreign body or perforation. With any raw meat product we also run the risk of bacterial infection such as e.coli or salmonella (this is a risk not only to the pet but also to people living in the house). For strong chewers I recommend the heavier duty nylabones and kongs (they come in a few different "chewing strengths" so look for ones made for the heaviest chewers.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Food & Nutrition
Is it true that raw bones are okay for dogs, but cooked bones aren't?
You are absolutely correct you should never give dogs cooked bones. That's because they easily splinter in the GI tract, causing perforation and obstruction. I never recommend raw bones either. I've seen too many teeth broken from dogs chewing on them, and they can cause obstruction as well. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My dog eats cooked soup bones with marrow. Are they safe for her?
I would not recommend feeding cooked bones, and it’s best to avoid raw bones as well. Cooked bones can splinter and cause an obstruction, constipation or diarrhea. Raw bones could cause an obstruction as well and could result in food borne illness.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Is it safe for my dog to eat the soft bones found in canned salmon?
No, it is never recommended to allow dogs to eat cooked bones. They can splinter in the GI tract, causing perforation of the intestinal tract. They can also cause a blockage. I would not feed this to your dog.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog wants bones. Are boiled calf bones safe for him to chew?
No, I would not recommend this - cooked bones of any kind are brittle and can splinter into sharp pieces when chewed. Large weight-bearing bones (such as from a calf) are also too hard for chewing, and can fracture teeth. Bully sticks, large rawhide chews, or cow or pig ears would all be safer options for chewing.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Training & Behavior
My dog eats ham bones. Is it safe for him to eat the entire bone?
As with any bone or hard chew toy, there are concerns for tooth trauma. In my experience, I've seen many broken teeth from dogs chewing on deer antlers, hard bones, etc. I would usually recommend against giving these for that reason. As Rocky is a larger breed dog, the pieces of bone that he is chewing off of the main bone should not be a problem and they should pass through his intestines just fine. However, if given a large enough bone and he eats it whole, this could lead to a GI foreign body obstruction as the bone tries to pass through and gets stuck. There are alternatives you can use such as Kong toys that you can put treats in or put peanut butter in that would keep him busy. Hopefully this helps! Please do not hesitate to contact me with any other concerns you may have.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
Are bully sticks, rawhide, antlers, or Nylabone safe for dog teeth?
I never recommend antlers because they do break teeth, and rawhides pose a chocking and intestinal blockage risk. Bully sticks are fine as long as you watch your dog when he eats it, and the Nylabone Petsafe Wood Chew is fine too. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Is feeding my dog raw meat or chicken safe? What about bones?
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tank. Raw diets are very trendy now and unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation. There is a very high risk of Salmonella poisoning to both your dog and you by feeding raw food. This is especially problematic if anyone in the home is immunocompromised such as very young children, elderly or anyone with a disease that weakens the immune system. Furthermore, raw diets will not be nutritionally balanced for Tank. This can lead to serious consequences with longterm feeding. Finally, bones of any form can lead to intestinal obstruction or perforations. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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