My dog keeps eating moldy rawhide bones from outside. Is it safe?

I don't think you need to be too concerned. Nuts are not recommended to feed dogs, because they are high in fat and can therefore lead to some vomiting and diarrhea from gastroenteritis, and potentially some pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas--causes pain and vomiting ). The only exception to the guideline regarding nuts is macadamia nuts, which are specifically toxic to dogs. As far as mold goes, average refrigerator-household-food mold could cause some gastroenteritis but is unlikely to be a major issue. Compost piles and truly rotting food, however, are dangerous if ingested as they contain mycotoxins. (again, not the case with "refrigerator" mold). You can feed him a bland diet (boiled chicken and white rice) for a few days to help minimize gastroenteritis. If he starts vomiting, having diarrhea, or becomes lethargic, please take him to the vet. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

That's not good! he might throw up and have a little diarrhea but it is unlikely to cause any further toxicity as dogs have very strong acids in their stomach which can kill most molds. Do monitor him in the 24 hours to make sure he is ok, probably give him smaller meals as well, if he is throwing up more than a couple times call the vet.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Moldy food can produce serious problems, like uncontrolled twitches, lack of balance, hypersalivation or even seizures. It usually takes 1-6hrs after ingestion of mold for the symptoms to develop. If Indy is acting normal and he is not showing any of these symptoms, you should monitor him at home. However, if he starts acting strange, if he develops muscle twitches and problems with walking you should take him to your vets as an emergency.

As long as the pieces are small, it is fine if they are ingested. He will digest them without any issues. Larger pieces pose a risk of gastric or intestinal obstruction. To be safe, remove the rawhide chews once they can fit entirely in Kai's mouth. Monitor for lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite or abdominal pain. These are symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian.

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.

He is probably going to be alright. In rare cases he may get a bit of diarrhea or vomit. Make sure there is no more of that moldy dog food around as it can cause a tummy upset. Just observe Zeus and should he get diarrhea more than once or vomit more than once, take him to a veterinarian for an exam.

I can't find anything in my resources that suggests that this is toxic to dogs, and I've never seen a case where a dog got sick eating it. I would suspect that since this product was distributed for children, it's likely non-toxic. However, the ASPCA's poison control hotline for pets may help. They maintain an extensive database of information about all types of substances that make pets sick. Their number is (888) 426-4435.