Is it safe for my dog to chew real beef or pork bones from a butcher?

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.

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.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I wouldn’t advise letting Sophie chew on the rib bone. They easily splinter and can easily cause a foreign body obstruction or irritation in her stomach or intestines. It’s best to stick with pet friendly bones and raw hides from your local pet store, because they don’t have the tendacy to splinter off and potentially cause harm to your pet. Best wishes and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach first for your very important pet question! Take care.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Vinny. I do not typically recommend marrow bones as I have seen dogs break off and swallow large pieces. This can become a surgery to remove them. I have also cases of gastrointestinal upset after chewing on them. That being said, if this is something he is accustomed to and you plan to monitor him with it, it should be fine. I hope this helps!

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.

Personally I have seen many dogs get sick from chewing on these. They can contain bacteria and some dogs chew them up too much and can get a stomach upset and diarrhea. I would give only dog biscuits or treats made in America in addition to his regular food. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Cooper.

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, the cooked meat is likely safe to eat. But every dog is different when it comes to sensitivities to certain foods. If Jenny hasn't had this before watch for tummy upset (vomit, diarrhea, lethargy, not eating). The bone is very hard and can crack and break dog teeth, so it isn't recommended for chewing. I wish you the best and have a great holiday!