With so many safety considerations, you might wonder if giving your dog a bone is really worth the trouble. Most dogs will feel the urge to chew on something. To keep their chompers away from your furniture or favorite pair of shoes, it’s beneficial to have a safe bone around.
Here are some other benefits of bones for dogs:
There are plenty of perfectly safe dog bones. But there are many more that aren’t safe. If you’re ever unsure about a certain dog bone, consult your vet first. Here are a few of the most common types of dog bones and the safety measures offered for your pup.
👍 Bone treats — Softer chews that are usually made of meat or cheese, like bully sticks, are usually safe. Always confirm with a veterinarian that the ingredients check out, but these types of treats will typically have the tenderness that makes them safe for dogs.
👍 Synthetic — Usually made of plastic or nylon, these are typically safe to give dogs depending on the level of softness to the bone. Synthetic bones that are too hard can fracture teeth or break apart and cause dental or stomach issues. Watch for broken pieces and consider switching to a digestible bone if your dog chews through a lot of these.
Synthetic bones are okay as long as they are pliable or have some ‘give’ to them. Ones that can break apart in some firm, solid pieces could cause GI obstructions, and too-hard bones can fracture teeth.
Dr. Erica Irish, DVM
Real animal bones that have been cooked over heat — as in, your chicken wing or rib leftovers — are never safe for dogs. Because they’ve been cooked, they splinter very easily into small, sharp pieces that can puncture your dog’s mouth, stomach, and intestines.
Though popular, these bones do not pass the pliability test. They can break into sharp, solid pieces, making them a digestive and choking hazard. Plus, many dogs are known to fracture their teeth on these.
While they might be a smidge safer than cooked animal bones, raw bones are still dangerous. That includes antlers, knuckles, and other types of real bones. They can still splinter like cooked bones do, but they also pose the risk of tooth breakage due to their hardness.
Administered correctly, bones can help with oral health, anxiety, and destructive chewing. But how do you make sure they’re safe?
First, you should know the risks of giving your dog certain materials to chew on. Second, you should know a few guidelines about what to look for and what to avoid.
Luckily, there are many softer alternatives to dog bones, like dental chews, rubber chew bones, and fabric tug-of-war toys. These come with their own set of risks, but one great alternative is a Kong toy.
These highly popular toys are made of rubber and look like a hollowed-out beehive. Inside, you can stuff a Kong with anything safe for your dog to eat, such as peanut butter or wet dog food. Like a bone, the kong can keep your dog busy licking and chewing for hours as they try to reach the inner deliciousness. But the kong poses much less risk of GI obstruction or fracturing teeth.
A safe dog bone can be an excellent option to improve your pup’s oral health. Dogs are also natural chewers, and chomping on a dog bone can help relieve anxiety and keep them entertained.
The best kind of bone for a dog is one made specially for dogs, instead of a raw or cooked animal bone. Many of these bones come in tasty meat or cheese flavors. They’re designed to be tough enough to keep your pup busy while also easy to digest.
Knuckle bones are a type of raw animal bone, typically made from cattle. Veterinarians typically don’t recommend dogs ingest raw or cooked animal bones as they can cause dental or GI issues.
While most dogs love to chew, some pups are prone to tummy issues. This may make finding the right dog bone more of a challenge. We recommend Rachael Ray Nutrish Soup Bones Longer Lasting Dog Treat Chews, which can be gentler on a dog’s sensitive stomach.
