The question, “Can dogs eat chicken bones” is a serious one.
And it requires a detailed answer.
This is why we’d encourage you to read through the entire article before you enter into full-blown panic mode.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones: How Dangerous Is it?
The good news is that chicken bones are not toxic or poisonous to dogs.
The bad news, however, is that chicken bones can splinter.
So overall, the answer to ‘Can dogs eat chicken bones’ is NO
To put it in other words, if your dog does get a hold of chicken bones, it might not be in danger of poisoning like it would from a harmful drug.
At the same time, however, chicken bones have a very high chance of splintering.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones: Why is Splintering Harmful?
Unlike cow bones or bones from a large animal, chicken bones are comparatively much more brittle. This means that they can break easily once your dog digs their teeth into them.
Now it would be convenient if bones were to break nicely.
But they don’t.
Instead, when a bone breaks, it can form little splinters or very small bone fragments which could cause serious harm.
Some of these include:
- Choking;
- Mouth or tongue bleeding;
- Damage to the esophagus;
- Damage to intestinal walls;
- Constipation;
- Rectal bleeding;
- Death.
And well, there you have it.
The answer to “Can dogs eat chicken bones?” is clear before you know it.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones: What If They’ve Already Eaten One?
As you can see, eating chicken bones is not an option for dogs. This is why you should be concerned if they have gotten hold of one.
The first step here, however, is to remain calm.
Your dog’s health depends on you so really, if you do get extremely worried or panic, then it’s not much use.
What you need to do right now, instead, is to pull into action as a pet owner.
Steps to follow
Calm yourself by knowing that if they haven’t choked, then they are out of immediate danger, at least for now.
Next, monitor them closely for the next two days.
Begin by checking their mouth for any signs of bleeding and/or broken teeth. If you find any, please take them for an emergency check-up.
If that’s not there, then wait to see if they develop any of the following symptoms:
- Vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Wincing;
- Rectal bleeding;
- Constipation.
If any of these things occur, take them to the closest vet immediately.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones: Fecal Monitoring
While the symptoms on the checklist might be easy to observe, this one can be tricky.
That’s why we’d suggest you monitor them very closely.
Be sure to check their feces for any bones over most of the next two days.
Bones are hard to digest by the body and will be taken out as it is. So, if these aren’t present in their fecal matter, then that means their body is having a hard time taking them out.
Or, that the bone was too splintered and has already caused damage to the inner walls of the digestive tract.
Take them to the vet as soon as possible in such a situation.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones: But Don’t Dogs Love Bones?
Yes.
Dogs love to chew on bones.
So then, you might naturally wonder, “If dogs in nature can eat bones, why is the answer to ‘can dogs eat chicken bones’ a big negative?”
The answer to this is simple.
Dogs do love to chew on bones, which is why, instinctively, they might be inclined to grab a chicken bone too.
But at the same time, these are not the kind of bones dogs should eat.
Can Dogs Eat Other Types of Bones?
Yes.
They can.
But the bones they eat should come from large animals like cows, goats, etc.
Chewing on such big bones can lead to stimulation which is good for dogs. At the same time, things such as cartilage, etc. could be healthy if taken in small proportions.
While such bones are generally safe, they should only ever be fed in their raw form.
This is because cooked bones are brittle and can splinter easily as well, putting your dog at all the risks mentioned earlier.
Before You Go…
Be sure to check out some of our amazing food guidelines to know what is safe versus what is dangerous for your dogs!
Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms? Is Mushroom Dangerous for Dogs?
Can Dogs Eat Potatoes? Are They Safe For Dogs?
FAQs
Can dogs eat chicken bones if they are raw?
Raw bones are generally better than cooked. But chicken bones are generally softer and should therefore be avoided.
Should dogs be given bones as treats?
Bones are not excellent treats. They do, however, help relieve stress and are good for overall brain stimulation.
Can dogs eat chicken bones if they’re cooked?
Absolutely not! Cooked bones of all kinds should be avoided, especially chicken.
