Every pet parent wants to know if giving their dog a bone is safe. The FDA claims to receive reports from veterinarians and pet parents about the following conditions resulting from bone treats. Bone treats are bones that are commercially prepared for sale through a process of drying, baking, or smoking. Some are sold as Ham Bones, Pork Femur Bones, Rib Bones, and Knuckle Bones. The products may be dried, smoked, or baked.
Gastrointestinal obstruction (blockage in the digestive tract), Choking, Cuts, wounds in the mouth or throat, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Bleeding from the rectum, and/or Death may be caused by giving your dog a bone to chew on that is
Chicken, turkey, or beef bones are equally as unsafe for your dog. Cooked bones become brittle and increase the risk of injury when ingested.
Are raw bones safe? Though raw bones may not pose the same threat to your dog’s safety, any raw animal part may be contaminated with Salmonella, Listeria, and other bacteria.
Freezing does NOT kill Salmonella! Freezing does NOT kill Listeria! So if you’re wondering how safe it is to feed your dog a raw diet, I have the same concerns and suggest lots of research and advice from your veterinarian as well.
It is believed that the acid and pH balance ( highly acidic—low PH) environment of a dog’s intestines enables the breakdown of raw meats and raw bones into soft, digestible material and is highly effective at killing bacteria.
However, studies show that our furry family members have evolved so much from the days of dogs in the wild and have survived on heavily processed commercial food for so long that this may no longer be true.
Additionally, dried or freeze-dried pigs’ ears, cattle hooves, rawhide chews, hearts, tracheas, jerky, and bull or steer penises (often called bully or pizzle sticks) can also be contaminated with Salmonella and other bacteria.
The risk of cross-contamination due to handling raw pet food, including bowls, utensils, and areas where the food is stored, prepared, and eaten, as well as animal body parts used as chews/treats, may be a source of infection for humans.
Your dog’s safety and well-being is our top priority. We hope pet parents will research, ask more questions, talk to their veterinarians, and take more precautions before buying any pet product or food.
