Signs You Should Call a Vet
Most of the time, your dog can eat a bone without any danger. But if your dog does eat a bone that splinters in its stomach, the consequences can be very serious. You should call a vet if your dog is experiencing lethargy or bloating that seems unusual. Bloody stool or vomit can be a sign of a cut in your dog’s digestive tract. A dark, sticky black stool or vomit that looks like coffee grounds may be partially digested blood. If your dog does have a blockage or internal cut from a bone, surgery may be needed to repair the damage and remove any remaining bone fragments.
How Bone Digestion Works in Dogs
Dogs share a common ancestor with wolves, and in the wild, their ancestors needed to get as much nutrition as possible from their meals. That means they might have eaten smaller bones whole and chewing bigger bones open to get anything they could out of it. Today, dog bones are common treats, and many dogs will be interested in bones they find around your home or yard.
If your dog does swallow a bone, stomach enzymes start breaking it down right away. Most of the time, it passes through the system fully within about eight to twelve hours. However, larger bones might take longer to break down. If you’re worried about your dog eating a bone that it shouldn’t have, it’s safest to watch for two days.
If your dog does pass a bone, you might see white, chalky stool, or else stool that becomes white and chalky after it dries. This is from all the extra calcium in the bone.
When your dog chews on a bone, the first danger you need to worry about is choking. Most dogs are smart enough not to swallow too big of a bone, but you should still supervise your dog around bones that might be a choking hazard.
A second, scarier danger is damage to your dog’s stomach or intestines. This is more dangerous in cooked bones and hollow bones from birds because they are more likely to break into sharp pieces. Don’t feed your dog cooked chicken bones. These bones can cause tearing or blockages in your dog’s stomach or intestines. In some cases, a large chunk of bones can also cause a blockage in your dog’s intestines.
What We Need to Understand as Responsible Dog Owners
Humans and dogs are considered as mammals in Kingdom Animalia. Although dogs can eat whatever humans can consume (except our favorite chocolate desserts); dogs have different needs in terms of diet compared to humans.
Understanding the basics of our dog’s digestive system/digestive tract can also give us clues on what food and drink we can offer these lovely pets.
As an omnivore, a dog’s stomach is considerably more acidic than humans. This is certainly a positive trait addressing the fact that these pets can chew, swallow, or take whatever they want. This also explains why your flip-flops are the chunky favorites they love to chew. Although our dogs, categorically speaking, can break down bones in their stomach, not all bones have the same nature or structures.
How long does it take for a bone to pass through a dogs digestive system?
Our dogs love to munch dogs bones. If I am at a party or a feast (where food is abundant) and I realized that leftovers could be a potential mouthwatering meal for my canine friends; I never hesitate to collect and bringing home this surplus food for my trusted pets to enjoy.
Of course, this ‘party package’ will never be completed without dog bones from fried chickens, pork meals, beef steaks et al. That was some years ago; I already changed my old ways of feeding my dogs due to simple advice that will save my beloved pets’ lives.
Dogs love bones, but the scary fact is that these irresistible canine delights can slowly ‘kill’ them. Yup, that is right- these bones can compromise their overall health.
My aunt and her husband are practicing animal doctors or veterinarians- of course, and they know their stuff. They advised us to avoid feeding bones to dogs or strictly not to feed them with bones because of the danger it may bring.
It is not easy to accept this simple assertion. The fact that from kiddie animation to real-life scenarios; the reality of dogs enjoying their bones is taken as it is. Nonetheless, if we truly love our furry mutts; we have to consider accepting this reality for their overall well-being.