Despite our best efforts, accidents happen, and our dogs are likely to eat something they shouldn’t at some point in their lives. Usually, our dogs will steal a yummy piece of people food off the counter or off of the plate of an unsuspecting guest, even if we’re doing the best we can to prevent it. Many people foods are particularly dangerous for dogs, however. This includes cooked chicken bones, which is something that’s within reach of our pups on a somewhat regular basis. Cooked chicken bones can break and splinter, which can cause your dog to choke and can also puncture the gastrointestinal tract, or get caught in his throat. This is extremely painful to your dog and can potentially lead to death. So what exactly should you do if you find your dog has eaten chicken bones?
Prevention is always the best medicine, but we’re all human, and we make mistakes. Try to find out how your dog got ahold of the chicken bones and be sure to take extra precautions to avoid this circumstance in the future. Keep food out of reach, trash lids securely closed, and train your dog not to steal food from the counter or dining table. Although chicken bones might not be the absolute worst thing your dog could ingest, it’s certainly not considered safe, by any means. Take note of your dog’s habits, keep a close eye on where your family and guests leave their food, and make sure to prevent the incident from being repeated. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php Get Your Free AKC eBook
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Although chicken bones can splinter and puncture internal organs, it doesn’t mean that they will do so every time. It’s certainly a risk we’d like to avoid at all costs, but if your dog has already ingested the bones, all you can do now is watch him carefully. Ask your veterinarian about the signs and symptoms of internal bleeding or blockages. If you notice your dog is lethargic, constipated, straining to defecate, or has bloody stool, is vomiting, appears bloated in the abdomen, is not eating or is generally uncomfortable, you’re going to want to seek veterinary attention right away. Check your dog’s stool daily to see if you can see the bone fragments passing through. If you do not see them within 72 hours after ingestion (or whatever time frame is recommended by your veterinarian), it’s a good idea to visit the vet to make sure the bones aren’t stuck in your dog’s intestine, esophagus or throat.
Remember, panicking isn’t going to help our dogs in any way. If you catch your dog in the act, try to calmly take the rest of the bones from him. Dogs can be possessive over food, so even if your pup isn’t aggressive, he’s likely to try and gobble everything down before you take it away. If your dog has already ingested all of the bones, panicking will only confuse him and possibly lead you to take drastic, unnecessary, and potentially dangerous action. Simply make sure your dog isn’t choking, and give your veterinarian a call to help you figure out how to handle the situation. Your veterinarian may offer a simple solution, like giving your dog some pieces of white bread to help cushion the bone fragments, but every veterinarian and situation can be different, so make sure to get in touch with yours.
If Your Dog is Extremely Constipated or Bloated
Additionally, go to the emergency vet if your dog is severely bloated or is very constipated after consuming chicken bones. If your dog hasn’t passed the bones in a few days, this is also a good time to see an emergency vet. They may have a serious blockage that could be potentially fatal if it is left untreated.
What Happens If My Dog Eats a Chicken Bone?
Even the best-behaved dog will eat food off the counter, and some may not even choke on a chicken bone. So, ideally, you will only need to monitor their behavior.
If your dog has already eaten the bone and its not lodged in their airways, youll need to watch for signs of blockage or internal bleeding. If your dog displays any of the following symptoms, take them to your veterinarian immediately:
If your dog appears to be active and eating and drinking normally, then its likely they’ll be okay. In this case, you can continue to monitor the situation without seeking immediate medical assistance.
Youll want to watch your dogs stool for several days (at least 72 hours) after they eat the bone for signs of bone fragments. In addition, you should still follow up with your vet in case theres any remaining bone left in your dogs intestines or esophagus. The bones can splinter and puncture these internal organs.
Inducing vomiting increases the risk of the chicken bone getting stuck in the esophagus on the way back up or causing more lacerations to your dogs airways.
The safest thing to do is to head to the vet if you see the above symptoms.
How long does it take for a dog to pass a chicken bone?
The association between dogs and bones is a common one, but is it really safe for dogs to eat all kinds of bones? What should you do if your dog ate a chicken bone?
Most dog owners know that chicken bones are considered unsafe for dogs to eat. However, you may not realize why this is true and which bones your dog should avoid, and you may not know what to do if your pet accidentally eats one of these bones, either.
In the article below, we’ll give you the information you need to respond appropriately when your dog accidentally eats chicken bones. Read on to learn more.
