Giving your dog a treat is always a good reward for them. Some dog owners go for giving bones to their pets as a treat. But is it really safe for them?
Smoked bones are perfectly safe for dogs as long as you give them the proper bones. If you give them a bone that is already brittle, there’s a risk that it can snap in half and cause some issues. Avoid giving chicken bones, as they can be dangerous for your dog since it can break and choke your pet. So you need to be more careful before giving bone as a treat.
Are Smoked Bones Safe for Dogs?
As we now know, smoked bones are slightly different to cooked bones. Although the smoking process technically dries bones and meat, it will not make bones brittle to the same extent as proper cooking. The main goal with smoked bones is to add a specific flavor.
Despite this, there are still a few concerns with smoked bones for dogs. So, let’s take a closer look at each of these in turn.
Cooked, brittle bones will snap easily, breaking off into chunks that our dogs can swallow and choke on. This risk is lowered with uncooked and smoked bones, since they will be less brittle. However, the risk is not eliminated altogether.
If you let your dog chew on a raw or smoked bone for an extended period of time, it’s highly likely that the bone will break. Small parts of the bone that break off will be swallowed by your dog, unless you’re watching them non-stop and removing the bone whenever you suspect it breaks. These small swallowed pieces can cause choking. Or, internal blockages later on in your dog’s digestive system. Both can be fatal.
As well as internal blockages, chipped off pieces of bone can cause internal punctures and scratches. This is because bones are very hard. Chipped off pieces will usually be quite sharp, especially against your dog’s soft digestive organs.
Smoked bones can be just as dry as any other raw bones. Typically, smoked bones are very large, to avoid the issues of choking. But, these larger bones are also much harder. This can be seen as a bonus, since it will entertain your dog for longer. But, there is a downside to this. And that concerns your dog’s teeth.
Veterinarians are seeing more and more dogs who suffer from tooth fractures and other dental issues that stem from chewing on hard bones. Tooth fractures and other dental issues can be painful for your dog, and expensive for you. Many people will give their dogs bones and experience none of these problems. But, it is a rising concern for many veterinarians, which is something owners should take into account.
Giving Your Dog A Small Bone
A good rule of thumb for finding the ideal bone size for your dog is that your dog should not swallow it. As mentioned, bones can lead to choking. In addition, if swallowed, it can cause severe internal damage. This rule applies to both smoked and regular bones. Remember, whatever size your dog is, it’s always safest to give your dog a larger bone.
Take Away the Bone Every 10-15 Minutes
When giving your dog bone as a treat, it’s best to take it away after a few minutes. It’s best to check if your dog is already cracking it since the small pieces can be dangerous for the health of your canine.
FAQ
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