Can cats and dogs eat chicken bones?

Answer 1

Possibly - this will depend upon the size of your dog and how many bones your dog ate. Dogs are actually fully capable of digesting bones, but there are several good reasons to not deliberately feed them bones. First, cooked bones are much more brittle than raw bones and have a much higher chance of shattering into sharp pieces that can tear the mouth, esophagus, stomach or intestines. Second, bones in general do not come with a bunch of meat around them, so it is much easier for a dog to simply swallow the bone without chewing it into smaller pieces that will pass through the system - there is risk of obstruction with this. Third, most dogs don't get many bones so they tend to inhale them as a treat, increasing the risk of obstruction or laceration.

I would suggest keeping a close eye on your dog - if you don't see any signs of pain, difficulty breathing or blood loss (watch for vomiting or dark black to bright red poo), she'll probably be fine. However, I would also suggest not repeating this in the future.

Answer 2

Dogs are capable of eating chicken bones, but only raw bones are safe. Cooked bones are more brittle, and dogs eating cooked chicken bones may swallow splinters that can cause tears or lacerations in the intestines.

Answer 3

Yes, small uncooked bones such as chicken wings and necks are fine for cats and dogs to eat. Outside, a cat will eat all of its prey, including the bones. Small bones are easy to crunch up and provide the cat with calcium, and also helps keep the teeth clean from all the chewing. Strong stomach acids in both cats and dogs break down the bone very quickly.

However, never give cooked bones to a cat or dog. Cooked bones are much more brittle than uncooked bones, and shatter and splinter into very sharp and jagged edges which can get lodged inside the animal. Similarly, avoid giving cats and small dogs dense, weight-bearing bones such as thighs. These are very thick bones which can chip an animal's tooth.

Answer 4

Probably not, although there are always some risks. Cooked chicken bones are the riskiest bones for dogs to eat because they are small and they shatter into very sharp pieces easily, both of which greatly increase the risk of laceration throughout the esophagus, stomach and intestines. However, a single small piece of a chicken bone should be digestable by most dogs. I would suggest keeping an eye on your dog for the next several days for difficulty breathing, abdominal pain or blood loss (black-brown or bright red color to any vomit or the dog's poo) - after several days, the bone has probably been digested and the dog will be fine.

Answer 5

fish bones, although containing nutritious minerals, can become lodged in a dogs throat, causing them to choke, or can even puncture the esophagus. its not advisable to give dogs bones.

Answer 6

Yes, it could get splinters