“Give a dog a bone” – a common saying worldwide, but in reality, this is a controversial topic for vets as well as owners.
While Google searches and social media may advocate for bone consumption (nutritional and dental benefits) and many dogs enjoy bones, there are still a small percentage of dogs that will suffer from serious injuries.
Risks of handling bones
Regardless of bone size and thickness, raw, frozen, or cooked bones may cause obstructions in the digestive system or oesophagus (food pipe), choking, broken teeth and constipation.
A long-standing patient at our clinic recently passed away after eating a raw bone, which caused intestinal obstruction and perforation.
We would like all our clients to be aware of the possible risks involved in feeding bones to avoid a potential tragedy happening again.
Look for bone alternatives
There are many alternatives instead of bones that you can use to look after your dog’s teeth and prevent dental disease in the long-term. These include:
- Bully sticks
- Greenies or OraVet dental chews
- Pig ears or pig snouts
Please contact one of our veterinary staff or chat over the phone for some suggestions. 1300 MAT VET or 1300 628 838