Do not give a dog a bone – it could kill, warns charity

FOR generations of pet owners, feeding bones to their dogs has seemed as natural as taking them for a walk.

But vets are now warning people not to – because it could kill them.

Britain’s leading veterinary charity, the PDSA, has issued the warning after its vets and nurses reported seeing dozens of dogs suffering from digestive tract damage and blockages caused by splinters or larger pieces of bone being swallowed and becoming stuck.

Rebecca Ashman, a senior vet with the PDSA, said: “Surgery is usually needed to remove any blockage and in some cases the damage can be fatal.”

Several pet food firms in the UK market raw bones as “the perfect addition to a raw or natural diet” for both cats and dogs. However, Tesco stopped selling natural bones marketed especially for dogs following a number of fatalities, including the death of a twoyear-old miniature schnauzer, Burtie, which fell ill after a ham bone became lodged in its stomach.

Burtie’s owners, James Lancaster and Anna Carey, from Beaminster, Dorset, had given their pet the bone from the supermarket for a treat, but the animal became violently ill. An x-ray showed fragments of bone in Burtie’s stomach and intestines and despite a four-hour operation the vet was forced to put the dog to sleep on Christmas Day – Burtie’s second birthday.

Mr Lancaster, an editor, said: “It was extremely distressing. He was so much part of the family.”

Miss Carey, a PR consultant, said: “Burtie took the bone away and ate almost the whole thing. You wouldn’t think that a potentially lethal product can be packaged and sold as a treat. We fully support the PDSA advice – it could save many animals’ lives.”

Tesco now only sells artificially made calcium “bones”, and these come with the safety warning: “Supervise when feeding as this product may splinter.”

The warning has been echoed by the British Veterinary Association. Its junior vice president, Gudrun Ravetz, said: “Vets routinely see animals who have consumed cooked bones. We ask owners to never feed them to their pets, and to dispose of them safely.”

She added: “If owners feed their dog raw bones we recommend they speak to their vet to understand the risks. We do not advise feeding cats raw bones.”