GIVE A DOG A BONE?
The pros and cons of feeding your furry friend these ‘treats’
MANY of us are guilty of it: giving our pooch a leftover bone from the braai or dinner table. What’s the harm right, it’s a nice treat? Wrong. Bones can be extremely harmful, even fatal, for dogs and cats.
“We have patients admitted on a monthly basis,” says Alan Perrins, spokesperson for the Western Cape branch of the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa.
“Mainly dogs but also cats, and the number increases over the festive season, with bones getting stuck in their mouths or lodged in their throats. Regrettably, many people feed bones out of ignorance.”
Some like to claim they give their dogs bones because dogs in the wild eat bones. Unfortunately that’s not always wise, says Ingrid de Wet from the Country Animal Clinic in Somerset West.
“I’ve seen many hyenas with terribly broken or worn-down teeth so bones always come with a risk,” she says.
But there are some benefits. “Dogs are chewers and chewing does provide mental stimulation and relieves boredom,” explains Bronwyn Leverton from Pinelands Village Veterinary Clinic in Cape Town.
“Bones – and sometimes the stringy sinews attached – can break off tartar and help clean teeth. They also have some nutritional value and can help relieve teething pain in pups.”
THE DAMAGE BONES CAN CAUSE
Bones can cause mouth and tongue cuts, broken teeth and tooth-root abscesses, wounds in the mouth or throat, vomiting and diarrhoea, severe constipation and intestinal blockages.
“I’ve seen round bones being stuck around the upper or lower jaws, animals choking on chicken necks, bloody enemas involving removal of thousands of tiny shards of razor-sharp bone, surgical removal of bones lodged in or having torn through the oesophagus, and bones that have perforated through intestines,” Leverton says.
But some dogs are better able to deal with bones than others and pass bones through their system more easily.
AVOID THESE BONES
S Chicken bones, necks and feet “In our experience chicken bones are the most prevalent and cause the most harm,” Perrins says.
S Rib/chop bones They’re long, break easily and have sharp edges.
S Fish bones These are dangerous as they’re needle-like and sharp and can easily puncture the intestines of a dog or cat if swallowed.
FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES
S Larger bones As a rule of thumb, the bone should be about the size of the dog’s head with no sharp edges. “If you do choose to feed bones then choose large bones with a lot of cartilage and softer tissue on the ends,” De Wet says.
S Raw bones Raw is safer than cooked. “Cooked bones often result in cracked teeth as they’re too hard,” she adds.
S Keep a watchful eye Always make sure your dog is supervised with a bone. “Once they start breaking it and swallowing pieces, remove it. If they bury the bone and dig it up again, they run the risk of getting gastroenteritis as bacteria grow on the bone.”
TRY THESE BONE ALTERNATIVES
Many pet and vet shops sell bones but this doesn’t make it acceptable. “As pet owners it’s essential to provide a safe outlet for chewing behaviour and bones aren’t inherently safe,” De Wet says.
“I’d recommend chew toys such as Kongs, which you can fill with edible treats such as peanut butter, sinew-based treats and dental chews.”
You can also get creative and freeze soft food to make a pet popsicle they can enjoy, she adds.
“At the end of the day it can be heartbreaking to lose a pet to something that could’ve been prevented. Remember, all your dog needs is a good-quality diet and lots of love and attention from you.”