There is much debate about the safety of giving dogs ‘real’ bones like those from a turkey. While bone-shaped biscuits may be a household staple for your best friend, we did some research as to the benefits and risks of feeding your pup a turkey bone. Here’s what you need to know before you throw a dog a bone.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, many dog owners find themselves with leftovers like turkey bones and wonder – can my dog eat turkey bones safely? It’s a common question, but veterinarians agree you should never feed your dog turkey leg bones or any other type of poultry bones
Why Can’t Dogs Eat Turkey Bones?
There are a few key reasons vets recommend keeping all bones away from your dog:
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Sharp splinters – Cooked bones, especially turkey bones, become dried out and brittle. They easily splinter into sharp fragments when chewed by dogs. These fragments can damage your dog’s mouth, throat, and digestive tract.
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Choking hazard – Bones can become lodged in your dog’s throat, causing them to choke. This is an emergency situation requiring immediate vet care
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Intestinal blockages or tears – Bone fragments are sharp and can puncture holes in your dog’s intestines. The fragments can also clump together and cause fatal blockages. Both situations require surgery to fix.
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Constipation – Bones can harden stool and cause severe constipation pain. This may resolve on its own but could also require an enema or laxatives from your vet.
So while dogs love gnawing on bones, poultry bones like turkey leg bones pose too much of a physical hazard to canine health.
What Should I Do If My Dog Eats a Turkey Bone?
If your dog manages to grab a turkey bone before you can intervene, take action right away:
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Check their mouth for cuts and embedded bone fragments. Look under the tongue and between teeth.
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Monitor for choking. Gagging, anxious pacing, pawing at the mouth are signs your dog may be choking. This is a dire emergency requiring immediate vet assistance.
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Look for vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy or other signs of distress over the next 48 hours. Cooked splinters can cause internal lacerations without outward symptoms.
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Check your dog’s stools for constipation or blood from rectal tearing. Bones may take up to 48 hours to pass through the digestive system.
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If you see any of the above symptoms or have concerns, call your vet right away. They can assess if your dog needs emergency care due to a blockage, choking hazard, or internal perforation. Quick treatment is vital.
Safer Alternatives to Turkey Bones for Dogs
While turkey bones are too risky for pups, there are many safer bone alternatives to consider:
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Uncooked, raw meaty bones – Raw beef or lamb bones are less likely to splinter. Supervise your dog to prevent choking.
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Recreational bones – These non-edible bones are specially made for dog chewing. Excellent options include Nylabones, Benebones, and antlers.
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Dental chews – Look for an VOHC approval seal to ensure the chew cleans teeth and freshens breath as dogs gnaw. Popular picks are Greenies and CET chews.
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Frozen beef marrow bones – Freezing raw marrowbones makes them safer for supervised chewing. Don’t cook them.
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Pup-safe stuffed bones – Hollow bones like femurs can be stuffed with peanut butter, pumpkin, or low-fat cream cheese for dogs to safely lick out.
Key Takeaways on Dogs and Turkey Bones
To recap, veterinarians strongly advise against letting your dog eat any turkey bones, including the leg bones. Poultry bones become brittle when cooked and easily shatter into dangerous shards. While you may hate to throw out those leftovers, it’s the safest policy for your dog’s health. Monitor them closely if they steal turkey bones before you can stop them and call your vet at the first sign of distress. With some planning, you can still give your pup plenty of chewing enjoyment with safer bone alternatives.
Can dogs eat raw turkey bones?
After reading all of these potential consequences, you’re probably wondering if your pup can even have turkey bones at all. The answer is yes, as long as the bones are raw. Raw bones, in general, are usually a good option for pups to have, but turkey and chicken bones (as well as other types of poultry) still tend to be thinner and splinter easier. So if you do share some raw bone with your dog, it’s important that you supervise them closely when they’re eating.
Raw bones and meat can come with additional risks for foodborne illness. Most healthy dogs should be able to handle raw bones. But, if you have an elderly or immunocompromised dog, check with your vet before feeding anything raw. Remember to clean your dog’s dish and any cutting boards, knives, and food prep areas that came in contact with raw meat or bone to avoid the spread of bacteria and foodborne illnesses.
Can dogs eat cooked turkey bones?
First things first, it’s important that you don’t ever feed cooked turkey bones to a dog. No matter how tempting it might be to let them have a little taste of that delicious holiday feast, cooked bones are dangerous for dogs. They can splinter and cause many problems, including injuries to the pup’s mouth and teeth, as well as intestinal blockages and gastric upset.
Injuries like broken teeth, cuts to the dog’s mouth, damage to the jaw, or bones lodged in the stomach may require surgery to repair. This is why it is important that you avoid giving your pup cooked bones. These injuries can be painful, expensive, and even in some cases, fatal. So, when it comes to cooked turkey bones and your pup, just say no (and don’t worry, we’ll remind you throughout the course of this blog post)!
Can Dogs Eat Raw Turkey Legs
FAQ
What happens if my dog eats a turkey leg bone?
Is it safe for dogs to eat turkey legs?
Are cooked turkey bones safe for dogs?