Can a Dog Eat a Turkey Bone? A Vet’s Advice

As a dog owner you likely want to share tasty morsels and holiday treats with your furry friend. However some human foods can be dangerous for dogs, including turkey bones. I’ll explain why dogs should avoid turkey bones and offer some safer bone alternatives for dogs.

The Dangers of Turkey Bones for Dogs

Turkey bones may seem like an obvious leftover to toss your dog after a holiday meal. However, veterinarians recommend keeping cooked turkey bones away from dogs. Here’s why:

• Turkey bones can easily splinter. The cooking process causes turkey bones to become brittle. When chewed, they are likely to shatter into small sharp fragments. These bone shards can lacerate your dog’s mouth, throat and digestive tract.

• Splinters can cause obstructions. Bone fragments can get lodged in your dog’s throat, stomach, or intestines. This can lead to choking or blockages, which prevent food from passing through the digestive system. Blockages usually require emergency surgery.

• Bones can puncture organs. Sharp bone shards may puncture organs like your dog’s stomach or intestines. This can lead to severe infections and even death if not treated immediately.

• Constipation is common. Turkey bones often result in constipation. Your dog may strain painfully to pass bone fragments in their stool.

• Bones can cause rectal bleeding. Sharp edges can scrape and cut your dog’s rectum and anus as bone shards pass through.

• Raw turkey bones also pose risks. While less likely to splinter, raw turkey bones can obstruct your dog’s throat or intestines. Raw bones may also transmit salmonella and other bacteria.

As you can see, both raw and cooked turkey bones can seriously harm your dog. It’s simply not worth the risk. Never feed Fido turkey bones as treats or table scraps.

What to Do if Your Dog Eats Turkey Bones

If your dog accidentally consumes a turkey bone, remain calm. While dangerous, most dogs pass bones without incident. However, you should monitor your dog closely for the next 48 hours. Watch for these symptoms and contact your vet immediately if you notice any:

• Gagging, choking, or coughing
• Drooling more than usual
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea with or without blood
• Straining to defecate but not passing stool
• Whining or abdominal pain

You should also carefully inspect your dog’s stools over the next few days. Check for bone fragments, blood, or black, tarry stools, which indicate internal bleeding. Reluctance to defecate may also signal a problem.

Don’t induce vomiting at home, as bones can further injure your dog’s throat. Instead, rush to your vet, who may give your dog IV fluids, pain medication, and muscle relaxants to allow the bone to safely pass.

In some cases, emergency surgery is needed to remove an obstructing bone fragment. Seek immediate vet care if your dog shows signs of obstruction like vomiting, lack of appetite, or abdominal pain paired with inability to defecate.

Prompt veterinary treatment greatly improves your dog’s prognosis if they’ve eaten a turkey bone. Don’t wait to see if symptoms resolve on their own. Time is of the essence.

Safer Bone Choices for Dogs

While turkey bones are dangerous, not all bones are off limits for dogs. Consider these safer bone alternatives:

• Raw meaty bones: Raw beef or lamb bones are flexile enough to chew without splintering. They can be a healthy part of your dog’s diet. Always supervise your dog with any bone.

• Edible dog bones: These are made from digestible ingredients like rice or potato flour. Look for treats shaped like bones but without actual bone content.

• Recreational bones: Hard nylon bones won’t splinter and provide long-lasting enjoyment. Monitor use, as aggressive chewers may break pieces off over time.

• Dental chews: These rubbery bone-like treats promote better dental health. They help scrape away plaque without the dangers of real bones.

By choosing dog-safe bones, you can provide your pup with an enriching, teeth-cleaning chewing experience without hazards. Pick an option appropriate for your dog’s size and chewing strength.

Preventing Turkey Bone Consumption

Of course, keeping turkey bones away from your dog in the first place is ideal. Follow these tips to prevent turkey bone consumption:

• Store cooked bones or meat scraps safely out of reach of your dog. Bones should go directly into an outdoor garbage can with a locking lid.

• Clear all plates, carving debris, and food scraps from the table and counters after holiday meals. Don’t leave any tempting morsels within your dog’s reach.

• Carve the turkey in an area where your dog can’t access fallen scraps. Keep dogs in another room behind a baby gate.

• Train your dog to “leave it” and “drop it” so you can prevent bone consumption. Reward them for obeying these commands.

• Monitor trash cans containing turkey bones. Use child-proof or pet-proof trash cans if needed.

• Travel with bones if you’re going to a friend’s house for a holiday meal. Don’t toss them in unsecured curbside cans.

With diligence and training, you can keep your curious canine away from dangerous turkey bones. Remove the temptation by properly disposing of bones.

The Bottom Line

Cooked or raw, turkey bones pose substantial risks to dogs, who can easily fracture and swallow sharp shards. While turkey meat is fine for dogs, never feed them turkey bones or allow access to discarded bones. Monitor your dog closely if they ingest a bone and call your vet promptly if concerns arise. With caution, you can protect your pup and enjoy holiday leftovers without harming your furry friend.