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.
Can My Dog Eat Turkey Bones? The Risks and What You Should Do
With the holidays approaching, many pet owners find themselves with leftovers galore, including turkey bones. It’s only natural to want to share some tasty morsels with your furry companion. However, while dogs can safely eat turkey meat, turkey bones are a different story. Giving your dog turkey bones comes with substantial risks that every pet owner should understand. This article covers everything you need to know about the dangers of turkey bones for dogs, what to do if your dog gets ahold of one, and how to keep them safe and healthy this holiday season.
The Dangers of Turkey Bones for Dogs
Turkey bones, whether cooked or uncooked, pose a significant choking hazard and can cause serious internal damage. Here are the primary risks:
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Splintering – When chewed, turkey bones tend to shatter and splinter into sharp fragments. These pieces can stab or become embedded in your dog’s mouth, throat, stomach or intestinal tract Splinters increase the risk of painful lacerations, infections and digestive obstructions Cooked bones splinter more easily.
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Blockages – Larger bone chunks can become lodged in the throat, stomach or intestines, fully or partially obstructing the gastrointestinal tract. This prevents food and water from passing through and can lead to a life-threatening emergency. Surgery is often required to remove obstructions.
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Choking – Bones may become stuck in the mouth, throat or windpipe, causing choking. This blocks the airway and requires immediate first aid. Choking on a bone can be fatal if not treated promptly.
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Internal Damage – Bone fragments can perforate or tear the esophagus, stomach, or intestinal lining This can lead to inflammation, infection, peritonitis and severe abdominal pain
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Constipation – An excess of bone matter can harden the stool, resulting in constipation. This causes uncomfortable straining and difficulty passing feces. In severe cases, veterinary assistance may be required.
As you can see, turkey bones are quite dangerous and should be kept away from dogs. While larger breeds are at risk, small dogs are especially prone to bone-related injuries and blockages.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats a Turkey Bone
If your dog accidentally ingests a turkey bone, stay calm but take action right away. Here are some important steps:
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Monitor Your Dog – Keep a close eye out for any signs of distress like gagging, vomiting, lethargy or loss of appetite. If you notice any, call your vet immediately. Timely treatment is critical.
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Avoid Inducing Vomiting – While it may seem like the right move inducing vomiting can cause more damage if bones have already been swallowed. Only a vet should advise this.
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Contact Your Veterinarian – Notify your vet about the incident right away. They can guide you based on your dog’s size and symptoms. Prompt veterinary care greatly improves outcomes.
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Watch for Changes – It may take up to 48 hours for a bone to pass through the system. Carefully monitor your dog’s stool for bone fragments or blood and watch for signs of constipation.
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Seek Emergency Care – If your dog exhibits extreme distress, severe vomiting, choking or inability to pass stool, seek emergency veterinary treatment right away. Urgent medical intervention may be required.
While turkey bones can certainly cause problems, try not to panic. In most cases, dogs pass bones successfully with monitoring and supportive care. However, veterinary guidance is crucial to prevent complications. Don’t attempt to treat it at home without input from your vet.
How to Keep Your Dog Safe This Holiday Season
The best way to handle turkey bones is to make sure your dog never ingests any in the first place. Here are some tips to protect your pup:
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Avoid feeding table scraps – This can lead to begging behaviors and increase the temptation to snatch food. Stick to your dog’s normal diet instead.
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Store bones safely – Place all bones, scraps and trash in sealed containers out of your dog’s reach. Lock lids on garbage cans tightly.
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Clean up promptly – Don’t leave leftover bones unattended on countertops or tables. Dispose of them right away after meals.
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Train your dog – Work on “leave it” and “drop it” commands to prevent bone snatching and help remove items from your dog’s mouth. Use positive reinforcement.
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Supervise outdoors – When outside, keep your dog away from the trash and on a leash to avoid scavenging behaviors. Stray bones can be found in parks or yards.
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Provide alternatives – Offer safe chews like dental sticks and rubber toys to satisfy your dog’s chewing urges instead of bones.
By training your dog and taking precautions, you can ensure a fun, safe holiday for everyone. If an accident does happen, stay calm, monitor your dog closely and contact your vet right away. Avoid attempting to induce vomiting or treat it without guidance. With prompt care, most dogs recover fully and avoid lasting harm. While scary, try not to panic, as this can delay getting your dog the help they need. Here’s to a healthy, happy holiday season for you and your four-legged family members!
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 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 Turkey Bones? Yes and No!
FAQ
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