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.
As a dog owner you want to give your pup tasty treats and food scraps from time to time. However, when it comes to turkey bones, you need to be very careful. Both cooked and raw turkey bones pose risks for dogs. Understanding the dangers can help keep your four-legged friend safe and healthy.
The Dangers of Cooked Turkey Bones
Never give your dog cooked poultry bones of any kind. The high heat from cooking causes turkey bones to splinter easily. These small, sharp fragments can wreak havoc in your dog’s mouth and digestive tract. Some potential risks include:
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Mouth cuts and injuries – Sharp bone shards can lacerate your dog’s gums tongue, lips and other soft tissues in the mouth. This leads to pain, bleeding and increased infection risk.
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Throat or intestinal punctures – Splinters that are swallowed can pierce the esophagus, stomach or intestinal lining. This leads to severe pain, internal bleeding, and peritonitis (a deadly abdominal infection).
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Blockages or obstructions – Bones can become lodged in the mouth, throat, stomach or intestines. This prevents food from passing normally through the digestive tract. It’s extremely painful and life-threatening if not treated promptly.
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Constipation – An excess of bone fragments leads to firmer stools that are difficult to pass. Your dog may strain painfully and lose their appetite.
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Vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite – All signs your dog’s digestive system is irritated by bone splinters.
As you can see, cooked turkey bones are quite dangerous for dogs. Never give them as treats or allow access to leftover bones after holiday meals. It’s simply not worth the risk.
Are Raw Turkey Bones Safe?
What about raw turkey bones? Whole, raw bones are less likely to splinter and cause the same injuries. However, raw bones still come with dangers including:
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Choking hazard – Bones may become stuck in the throat and block airflow. This requires emergency intervention or it can quickly lead to death.
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Digestive upset – Turkey bones are quite dense. They may irritate the stomach lining or cause excessive calcium in the diet.
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Foodborne illness – Raw poultry can harbor Salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria. This causes vomiting, diarrhea and other GI upset.
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Broken teeth – Hard bones like weight-bearing turkey legs can crack teeth or damage the enamel.
For these reasons, most vets recommend avoiding raw turkey and other poultry bones as well. The minimal nutritional benefits don’t outweigh the risks for pets.
Signs of Trouble After Eating Bones
If your dog accidentally ingests a turkey bone, look for these signs of distress:
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Choking, coughing or gagging
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Anxious pacing and inability to settle down
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Drooling more than usual
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Black, tarry stools or bloody diarrhea
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Loss of appetite or refusing food and water
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Crying or whimpering in pain
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Lethargy and weakness
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Fever
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Vomiting lasting more than 24 hours
If you observe any of these, call your vet right away. Waiting too long can allow serious complications to develop. Prompt veterinary treatment gives your dog the best chance of recovery.
What to Do if Your Dog Eats a Bone
First, try to remove the bone if it’s still visible in your dog’s mouth. Offer a treat in exchange for them dropping it or perform the “leave it” command. If you suspect bone pieces have been swallowed, call your vet immediately. Do not induce vomiting, as bones can further damage the throat coming back up.
Your vet may recommend:
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Inducing vomiting if it’s been less than 2 hours since ingestion and there’s no evidence of throat injury
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IV fluids to prevent dehydration
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An endoscopy to view the throat and remove lodged bones
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X-rays to locate bone pieces along the intestinal tract
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Emergency surgery to remove intestinal blockages or repair damage
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Prescription medications to relieve pain, vomiting and diarrhea
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A bland diet as the digestive system recovers
With prompt care, most dogs recover fully after eating a turkey bone. But prevention is key to keep it from happening in the first place.
Preventing Turkey Bone Ingestion
Stop turkey bone accidents with these proactive measures:
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Never feed turkey bones as treats – Choose safe alternatives like dental chews.
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Dispose of bones, scraps and trash where your dog can’t access them.
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Train your dog to “leave it” and “drop it” so you can easily take items from their mouth.
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Crate your dog in a separate room while you eat turkey meals.
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Clear the table of plates and bones promptly after holiday meals.
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Store turkey carefully so your dog can’t grab it from the fridge or counters.
Both cooked and raw turkey bones pose significant risks for dogs. They can cause serious mouth, throat and intestinal injuries. Make sure turkey carcasses and bones stay out of your dog’s reach. Monitor them closely around holiday meals when turkey bones may be present. If you think your dog swallowed a turkey bone, call your vet right away. With proper care, your pup can avoid the dangers of turkey bones.
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.
What should I do if my dog ate a cooked turkey bone?
FAQ
Is it safe for dogs to eat turkey bones?
Can I give my dog a raw turkey leg?
Are turkey neck bones OK for dogs?
What if my dog eats a turkey leg?
Can dogs eat cooked turkey bones?
While dogs have a natural inclination to chew on bones, it’s essential to avoid giving them cooked turkey bones. Cooked bones can splinter, posing a significant risk of choking or causing internal injuries. Follow the guideline of bone removal when preparing turkey for your dog, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience.
Are turkey bones toxic to dogs?
Turkey bones aren’t toxic, so you don’t need to worry about rushing your dog to the vet in most cases. However, they aren’t safe and can cause a range of complications. Therefore, monitoring is very important in these situations. Firstly, don’t panic. Although the bone can cause problems for some dogs, the chance of serious complications is low.
Can dogs eat raw meaty bones?
Some dog owners will choose to feed their dogs raw meaty bones as part of their diet, and in consultation with their vet. Raw turkey necks are a common choice for this purpose, but any raw meaty bone carries with it a risk of exposure to bacteria like salmonella.
Can dogs eat turkey?
High fat content can cause pancreatitis, while all the extra spices and seasonings can irritate your dog’s stomach. Only feed your dog turkey meat: Pick through whatever meat portion you’re offering your dog to ensure none of the roasting aromatics are mixed in. Onions are toxic to dogs, and garlic can be toxic in large quantities.