Is it safe for a dog to eat a bone?

Bones are a good source of minerals and nutrients and help satisfy a dog’s hunger.

Plus, chewing on them stimulates saliva enzymes and helps prevent plaque buildup on teeth. But the big question is … should you give your dog a bone?

Let’s face it. Dogs love their bones.

They’ve been dreaming about, drooling over, and chewing on them for thousands of years.

But as a responsible pet parent, you want to make sure that what you’re giving them is good for them. Because honestly, just because we love chocolate cakes doesn’t mean it’s good for us … right?

Let’s take a look at some of the most common questions about dogs and bones.

Cooked bones vs. raw bones … what’s the difference?

The short answer — raw bones are much safer than the cooked ones.

Raw lamb and beef are safe for your dog. Although these are the safer options, you should still keep an eye out when your dog has one.

But what about pork and chicken bones?

• Pork bones should always be avoided. No matter whether raw or cooked, pork bones are likely to splinter and crack when a dog chews on them.

• Raw chicken bones are safer than cooked, but be careful. Why? Cooked chicken bones — or any cooked bones — are softer and more brittle, which increases the risk of damaging a dog’s mouth, throat and/or digestive tract.

What to do if your dog eats a bone without your knowledge

Often a dog’s digestive system is able to process a bone without problems. But here are important steps to consider if you find this has happened:

1. Stay calm. Remove the remaining bones calmly. Dogs can be possessive about food and may try to gobble up things before you can touch it.
2. Stop further access to the bone(s).
3. Call your vet. Check in and get advice. Most vets will tell you not to make your dog vomit.
4. Watch for signs. If your dog shows any of these symptoms, head to the vet immediately: vomiting, gagging, drooling, coughing or trouble breathing.

Any last-minute “safe bone” points to remember?

Keeping your dog happy and safe is always your number one priority. So if your pup loves gnawing on bones, keep these things in mind. They can have fun and you can relax.

• Take the bone away from your dog after 10 to 15 minutes.
• Toss the bone after three to four days
• Give larger bones to larger breeds
• Supervise, supervise, supervise