FDA: Bones Not a Great Treat For Your Dog

Bones aren’t a great treat for your dog, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says. It’s understandable that you’d want to pamper your pooch. But if you’re doing so with bone treats, you (could be) actually risking its life.

That’s the warning from the US Food and Drug Administration after it received about 68 reports of dog illnesses tied to such treats.

Bone treats are real bones that have been dried, flavored and packaged for dogs, the FDA says. They’re a fixture in pet stores.

Although the treats might seem like they make good stocking stuffers, they (could) pose serious health risks.

In the FDA’s reports, pet owners and veterinarians said dogs that ate these bones experienced blockages in the digestive tract, choking, cuts, vomiting, diarrhea and in extreme cases, death. About 15 dogs died.

“Giving your dog a bone treat might lead to an unexpected trip to your veterinarian, a possible emergency surgery, or even death for your pet,” veterinarian Carmela Stamper said in the published warning.

Besides the warning, the FDA also provided extra tips for keeping Fido safe:

• Chicken bones and other bones from the kitchen table can also cause injury when chewed by pets. (Specifically, chicken bones, when broken, can splinter, and shard, which can lodge in the mouth, esophagus, and GI tract.) So be careful to keep (tempting food) platters out of reach when you’re cooking or the family’s eating.
• Be careful what you put in the trash can. Dogs are notorious for helping themselves to the turkey carcass or steak bones disposed of there. (Eating ‘people food’ can also cause other problems for your pet like pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and vomiting and diarrhea).
• Talk with your veterinarian about other toys or treats that are most appropriate for your dog. There are many available products made with different materials for dogs to chew on (and that have NO calories!)