Sophie Bennett
Chicken bones are dangerous for dogs and can cause serious health complications. If a dog swallows a chicken bone, it can get stuck in its throat, oesophagus, or intestinal tract, causing choking, internal bleeding, or even death. The bone may also splinter, puncturing the dog's gastrointestinal tract and causing further pain and distress. Smaller dogs and puppies are at a higher risk of developing complications, as the bones may get stuck more easily in their narrower digestive systems. If you suspect your dog has swallowed a chicken bone, it is important to remain calm and check for choking. If the dog is choking, seek immediate veterinary assistance. If not, monitor the dog's behaviour for any changes and contact your veterinarian for advice on how to proceed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Risk | Chicken bones can splinter and cause choking, perforation of the esophagus or intestinal tract, and internal bleeding |
| Symptoms | Gagging, drooling, retching, coughing, heavy breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, constipation, straining to defecate, bloody stool, abdominal bloating |
| Immediate Action | Check for choking, use the Heimlich maneuver if necessary, monitor behavior, call veterinarian |
| Prevention | Keep food out of reach, secure trash lids, train dog not to steal food |
| Treatment | X-ray of abdomen, hydration, soft food like bread to coat bone fragments |
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What You'll Learn
What to do if your dog hasn't swallowed the bone yet
It is important to remain calm if your dog has swallowed a chicken bone. Raising your voice or making sudden movements can increase your dog's stress levels and worsen their condition. If your dog has not completely swallowed the bone yet, try to calmly remove it from their grasp. You can do this by calmly telling them to drop it and offering a treat as a trade.
If the bone is stuck in your dog's throat, you can try to remove it by checking inside their mouth. If you are unable to remove the object, you can use the Heimlich maneuver, just like with a person. There are two different ways to perform this maneuver, depending on the size of your dog. For medium to large-sized dogs, you can use the abdominal compression technique, and for small dogs, you can use the chest thrust technique.
If your dog has swallowed the bone but it is lodged in their esophagus, they may exhibit symptoms such as gagging, drooling, and retching. In this case, you should seek veterinary attention immediately. The veterinarian will perform a physical examination and may recommend taking an X-ray of your dog's abdomen to locate the ingested bone and check for any issues.
It is important to act quickly if your dog has swallowed a chicken bone, as chicken bones can break and splinter, causing internal bleeding and other serious complications. Puppies are especially at risk of developing complications from eating chicken bones due to their smaller digestive systems.
To reduce the risk of harm, you can feed your dog a few slices of plain white bread or soft food right after they have ingested the bone. This will help to coat the bone and prevent harm from any sharp edges. It is also important to keep an eye on your dog's stool for the next 72 hours to ensure that the bone fragments are passing through. If you do not see any bone fragments within this time frame, you should take your dog to the vet to ensure that the bones are not stuck in their intestine, esophagus, or throat.
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How to prevent choking
While ingesting chicken bones may not always result in complications, it is a potentially dangerous situation for dogs. Chicken bones can break and splinter, causing choking, or puncturing the gastrointestinal tract, the esophagus, or the intestinal tract. They can also get caught in the dog's throat, causing gagging, drooling, and retching.
- Stay calm and do not panic. Panicking may confuse your dog and cause them to swallow the bone.
- If your dog has not yet swallowed the bone, try to calmly remove it from their mouth. You can use a hemostat from your first-aid kit if you have one.
- Check for blood in their mouth or throat. If there is none and your dog is acting normally, they will probably be okay.
- Do not induce vomiting. This increases the risk of the bone getting stuck in the esophagus or causing more lacerations to the airways.
- Feed your dog a few slices of plain white bread or soft food to help cushion the bone fragments and prevent harm from sharp edges. Bread can also protect the lining of your dog's digestive system and stimulate digestive juices to help break down the bone faster.
- Encourage your dog to drink water to keep them well-hydrated.
- Monitor your dog's behavior for 24 hours. Most chicken bones will dissolve in stomach acid within 24-48 hours.
- Check your dog's stool daily to see if you can see the bone fragments passing through. If you do not see them within 72 hours, take your dog to the vet to ensure the bones are not stuck in their intestine, esophagus, or throat.
To prevent choking on chicken bones in the future:
- Keep food out of reach, and trash lids securely closed.
- Train your dog not to steal food from counters or dining tables.
- Take extra care during meal preparation with boned chicken, and keep these items well out of reach.
- After a meal, secure chicken bones in a container that is inaccessible to your dog, or dispose of them immediately.
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How chicken bones can harm dogs
Chicken bones can be very dangerous for dogs and can cause them serious harm. Firstly, dogs can be possessive over food, so they are likely to gobble down a chicken bone before you can take it away from them. Chicken bones are small and dogs tend to swallow them whole, so there is often little time to intervene. Secondly, chicken bones can get stuck in a dog's mouth, causing injury to their oral cavity. They can also become lodged in the oesophagus, causing gagging, drooling, and retching. They can even get stuck in the upper part of the airway, in the back of the throat (pharynx), or at the start of the airway.
Chicken bones can also cause internal damage to dogs. Bones can splinter easily and cause perforation of the oesophagus or intestinal tract. They can also puncture the gastrointestinal tract or get caught in the throat. This can be extremely painful and potentially life-threatening for dogs. Puppies are at a higher risk of developing complications from eating chicken bones because their digestive systems are smaller, so bones are more likely to get stuck and cause obstructions.
If a dog has swallowed a chicken bone, it is important to stay calm and not induce vomiting. This is because there is a risk of the bone fragments causing more damage on the way back up or lacerating the dog's airways. Instead, it is recommended to feed the dog soft food, such as white bread, to help cushion the bone fragments and protect the digestive system. It is also important to keep the dog hydrated. If the dog shows any signs of distress, such as choking, coughing, or difficulty breathing, it is important to seek immediate veterinary attention.
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What to feed your dog after it swallows a chicken bone
If your dog has swallowed a chicken bone, it is important to remain calm and take proactive measures to prevent harm. Chicken bones can pose a choking hazard and may splinter, causing internal punctures or lacerations. Here are some steps to take regarding your dog's diet after such an incident:
Feed Soft Foods
It is recommended to feed your dog soft foods, such as plain white bread, immediately after bone ingestion. Soft foods can act as a cushion, coating the bone fragments and protecting the dog's digestive system from scratches or punctures. This can also help stimulate digestive juices to aid in breaking down the bone faster.
Avoid Inducing Vomiting
While it may be tempting to induce vomiting to remove the bone, this action can be risky. Inducing vomiting increases the chances of the bone getting lodged in the esophagus or causing further damage to the airways on its way back up.
Provide a Prescription Gastrointestinal Diet
After ingesting chicken bones, your dog's stomach and upper gastrointestinal system may become irritated and inflamed. Feeding them a canned prescription gastrointestinal diet for a few days can aid in digestion and help the stomach recover.
Administer Probiotics
Ingesting chicken bones can disrupt the balance of healthy bacteria in your dog's gut, leading to gastroenteritis. Probiotics can help restore this balance and support the healing process.
Monitor for Blockage or Internal Bleeding
Keep a close eye on your dog's behavior and watch for any signs of blockage or internal bleeding. Symptoms such as lethargy, constipation, straining during defecation, bloody stool, vomiting, bloating, loss of appetite, or general discomfort warrant immediate veterinary attention.
Check for Bone Fragments in Stool
Regularly check your dog's stool for bone fragments. If you do not see any fragments within 72 hours or the recommended timeframe by your veterinarian, take your dog for a check-up to ensure the bones have not become stuck in their intestine, esophagus, or throat.
Remember, prevention is crucial. Keep chicken bones securely stored and out of your dog's reach to avoid accidental ingestion. If you suspect your dog is choking or displaying distress, seek veterinary assistance immediately.
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When to take your dog to the vet
While it's important to remain calm if your dog swallows a chicken bone, it can be extremely dangerous for them. Chicken bones are brittle and can easily splinter, which can cause your dog to choke and even puncture their gastrointestinal tract, oesophagus, or throat. This can be extremely painful and potentially fatal.
- Immediate veterinary attention: If your dog exhibits signs of choking, such as gasping, pawing at their mouth, gagging, drooling, heavy coughing, or difficulty breathing, seek immediate veterinary assistance. These are signs that the bone may be lodged in their throat or upper airway, and attempting to remove the bone yourself could push it further down.
- Emergency veterinary care: If your dog is showing any symptoms of illness, distress, or unusual behaviour, take them to a veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic immediately. Symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, lethargy, constipation, straining to defecate, bloody stool, and abdominal bloating can be indicators of more serious issues.
- Veterinary consultation: If your dog has swallowed chicken bones and you are unsure of what to do, it is always best to consult your veterinarian for advice. They may recommend monitoring your dog for 24 hours for any changes in behaviour or symptoms. They might also suggest an X-ray to locate the ingested bones and check for any complications.
- Preventative measures: While not all dogs will experience complications from ingesting chicken bones, it is important to take preventative measures to avoid potential risks. Monitor your dog's stool daily for 72 hours or as recommended by your veterinarian to ensure the bone fragments are passing through. If you do not see bone fragments, there may be a risk of obstruction, and it is advisable to visit the vet.
- Puppies and smaller dogs: Puppies and smaller dogs are at a higher risk of developing complications from eating chicken bones due to their smaller digestive systems. If your puppy or small dog has ingested chicken bones, it is recommended to seek veterinary attention immediately, even if they are not displaying any symptoms.
- Soft food and hydration: Feeding your dog soft food, such as plain white bread or canned pumpkin, can help cushion the bone fragments and protect their digestive system. Encourage hydration by offering water or broth to help move the bone fragments through their system.
Remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your dog's health. If you have any concerns or notice any unusual behaviour, don't hesitate to contact your veterinarian for guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
It is important to remain calm and not panic. Check your dog's mouth to see if the bone is lodged in its throat and use the Heimlich maneuver if necessary. If the bone has been swallowed, monitor your dog for any symptoms of distress, such as heavy coughing, trouble breathing, lethargy, vomiting, or loss of appetite. Seek veterinary attention immediately if any symptoms develop.
Chicken bones, especially cooked ones, can break and splinter, causing choking, perforation of the esophagus or intestinal tract, and internal bleeding. They can also get stuck in the dog's throat, pharynx, or the start of the airway. In addition, raw chicken bones can carry bacteria like salmonella, leading to infections.
To prevent your dog from swallowing a chicken bone, keep food out of their reach, secure trash lids, and train your dog not to steal food from counters or tables. During meal preparation, take extra care with boned chicken, and promptly secure or dispose of chicken bones after your meal.
