Lucas Delgado
Dogs are naturally curious and may find chicken bones tempting, but ingesting them poses a potential risk. While chicken bones usually dissolve once they hit a dog's stomach, they can also cause internal bleeding, intestinal obstruction, choking, and perforation of the esophagus or intestinal tract. If your dog has eaten chicken bones, it's important to stay calm and check for choking. If your dog is choking, seek immediate veterinary assistance. If not, call your veterinarian for advice and monitor their behavior for any signs of blockage or internal bleeding.
What to do if your dog ate a chicken bone
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Choking | Check for choking. If your dog exhibits signs of choking, such as gasping, pawing at their mouth, or difficulty breathing, seek immediate veterinary assistance. |
| Vomiting | Do not induce vomiting. |
| Blockage | Chicken bones can cause gastrointestinal blockage. If your dog appears to be in distress, act quickly and contact a vet for emergency treatment. |
| Internal bleeding | Chicken bones can cause internal bleeding. If your dog appears lethargic, has bloody stool, is vomiting, appears bloated in the abdomen, or is not eating, seek veterinary attention right away. |
| Bread | Feeding your dog slices of plain white bread can help to coat the bone and prevent harm from any sharp edges. |
| Fluids | Ensure your dog remains hydrated. Dehydration can delay the digestion of bones and lead to other health issues. |
| Antacids | Avoid giving your dog antacids to soothe an upset stomach. |
| Probiotics | A probiotic can help restore the balance of healthy bacteria in your dog's gut and aid in healing. |
| Prevention | Keep food out of reach, trash lids securely closed, and train your dog not to steal food from the counter or dining table. |
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What You'll Learn
Stay calm and check for choking
It is natural to panic when you think your dog is in danger, but it is important to stay calm and check for choking. If your dog hasn't completely swallowed the bone yet, try to calmly remove it from their grasp. A panicked removal motion can trigger a dog to be possessive of the bone, and they may try to swallow it quickly. If your dog is choking, they may start retching, pacing back and forth, rolling around on the ground, or pawing at their mouth. They may also act like they are trying to cough something up. If their airway is completely blocked, they won't be able to make any noise at all, so pay close attention to their body language. If your dog is choking, don't wait to call your vet. Check inside your dog's mouth to see if you can remove the object lodged in their throat. If you're not able to remove the object, your next option is to 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. There is an abdominal compression technique for medium to large-sized dogs and a chest thrust technique for small dogs.
If the bone is not lodged in your dog's airway, you'll need to watch for signs of blockage or internal bleeding. If your dog appears to be active and eating and drinking normally, it's likely they'll be okay. In this case, you can continue to monitor the situation without seeking immediate medical assistance. However, you should still follow up with your vet to ensure there is no remaining bone left in your dog's intestines or esophagus. Check your dog's stool daily for at least 72 hours after ingestion to see if you can see the bone fragments passing through. If you do not see them within this time frame, it's a good idea to visit the vet to make sure the bones aren't stuck in your dog's intestine, esophagus, or throat.
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Call the vet
If your dog has eaten chicken bones, it is important to stay calm and carefully assess the situation. While chicken bones are not the worst thing your dog could ingest, they can pose serious health risks. Here are some reasons why you should call the vet if your dog has eaten chicken bones:
Potential Choking Hazard
If your dog is choking on a chicken bone, it is an emergency situation that requires immediate veterinary attention. Signs of choking include gasping, pawing at the mouth, coughing, heavy breathing, gagging, drooling, and retching. If you suspect your dog is choking, do not induce vomiting as this can worsen the situation. Instead, try to carefully remove the bone from your dog's mouth if it is visible and reachable without causing further distress or injury. If the bone is lodged in the throat or upper airway, you can attempt to dislodge it using the Heimlich maneuver or chest thrust technique, depending on your dog's size.
Internal Bleeding and Blockages
Chicken bones, especially cooked ones, can easily splinter and cause internal injuries, such as perforation of the esophagus or intestinal tract, and intestinal obstruction. If your dog shows symptoms such as lethargy, constipation, straining to defecate, bloody stool, vomiting, abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, or discomfort, seek veterinary attention immediately. These could be signs of internal bleeding or blockages caused by the ingested chicken bones.
Intestinal Obstruction
If your dog has swallowed chicken bones, there is a risk of intestinal obstruction. Monitor your dog's stool for at least 72 hours to check for bone fragments. If you don't see any fragments within this time frame, consult your veterinarian to ensure there are no bones stuck in your dog's intestine, esophagus, or throat. Intestinal obstructions can be life-threatening and may require surgical intervention.
Exposure to Bacteria
If your dog has consumed uncooked chicken along with the bones, there is a risk of exposure to harmful bacteria such as salmonella. Consult your veterinarian for advice on preventing and treating bacterial infections.
Individual Factors
Different dogs may experience varying levels of risk from ingesting chicken bones. Puppies, for example, are at a higher risk of complications due to their smaller digestive systems. Additionally, factors such as the size of the dog, the number of bones ingested, and individual health considerations can influence the potential dangers. Consulting a veterinarian will help you assess the specific risks and ensure your dog receives appropriate care.
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Give your dog white bread
It is important to remain calm and understand that in most cases, there's no immediate cause for worry, even if your dog swallowed a large amount. While chicken bones often dissolve once they hit a dog's stomach, they can also splinter and cause internal bleeding, rupture of the stomach or intestines, intestinal obstruction, or perforation of the esophagus or intestinal tract.
If your dog has swallowed a chicken bone, the first thing to do is check for choking. Signs of choking include gasping, pawing at the mouth, coughing, pacing, rolling around, drooling, gagging, heavy coughing, and difficulty breathing. If your dog is choking, seek immediate veterinary assistance.
If your dog is not choking, you can try giving them a few slices of plain white bread or soft food right after ingestion. This can help to coat the bone and prevent harm from any sharp edges.
- Use plain, unbuttered, and unsweetened white bread.
- Tear the bread into small pieces or feed it in thin slices to avoid choking.
- Offer a few slices of bread, depending on the size of your dog. Smaller dogs may only need one or two slices, while larger dogs may need more.
- If your dog is reluctant to eat the bread, you can try spreading a small amount of peanut butter or wet dog food on it to make it more appealing.
- Do not force the bread into your dog's mouth, as this could cause choking. Instead, offer it to them gently and allow them to eat it at their own pace.
- After feeding the bread, continue to monitor your dog closely for any signs of distress or illness.
- If your dog vomits, check their vomit for any signs of blood or bone fragments.
- Contact your veterinarian for advice and guidance, as they may recommend a simple solution or specific amount of bread to give.
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Monitor for symptoms
If your dog has eaten chicken bones, it is important to monitor them for symptoms and seek veterinary attention if necessary. While chicken bones usually dissolve in a dog's stomach acid within 24 to 48 hours, there is a risk of internal bleeding, intestinal obstruction, or perforation of the esophagus or intestinal tract.
Monitor your dog for any signs of distress, such as heavy coughing, difficulty breathing, gagging, drooling, or retching. These could indicate that the bone is lodged in their esophagus or upper airway, which is a veterinary emergency requiring immediate attention. If your dog is choking, you can try to remove the bone from their mouth or perform the Heimlich maneuver, but be cautious as attempting to remove the bone could push it further down.
In the days following the incident, check your dog's stool for bone fragments. If you do not see any within 72 hours or if your dog exhibits other symptoms such as lethargy, constipation, straining to defecate, bloody stool, vomiting, bloating, loss of appetite, or discomfort, take them to the veterinarian. These could be signs of gastrointestinal blockage or internal bleeding, which require veterinary attention.
It is important to remain calm and avoid panicking, as this could confuse your dog and lead to unnecessary or dangerous actions. Instead, calmly try to take any remaining bones away from your dog and feed them a few slices of plain white bread to help cushion any bone fragments and hopefully prevent harm.
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Prevent future incidents
While chicken bones usually dissolve in a dog's stomach acid within 24-48 hours, they can sometimes cause serious health issues. To prevent future incidents of your dog eating chicken bones, there are several precautions you can take:
- Keep food out of your dog's reach. Store food in secure containers and ensure that your dog cannot access countertops or dining tables.
- Train your dog not to steal food. This can help prevent your dog from eating chicken bones or other dangerous human foods when you are not looking.
- Secure trash lids. Dogs can get into trash bins and eat discarded chicken bones. Securing trash lids can help prevent this.
- Be vigilant about leftovers. Keep a close eye on where family and guests leave their food, and ensure that all chicken bones are disposed of securely.
- Avoid feeding your dog bones. While dogs can chew on raw bones as a treat, cooked bones, including chicken bones, are dangerous and should never be given to your dog.
- Provide alternative chew toys. Dogs love to chew, so provide them with safe alternatives such as dog-specific chew toys.
Remember, it's always better to be safe than sorry. If your dog does ingest chicken bones, stay calm and follow the necessary steps to ensure your dog's safety.
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Frequently asked questions
It is important to stay calm and not panic. If your dog has not swallowed the bone yet, try to calmly remove it from their grasp. If the bone is lodged in their throat, you can try to remove it or use the Heimlich maneuver. If your dog is choking, call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic immediately.
Signs of choking include gasping, pawing at the mouth, coughing, gagging, drooling, heavy coughing, and difficulty breathing. If your dog is choking, act immediately and seek veterinary assistance.
Feed your dog a few slices of plain white bread to help cushion the bone fragments. Monitor your dog's stool for several days (at least 72 hours) to check for bone fragments. If your dog appears to be active and eating and drinking normally, it is likely they are okay. However, it is still recommended to follow up with your veterinarian to ensure there is no remaining bone in their intestines or esophagus.
