In the minds of many, dogs and bones just belong together. Their compatibility has been entrenched in the likes of nursery rhymes and Saturday morning cartoons. But contrary to those long-held beliefs, cooked bones can present serious health complications for dogs and cats. 

While it might look like your pet is handling a bone just fine, that can be far from the truth. Veterinarians and other professionals cite a host of potential issues that result from feeding dogs and cats cooked bones, including blockages and perforations in the digestive tract that can lead to severe infection, and internal bleeding. 

Dr. Valentino Grant, veterinarian and owner of Caves Village Veterinary Hospital, said that while some pet owners get away with feeding their dogs bones, the risks are very serious, particularly with chicken, pork chop and rib bones. 

“The danger of feeding cooked bones, especially chicken bones and rib bones that can splinter and have very sharp edges, is that they can perforate, slice, or puncture the stomach and also create a lot of inflammation to the intestines as they're passing through with their sharp edges,” he said. 

“So, we can not only get punctures of the intestines or even perforations, but lacerations, as the bones can slice the intestines when they're being propelled through into the colon before being passed to the outside.  

“And these bones aren't digested. They remain intact, and do a lot of damage.” 

According to research conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based Pet Food Institute (PFI), in the Caribbean region, 31 per cent of pet owners feed their animals table scraps at least sometimes. 

Dr. Grant said many people don’t realize the dangers of feeding bones to their animals. 

“Persons just associate dogs with bones, and they get away with it for the most part and continue the practice,” he said. 

 “But on the veterinary side, I as a veterinarian and my colleagues, we see the end result, the sequela of dogs that end up having major issues, major compromises, major perforations that result in sepsis and infection to the whole abdominal area.  

“Sometimes there's not even a perforation, but the bones accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract. And this can lead to a blockage or even constipation.” 

And while he noted that some people cite the nutritional benefits of feeding bones to pets, Dr. Grant said there are far safer ways to ensure they receive adequate nutrients like calcium, whether from their pet vitamin tabs, calcium tabs, commercial pet food, etc. 

Says Nat Davies, Executive Director of the US-based association with representation in The Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Turks and Caicos “There is an ongoing effort to undo the consequences of the age-old myth that pets should be fed cooked bones or rewarded with them as treats. Pet owners have to make the right decisions for their animals, and ensure that they are giving their pets the best chance at a healthy life by providing them with food that is both nutritionally sufficient and safe for their consumption.”  

As the voice of U.S. pet food makers for nearly 60 years, the Pet Food Institute provides information about pet food safety, nutrition and health to pet lovers, and acts as advocates for a science-based regulatory environment. Its members collectively produce 98 per cent of all U.S. pet food and treat products and are committed, along with vets, to recommending food that is scientifically tests and made from approved ingredients.  

 

About Pet Food Institute (PFI) 

• The Pet Food Institute and our members, who make the vast majority of all U.S. pet food and treat products, are committed to helping dogs and cats live long and healthy lives. And have been doing so for more than 60 years. 
• Pet Food Institute-Caribbean works throughout the region to promote pet wellness and nutrition, helping cat and dog enthusiasts to be the best possible pet owners. Focus countries include Jamaica, Turks & Caicos, Trinidad & Tobago and The Bahamas.  
• As the voice of U.S. pet food makers for more than 60 years, we provide factual information about pet food and treat safety, nutrition, and health to pet lovers, and advocate for a transparent, science-based regulatory environment.  

 

PFI is dedicated to: 

• Advocating for legislation, regulations and technologies that support the domestic manufacture and global distribution of safe, quality pet food and that provide for consumer choice; 
• Promoting pet food safety innovation in manufacturing and handling practices; 
• Delivering information about issues impacting pet food makers, their suppliers and distributors, pet lovers and other relevant stakeholders; and 
• Communicating the benefits of pet ownership to the general public at large.  
• Offices are based in Washington, DC.