Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones?

Dogs love to forage through the garbage, and many counter-surf if given the chance. Even trash on the sidewalk can look like a tasty snack for a dog. But many people foods can be harmful to dogs. Although chicken is safe for dogs to eat and absolutely irresistible, chicken bones are a definite hazard. You might wonder what to do if your dog eats a chicken bone. It’s a potentially life-threatening situation, so it’s important to know how to react safely and what to watch for.

Risks If Your Dog Eats a Chicken Bone

Although we’re comfortable picking chicken off the bone, dogs will happily gobble a carcass or chicken wing bones and all. You might think that’s no big deal. After all, wolves eat bones all the time. Granted, dogs and wolves share a common ancestor, but dogs aren’t wolves, and those bones aren’t cooked. Plus, even raw bones can pose a danger for dogs. Dr. Carly Fox, senior veterinarian in emergency and urgent care at The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York City, says that all ingested chicken bones are a concern. However, cooked bones tend to splinter more easily and can take longer to dissolve.

If your dog eats a chicken bone, they’re at risk of a variety of health concerns. Dr. Fox says a less severe consequence is gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines that can cause vomiting and diarrhea. But more severe dangers include pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), and a blockage or perforation of the esophagus. Very rarely, small intestine obstruction can occur as well.

What If My Dog Eats a Chicken Bone?

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If you catch your dog in the act of eating a chicken bone, don’t panic. Chasing your dog or trying to snatch the bone away could encourage your dog to gulp down their prize in one swallow. And if your dog has resource guarding issues, you could get bitten. Instead, offer your dog something more tempting, then calmly remove the bone when they swap. If your dog knows a “leave it” or “drop it” cue, use that as well to encourage them to walk away.

If your dog has already eaten the bone, call your veterinarian for advice on how to handle the situation. If your dog is acting normally, Dr. Fox recommends a wait-and-see approach. Closely observe your dog for signs of distress or atypical behavior. She says do NOT induce vomiting at home, as this can lead to esophageal obstruction, aspiration pneumonia (inflammation of the air sacs in the lungs caused by inhaling foreign particles), and esophagitis.

You might think giving your dog something soft, like bread, could cushion the bone and help it pass. But Dr. Fox says it’s inadvisable to feed your dog immediately. “The pH of a dog’s stomach is very low (acidic) and can easily dissolve chicken bones (and most bones) within a couple of hours. Feeding food can actually increase the pH of their stomach temporarily, which can slow down chicken bone dissolution.”

Signs to Watch for If Your Dog Eats a Chicken Bone

If your vet advises observation, what exactly are you looking for? And for how long? Dr. Fox says there is typically little to worry about if your dog is free of signs and eating normally within 12–24 hours of consuming a chicken bone. In the meantime, watch for the following:

• Vomiting or regurgitation
• Excessive salivation (drooling)
• Hard swallowing
• Choking sounds
• Extending the neck
• Lack of appetite
• Diarrhea

If the only sign is diarrhea, Dr. Fox says this typically indicates dietary indiscretion or gastroenteritis and will often clears up on its own. However, the other signs indicate the need for veterinary evaluation.

Treatment for Your Dog If They Eat a Chicken Bone

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If your dog shows any of the above signs, you might wonder how your vet will handle treatment. First, X-rays of your dog’s chest will allow the vet to evaluate the esophagus and rule out a blockage in that location. Dr. Fox says the X-rays will often include images of the stomach as well to see if that’s where the bones ended up. If they’re found in your dog’s stomach, there is usually no further treatment needed, as that’s the ideal location for dissolution. However, your vet may give your dog an antiemetic to help prevent vomiting. Avoid giving your dog antacids should be avoided, as an acidic stomach helps with the digestion of the bones.

If you hear your dog making choking sounds or see neck extension, excessive salivation, regurgitation, lack of appetite, or generalized discomfort, this could indicate a blockage in the esophagus. Dr. Fox warns this requires immediate evaluation by a vet, ideally at an ER with the ability to scope your dog (insert a small camera down their throat). “This is a potentially life-threatening problem that requires immediate care by endoscopic removal under anesthesia. If the foreign material is left for too long, this increases the risk of esophageal perforation, stricture, and severe esophagitis/necrosis.”

Preventing Your Dog From Eating Chicken Bones

The best way to stop your dog from eating chicken bones and other dangerous foods is to keep them away from your dog in the first place. Use trash cans with secure lids, keep food out of your dog’s reach, and ask guests not to leave food where your dog can get at it. It’s also helpful to train your dog to trade items with you willingly and to teach your dog not to counter-surf.

Dr. Fox advises prompt removal of chicken bones and carcasses to prevent accidental ingestion. And as dogs will rip or chew open garbage bags, never leave garbage where your dog can get at it, even if the bag is tied. Take the garbage outside immediately or leave it in a garbage receptacle under the sink or away from possible consumption. Dr. Fox says, “Even good dogs that are trained cannot resist the lure of a chicken carcass!”