Although I have written about Dangerous Food For Dogs and I wrote a post dedicated to the benefits of Raw Chicken for Dogs I still seem to be getting quite a few questions about Chicken Bones and whether or not Dogs eating Chicken Bones is dangerous.
If your Dog ate Chicken Bones and you are worried then consult a Vet, but here I will finally put the issue of Dogs and Chicken Bones to rest.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones?
Are Chicken Bones Dangerous For Dogs?
The answer is yes and no! Don’t worry, I will explain what they can and can’t eat. The general rule, however, is that Dogs can eat Raw Chicken Bones but not cooked Chicken Bones.
Dog Ate Chicken Bones?
If your Dog ate Raw Chicken Bones then I would not worry. We feed our Dogs Raw Chicken and Bones all the time. If your Dog ate Cooked Chicken Bones then I would be more concerned. Although a lot of the time your Dog will be fine after eating Cooked Chicken Bones there is a serious risk involved. You need to keep a serious eye on your Dog or go the Vets if you are concerned.
The Dangers Of Cooked Chicken Bones For Dogs
Why to NEVER Feed Cooked Chicken Bones To Dogs
Dogs should never be allowed to eat cooked Chicken Bones. Never feed them, and never let them loose in areas where people may have been eating Cooked Chicken.
Cooked Chicken Bones become very brittle. They will splinter easily and can break in to very sharp shards. If your Dogs ate Cooked Chicken Bones there is risk of it getting a splinter of Bone stuck in its Mouth, its Throat or in its Intestine. The Bones can pierce Intestines or form a hard blockage that can be life threatening.
This is not to say that this will occur, the majority of times you may have nothing to worry about but there is a risk. I am not saying you MUST go to the Vets but it is a real cause for concern and if you have the slightest worry I would recommend you get your Dog checked at the Vets.
Raw Chicken Bones And The Dangers To Dogs
Dogs Can Eat Raw Chicken Bones?
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Raw Chicken Bones are a completely different matter to Cooked Chicken Bones. As with anything a Dog eats there is a small chance of it being Dangerous but Dogs have been eating Raw Bones safely, for the most part, for as long as Wolves have existed. While now far removed from their Ancestral Heritage, Dogs can safely eat all manner of Raw Meat and Bones in safety.
If your Dog ate Raw Chicken Bones I would not be concerned. Raw Bones, especially that of the Chicken, are very soft and digested easily by most Dogs. As well as helping to clean Dogs Teeth they will also help guard against problems with your Dogs Anul Glands which is very important.
The Bones Of a Chicken are ideal for Dogs. They can easily be chewed, are soft, easily digested by most Dogs, and good for their Health. Obviously if you see any adverse side effects call your Vet, but most healthy Dogs do nothing but thrive on Raw Meaty Bones. Some owners feed nothing but Raw Food.
The Danger Of Raw Chicken Bones For Dogs
For Healthy Dogs that have no advers effects to eating Raw Bones in general there is only one problem with the Raw Bones of Chickens. In the Thigh there is a long and very sharp Bone. It “could” cause a problem if it pierces your Dogs Mouth so remove it. If you remove this sharp Needle like Bone then the rest of the Chicken is safe.
Raw Chicken Necks or Chicken Wings make a great snack for Dogs. They love it and will be more than happy with their little treat.
Hopefully this has now covered the topic of Chicken Bones for Dogs and will give you the answers many have still been searching for.
Now, go get a few Chicken Wings for your little Bone Muncher. Or why not learn how to make 245 Homemade Recipes for your Dog?
Faye…………..Faye……………….Faye!
“Live Chickens that give us our daily Eggs DO NOT count!!!!! Step away from the Hen House. Good Girl.”
Pesky Pooches!
May the Doggie Force be with you all,
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42 Comments
I am a butcher at my Mom’s butcher shop, and we have many, many customer that order 30 pound boxes of chicken or turkey necks for their dogs. It seems to be one of the best foods around for them. My friend, Jack, educates dog owner on feeding your K9 friend a completely raw food diet…I think he calls it B.A.R.F. It seems to work wonders for his dogs. Mine, however, are farm dogs, and get into all sorts of things. I cannot completely control what they eat. But they do indeed love raw chicken. Although, they frequently sneak the cooked variety as well. I haven’t had a problem yet, but let’s keep our fingers crossed on that one.
Thanks for your article! It was very helpful for me!
Good post. I had an aunt who bragged that her dogs ate leftover chicken bones all the time. then one day one of them got one stuck in his throat and died a horrible death.
On the other hand, my little Chihuahua mix got into a whole bunch of them one day while the rest of us were at the groomer. She ate A LOT of them with no harm at all.
Not worth taking the risk.
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LOL… Faye… wrong chickens! Star is so desperate to eat our live chickens. She is still learning about self control. I wish I could say she’s gotten far, but she is nothing like Dozer. I still take her into the backyard on leash most of the time.
As much as I would enjoy feeding the dogs any sort of meat or bones, we just can’t. Dozer throws up both, unhesitatingly. He has a lot of food sensitivities so we stick with regular dog food for meals and dry, boring Milk Bones for treats (or the rare Snausage or Puperoni).
Now, I don’t know whether Star would be fine with bones, but I really don’t think it would be very cool for me to give her such a delicacy in front of Dozer.
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Jenny A, the BARF Diet is quite popular now. More and more owners are feeding only Raw.
Mercedes, you are welcome.
Jan, that is the concern. They may be fine but it can cause Death. It must have been horrible.
Jennifer, that is a shame for Dozer. I guess it would seem unfair for Dozer to watch Star munching away. As for the Chickens, there is no way we can let our Chcickens out. The Girls would have them straight away. Lots of Mixed Spanish Hunting Dogs are in our Dogs Gene Pools I think.
Raw chicken and/or cornish hen is now a major part of the diet of all three of our dogs and they love it. Their teeth are looking better, too.
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Dennis, that’s great. I bet they do love it. Ours would live off it if we could afford it!
I feed raw chicken, bones and all to our coonhound crew. It’s quite healthy and safe. I would avoid chicken necks for dogs who the size of which may be a choking hazard. I would give ours turkey necks but not chicken necks for this reason. Would be fine for smaller dogs, though.
We feed our dogs Raw Bones all the time. Basically you just need to be sure you are not feeding them cooked bones. Cook bones splinter and can tear your dogs insides up.
It is also a good idea to monitor your dog while chewing on bones and raw hides. We have one dog that loves trying to swallow bones and raw hides without chewing.
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I think that will clear a lot of misunderstandings. I am nervous to feed my dog chicken bones because all of my life I’ve had a mother and grandmother telling me it’s dangerous and dogs will choke on the bones.
In reality, I’m glad to hear that as long as the bones are raw, the dogs are going to be fine. It’s not really choking that is the issue but that the bones become brittle and sharp when cooked.
Thank you for clarifying that for me.
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Here I have been afraid to give the dogs chicken bones for years.
hey i had a fox terrier and i used to always feed him chicken bones and he loved it and he was only meant to live for 5 years but instead lived for 16.5 years be4 he died of old age so theres nothing wrong with giving your dog chicken bones just supervise them eating them because dogs tend to get them stuck on the roof of their mouths and need you to fish them out but as for not giving it to them its good for their teeth they love it and it never hurt my dog he ate chicken bones alot and live to 16.5 years old!
Hi. I have been feeding Lisa, my 10 month old Golden Retriever, cooked chicken bones, which she seems to thrive on. However, after reading this article, to be on the safe side, will give her raw bones henceforth. Lisa, however, does not touch mutton bones.Thanks, Ronin.
Thanks for clarifying this for me. I knew about cooked chicken bones being a hazard, but never realized raw chicken bones are ok.
Can you please tell me is it ok for my dog to have raw chicken necks with dry food as a meal, he enjoys them and it fills him up without being fattening. he walks twice a day and has a healthy appetite, I have been told that the chicken necks and raw lamb bones fill them without making them overweight.
Deb
That sounds GREAT. All raw bones are really good for Dogs and giving them raw necks will do nothing but good. You don’t need to limit it to just raw lamb bones. Try beef as well. It cleans their teeth really well and with exercise they will stay in tip top shape.
Hope this helps.
I feed my do raw and cooked, he just loves it. Chicken, hamburger, gizzard. I shoot half a dozen doves a week, he finally figured out how to eat em without eating feathers. One crow gave him an upset stomach.
My jack russell enjoys a raw meaty bones diet. Much of his food comes from the offcuts of the rabbits and wood pigeon I shoot. However I am out in the country so am not worried about the food being full of toxins
Lee, it’s the best isn’t it. Raw bones keep them super healthy and a great benefit is that it keeps their breath smelling good and no bad teeth either.
This is a dangerous article. Our 11lb dog choked on a rawchicken wing. He passed out and would have died if my wife had not reached far far down his throat to pull the wing out. Big bandwagon going for raw bones, and this is just one example of misguidance. I hate this kind of irresponsible hype. Terrible thing to watch your pet pass out.
Bill, while I really do sympathize you cannot say that raw bones are bad, maybe because the Dog is so small it should have had a more suitable bone, something big and hard that it could gnaw at that would not break in to pieces. For most Dogs though raw bones are a great idea.
I have been feeding carefully prepared cooked and raw chicken bones to dogs for 50 plus years with no problems. Here’s the simple method:
Cut the bones into very short pieces, less than 1/2 inch. For the long brittle bones cut them even finer if you are concerned, 1/4 inch. These short segments are easily chewed and not long enough to pose a problem in a normal dog. If you have a very small dog cut them even shorter.
Most dogs will chew these morsels some and render into even smaller pieces.
You can use a garden hook and anvil pruner to easily cut the bones.
Your dogs will appreciate the excellent nutrition these harmless bone fragments contain.
best, dog friend
Thanks Dog friend, although our beasties would be happyier with a whole chicken I get the feeling
Read your advise, and you are partially rite. except for the part about cooked bones. After entering the stomach, of the digestive track, are turned into a mush, from the acid and enzymes, excreted by the digestive tract. Licking and biting, (itching to a dog) their own fur coat, is the equivalence of, flossing for humans, to a dog. Their whole, or most of, the internal digestive tract, (smooth muscle tissue) is sluffed or shed off, “every meal they eat. Along with several organs that are rejuvenated or replaced within 24hrs, like the pancreas. Hardened or dense bone, can easily pass through their digestive track. When a dog, or any mammal for that mater, imitates that of a human choking, or coughing something up. Is due, in most part, by “Instinct & Natural Reflects”. This is normal. And can be a useful tool in over reacting, relieving, and assurance of security (for your pet!). Dogs have a instinctive reflects, that act out, or gag. When it’s triggered, it is usually due to a instinctive trait that is (eat as much as fast as you can) due/impart, to not being properly weened off, as a puppy. Another is, the believed “owners” cause. Mammals, by definition mimic, copy, as much by impersonation as a Canine is capable of. If you are capable and knowledgeable, and of instinctive traits, to inspire the spirits around you, and others. All would be amazed of the native, instinctual, biology that all life is capable of. If you or a friend has a dog that has problems choking. Look more into the owners/dogs, disposition, and/or overall health! They are usually closer, than most people would care to, or admit! Want to make a furiousess Kujo into a cute Cuddles? Smile,, When approaching, slowly.
I’ve been giving my 11 year old dog raw chicken carcasses for years now without any problems. I converted her to a raw & scrap diet about 6 years ago because she just wasn’t interested in dry food. Over the years i have tweak the raw diet a bit but… Since i converted her diet, she has never missed a meal or left food in her bowl. It’s been an amazing transformation. When i take her to the dog park people are amazed at how active she is for an 11 year old dog. The raw chicken carcasses are extremely cheap… i think i spend less per month on a completely raw diet than dry food use to cost me.
Hmmm. My boxer may have eaten a cooked chicken let trash diving after the superbowl. I didn’t see her do it but she has been coughing intermittently since. I really don’t have the $$$ for surgery and was wondering if anyone had any ideas for helping her to pass a chewed bone.
This has to be one of the great “old wives tales” of all time. I can’t speak for sub 20 lb dogs, but in my 57 years of feeding dogs cooked chicken i’ve never had a problem.
The breeder where I got my GSD from advised me to feed raw separate from
dry.She said raw digests in few hours where dry takes up to 12 hours. Not good to mix the 2. So I feed raw in am and dry in evening. Also isn’t there a sharp needle like bone in the leg of chicken?. I am going to check my thighs today for another dangerous bone. Thanks
Jetta, you do need to be careful of that bone, just remove it and remember to always keep it raw.
ok my 8 week old jack russel mixed with shitzu swalled a chicken bone andd i dont no what to doo im very scared and woorid he is acting normal and playing and running around i mean im crying im soo scaredd replay asap !
Tayaiscute, if nothing bad has happened then I am sure there is no problem. It is not going to always lead to problems but it is best avoided if at all possible. I hope all is OK now.
Yes it is thank u soo much for ur help it means alot all i no if to never put chicken bone around him again i mean i was so scared ! well all is well now thank u
My 3 dogs (one 9lb. shihtzu and two about 20lb. cavaliers) somehow got onto my kitchen counter today and got ahold of a pack of defrosting chicken legs 3-4 are still missing. They are acting fine (although alittle over full) I was very worried, but after reading this article I am alittle less scared. I think I will still try the other advice I found online which was to feed them soft foods or mix in cooked white rice to help coat the bones before they pass, just to make sure all goes ok on the way out, but this has stopped me from rushing to the vet needlessly. Thank You
Hi guys,
I have two bichons. I bought one of those “whole” $5 roasted chickens at Costco and noticed it has lots of juicy bones. However, I don’t know if I can feed them to my babies. Should I soften them up in water? The dog’s wet food (called “Wingaling”) has two chicken legs (meat and bones) and bones are almost as soft as ice cream. Can someone please let me know if they have any advice? Thanks all! Brian
Brain,
Dogs should NEVER be given cooked bones. It is very dangerous, they go brittle when cooked and can splinter. Only ever give raw bones and with chicken remove the sharp bone from the thigh.
I go to buffalo wild wings often and I take the bones from the traditional wings home to my dog. But I first put them in the refrigerator for about a day and he loves them I have been doing this for a long time and nothing goes wrong.
My family’s old dog ate chicken bones and ribs his entire life and had zero problems. He was an oilfield shopdog (almost a breed in West Texas; medium sized yellow dogs, double coat, very stout) that lived around my dad’s shopyard for 4 or 5 years, eating jackrabbits and scraps workers would feed him. For some reason, when my dad moved his shop in town, he brought the dog home, where we had him for the last 14 years of his life. He ate almost exclusively scraps, or bacon grease mixed in with dry food (horrible, I know). Every Thursday was wing night, Sunday after church was fried chicken, and a few times a month we would get Wingstop. There wasn’t a bone he wouldn’t eat, and fast. Never had any problems, though I wouldn’t recommend it to most (and I don’t feed my new puppy bones, either), and he lived to be what our vet said was likely the oldest dog he’d worked with.
Been feeding whole chickens for some time to my 2 year old border collie mix. in the early days start small, wings, necks making sure the dog is breaking up the bones in the mouth first.
i decided to hold a leg in my had to ensure he would break it down a bit first. then moved onto the larger items. also ensure your raw or BARF plan is balanced with organs etc.
how do i get my dog to stop eating chicken bones every time we go for a walk it’s like i’m taking him hunting at frist i would tell him to drop it and he would now he growls at me if i try to take it from him please help thanks sonia in cali
sonia, I would suggest the best thing is to do some training at home with bones. Put them down and make him sit and then carry on to get him to drop them once he grabs them. Repetition is the key, a lot of it
You mentioned that there is a sharp bone in the chickens leg that your dog shouldn’t eat because it is sharp. I was just wondering if you knew how to remove this bone from a chicken before giving it to your dog. If you could get back to me on this it would be really helpful thanks!
Joe, just cut it out. It doesn’t matter if you make a mess of it, the Dogs won’t mind