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Don’t you love chicken? It’s a versatile food that can be cooked in so many ways! This is a popular meat for people all around the world! Dogs also love chicken and have been known to help themselves when the meat is left unattended on the counter or a table! But what happens if a dog eats a small chicken bone?
Has your dog eaten a small chicken bone? Are you worried the small chicken bone will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats something like this.
We’ve put together some information about chicken bones and whether they can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
Small Chicken Bones & Dogs
When chicken bones are raw, they are soft and easily digested. Even if the dog chews on the bones, they don’t cause much damage. And if the dog swallows a raw chicken bone, chances are it will eventually come out in the dog’s poop! That’s the best thing that can happen!
But when chicken bones are cooked, even if they’re small, they become brittle. When they break or are chewed, cooked chicken bones can easily break and shatter into small pieces. These small pieces are very sharp and can hurt a dog. For instance, small shards of cooked chicken bone can cause cuts or tears in the dog’s mouth or esophagus. They can also cause tears and punctures in the dog’s digestive tract, from the stomach to the intestines. So, they can be very dangerous for dogs.
Small chicken bones may go through the dog’s digestive tract OK. However, they could also pose a choking hazard or become lodged in the dog’s intestines.
Dogs have very acidic stomachs that usually break down bones, even cooked chicken bones. So, small chicken bones may be broken down. But they could cause an obstruction if a dog has eaten several small chicken bones.
Symptoms of Small Chicken Ingestion in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms in your dog if he’s eaten small chicken bones:
- Choking/gagging/coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Abdominal pain & swelling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Restlessness
If you see any of these symptoms in your dog, call the vet immediately. This is an emergency.
Treatment will depend on your canine companion’s symptoms. If your dog is choking, the vet will try to remove the bone from your dog’s throat.
And if your dog has an intestinal blockage, the vet may have to do surgery to safely remove the blockage.
In most cases, dogs who receive prompt medical care will make a complete recovery! And if your dog has a penchant for chicken bones, be sure to keep all chicken bones out of your dog’s reach. You’ll both be happier for it!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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