Dogs are attracted to chicken bones like kids to candy. They smell and taste incredible, whether they are raw or cooked. And dogs will find any way they can to get their paws and jaws on that tasty treat. Raw bones are not very risky. Cooked bones however can splinter or irritate the gut, so watch for signs of distress if your pup has stolen some of your freshly prepared dinners. If they seem at all unsettled, contact your veterinarian without delay.
Contents
- Risks to dogs that eat chicken bones
- Choking and gut impaction
- Constipation and peritonitis
- Cooked vs raw chicken bones
- Signs of distress in dogs
Whether it’s a chicken carcass in the trash or chicken wings in a raw diet, if there are bones about the dog will find and eat them. But don’t panic, most dogs get away with this unfortunate act!
What Are The Risks?
There are hazards linked to eating chicken bones, but these are pretty rare. The potential problems include:
- Choking
- Gut impaction
- Constipation
- Peritonitis
We’ll look at these in more detail shortly, but first… take a deep breath. The chances are your dog is going to be fine.
People repeat horror stories they heard second hand. But ask if their dog was made sick by chicken bones and most owners reply, “No.” This is because serious complications are rare. Phew! So don’t worry, be sensible and follow a few basic guidelines to keep your four-legger’s tail wagging.
My Dog Ate Chicken Bones and is Choking
Bones can get stuck. Sometimes they get stuck across the roof of the mouth. This causes the dog to paw at their face and drool heavily. More worryingly, they can lodge of the back of the throat. The signs of this include breathing difficulties, choking noises, and heavy salivation.
If the dog will let you, open their mouth. Can you see the bone? If possible, carefully remove it with your fingers or plyers.
If the dog struggles, stop trying to help as there’s a risk of pushing the bone deeper. Instead, phone ahead to the vet and then go straight to the clinic. Sometimes sedation is required to remove a bone stuck at the back of the throat.
Gut Impaction From Chicken Bones
When a dog eats a lot of bone, there’s a risk it knits together inside the intestine. That ball of bone then forms a blockage, much like hair clogging a drain.
But the consequences of a blocked gut are more serious. Firstly, food can’t pass along so the dog vomits and becomes dehydrated. Then the stagnant gut contents release toxins, which poison the dog. And finally, the gut wall can die off.
The worst impactions can be life-threatening. The vet will x-ray or scan the dog’s tummy. Surgery may be required to physically remove the obstruction and avoid irreversible harm.
Constipation
A high percentage of chicken bones in the diet create a hard dry stool. This is difficult to pass and causes constipation.
Enemas and laxatives may help get things moving. Severe constipation can require an anesthetic to allow the vet to physically break down the blockage and give the dog relief.
Peritonitis
This serious condition is an infection within the tummy. It can occur when bone shards pierce the intestinal wall, which allows gut contents to leak into the abdomen.
Emergency surgery is essential, and even then, things can be touch and go.
My Dog At Chicken Bones That I’d Cooked
Dogs can’t safely eat cooked chicken bones! Cooked bones lose their natural elasticity and become brittle. This means the cooked bones often splinter when chewed.
Splintered bones are like shards of glass and cause havoc with the gut wall. Think of a stomach full of coarse sandpaper and sharp nails to get an inkling of the damage done… and that’s not the worst of it.
Sharp shards of bone with pointy tips can pierce the gut. Some even travel right on through into the belly cavity. This causes a serious infection called peritonitis.
My Dog Ate Chicken Bones Raw
Dogs can eat raw chicken bones. Raw chicken bones are more supple than cooked bones.
Can dogs digest chicken bones? Only partially, with the residue passing out harmlessly in the dog’s stool. In theory, raw chicken bones could cause problems but in reality these are rare. Why is this?
My Dog Ate Chicken Bones As Part Of Raw Feeding
Should you be worried when your dog crunches down on an uncooked chicken thigh bone as part of a raw food diet?
In theory, there are risks, but in practice there’s rarely a problem. There are several reasons for this. Remember how those raw bones are less brittle? This means the bones are less likely to shatter into shards. Plus, the raw bones are gentler on the digestive tract than cooked bones.
Another important factor is the meat on the bone. A bit like swallowing a dry cracker with a drink of water, the meat on the bone acts as a ‘cushion’ and makes it easier to digest. So the safest way to feed chicken bones to a dog is:
- Make sure the bones are uncooked
- Feed meaty bones
- If in doubt, feed the bones with other food to act as a buffer for the bowel
What Happens when a Dog Eats Chicken Bones?
OK, so your dog scavenged a Southern Fried drumstick, bones and all. What should you do? The best option is to wait and see if there’s a problem.
There’s a good chance the bone will pass through uneventfully. Indeed, for a dog that seems otherwise well, no vet is going to rush into surgery. Instead, wait to see if the bone gets stuck. When something goes wrong, the signs should develop within 1 – 5 days. Be vigilant for the following:
- Appetite loss
- Vomiting
- Restlessness
- Lack of energy
- Diarrhea
- Straining or constipation
- Fever
Any of these signs should trigger a trip to the veterinarian. However, whilst the dog is eating and pooping as normal, sit tight and keep monitoring.
Should I Make them Vomit?
What NOT to do if your dog eats chicken bones is to make the dog vomit. It’s likely the bones will scrape and scratch, causing further distress.
Worse still, on the way up the bone could lodge at the back of the throat. There’s every chance of making matters worse, so leave the dog be.
(paid link) Alternatively, if the dog scavenged a bone and has an empty stomach, then feed them a meal. Food surrounding the bone may help drag it safely through the digestive tract.
A Hidden Risk of Feeding Raw Chicken?
The safest way to feed chicken bones is with chicken meat attached. But, as final food for thought, researchers in Australia are less than comfortable about dogs eating raw chicken meat.
Work at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Teaching Hospital points to a link between raw chicken and the paralytic dog disease, Coonhound Paralysis.
Also known as acute polyradiculoneuritis, this condition damages the nerve supply to muscles so the dog cannot move and has difficulty breathing.
Although an uncommon disease, of those cases treated at the University of Melbourne, 96% were fed a raw food diet. Of these cases, all the patients ate raw chicken.
Research is ongoing and there’s no conclusive link. But it’s sufficient for those researchers to conclude that feeding raw chicken raises a dog’s risk of developing Coonhound paralysis.
Don’t panic if your dog eats raw chicken and bones, this is a rare condition. All the same, it’s worth keeping an eye out for further developments.
Anne says
My 2 month old shih tzu knocked down our trash can where I threw the bones of last night’s fried chicken. When I came to check up on him, the bones were nowhere to be found. I’m afraid that he has swallowed the whole thing and I’m completely worried about him rn, tho he still seems energetic after 6 hours. Shall I visit a vet and is there a way to know if he’s safe?
Freddy says
Your dog or your sister?
Gel says
My dog ate cooked chicken bones and vomited it after a couple if hours. The at night she vomit a yellow color water. Is she okay?
Liz says
My dog managed to open my bathroom door where my bin is secure- however in the morning I found half a cooked chicken carcass on the sofa!!! His first poop today was hard and I could feel bones in it, the second one he did was massive but I couldn’t reach it as he did it into the river and the 3rd one was a right liquid one “ pretty hard to pick up “ do I have anything to worry about?
Maureen says
My 8 month old french bulldog, grabbed a small chicken leg off the ground and gobbled some of it down. I sopped him from eating the main part, but think he ate the top bone and the meat. He was fine yesterday, but threw up last night (x2). Has had regular behavior except now doesn’t want to eat and is sleepy, although we did go on a long walk this morning. It’s hard to tell with this guy. He is pooping normally. I will continue to monitor him.
Trey says
My 1 year old Miniature dachshund ate 2 chicken wings and one was already broken somewhat. Will they be okay/
Linda says
My one year old shorkie swallowed part of a chicken wing bone that I accidentally dropped. He got to it before I could and as I was going to get it from his mouth he had already swallowed it with no problems. About 11-12 hours has passed and he still hasn’t pooped. He has been acting normal and no symptoms so far causing concern.
bedbug says
was your dog fine after this? how long did he take to poop after that? and did you see any bone remains in his poo or was it completely digested?
how is your pup doing now? my 7 month old puppy got hold of a cooked chicken bone, and when i was trying to remove it from his mouth, he swallowed it. im really worried, please respond. Thank you.
bedbug says
why do dogs love chicken bones so much if it kills them?
why do things that we love kill us bros? 😭
no body posted an update to their comment, atleast i will try to do in 2,3 days. hope my pup can digest the bone without any issues.
Chris L Jung says
OMG !!! My 64 lb. lab just ate a raw chicken leg and connected thigh!!!! Now what ???? Wait and see??? Already called the vet and he said to watch for ALL the above mentioned sighs but thinks she will be OK. Anyone else out there have this issue?? I am a WRECK !!!! Thank You
lynn says
Raw chicken with bones are fine. My 50 lb pocket pitt loves them. She prefers a raw food diet so we usually cut off pieces of the peat we eat before cooking it. We eat chicken wings alot so she gets all the tips,
Mai says
My 11 month old Maltese just ate a leg bone. Should I go directly to the vet since he is a small breed?
kristi says
was he ok my pug just did the same but swallowed it whole 🙁
Renee says
My 4 lb chi just ate some of a chicken bone 8 days ago. She did not poop for 2 days then finally pooped. I saw her poop a little white which i was told from calcium in the bones. Seems poop is coming out fine and she is eating. Is 8 days long enough to be in the safe zone now?
Robert says
My dog just swallowed a small chicken wing whole, didn’t stop to chew once just swallowed it! Can he even digest the bone?
Lillian says
My dog just ate a wing and an entire breast, ribs included. Thank god I looked it up right away because I was about to make her throw up. That’s what I did before when she got ahold of rib bones.
Molly says
Did you take her to the vet or is she seeming fine? My dog ate TWO (not one, but TWO) whole rotisserie chicken carcasses yesterday morning. She is 20lb beagle terrier mix. She’s pooping somewhat normally and is less bloated today. So I am monitoring, but off course have gone into the dark web and am now freaking if I should take her to the vet- but not sure what they can or would be able to do??
Danielle says
My 17lb dachshund ate several fried chicken bones today. Ugh! How is your puppy now that it’s been several days?
Elle says
Was your dog ok?
Kelly says
Molly,
Did everything turn out ok with your dog that ate two chicken carcasses? I’m on here cause my standard poodle just ate one whole baked chicken carcass. I’m very worried. Already called vet and they said keep her with me and watch closely.
Cha says
I’m in the same boat my beagle ate a whole chicken carcus last night. I’m bricking it!
Joanne says
Was your dog okay? I’m worried because my dog just ate the bones of one chicken carcass. She is a 60 lb. Great Pyrenees mix.
Dom says
Hey was your great pyrenees okay? I’m on here cuz my rhodesian labrador just ate a full baked chicken breast with the bones…I’m freaking out.
Matt says
My dog just ate a chicken a cooked chicken bone a couple days ago, she hasn’t shown any symptoms yet so I hope that she is fine
Rebecca says
My dog just ate what looked like a drumstick from the street while a neighbor was trying to be friendly and ask her name etc… the. He said, oh, yeah, that must be the chicken I cooked! I’m worried because I’ve had her 3 weeks and she’s had loose stools the whole time. Her tummy is definitely already upset and that bone was definitely brittle!
She is my fist fur baby so it’s like how they say, you want to call the vet about everything!
So worried for her. The day she has a solid pool will be the greatest day of my life.
Henry Wood says
Take her to the doctor immediately. It sounds like she’s having a hard time processing the food and could be in serious trouble since her digestive system is probably fully developed.
Marshall Street says
I’ve been feeding my lab cooked chicken frames, wings, leg bones, the lot regularly for a year and never have a problem that I know of. Maybe some occasional constipation, but who knows what caused it? I’m gonna stop feeding her chicken bones from now on though. (She won’t like it).
Christine Thompson says
I have a rescue lurcher he has just polished off a whole chicken carcass in the split second I took my eyes off him. He is 14 omg I hope it all goes through what a little git!
Sarah Daleb says
Was he okay?
Emma says
My dog got to a chicken bone from fried chicken ealier this year (only one bone) and she ended up fine. No problems, she just passed it as usual. However tonight she got to two chicken bones from fried chicken, and I’m a bit more worried than last time. What would be the first signs to show up that something is wrong? Restlessness? Just want to make sure that if anything does happen I can catch it before it gets too serious.
Thanks, this website is a huge help. 🙂
Corey says
Firstly I am not 100% sure one of the dogs ate any wings, however some wings did disappear overnight. It’s been at least 12 hours since there was a chance the wings were eaten, and neither dog is showing any symptoms. Thoughts?
Molly says
Is your dog okay?