Is It Safe For My Dog To Eat Steak Bones?

New dog owners often have questions about what they should feed their pups. One of the most common questions we get asked is ‘can my dog eat leftover steak bones?  You might be tempted to feed him a leftover T-Bone, especially if there are some bits of meat and fat still on it. There is some debate from the experts about whether or not dogs should be allowed to eat bones. One view is that dogs ate bones in the wild and there is no harm to the animal eating them, provided they are raw. The other view point believes you should never give dogs any bones cooked, raw or otherwise as they could potentially cause more harm than good.

Raw Meaty Bones

Many people who feed their dogs a raw diet, sometimes called BARF (Bones and Raw Food) claim bones with meat and some fat left on them are safe for dogs because they are easily digestible and will not splinter like cooked bones. Some of the popular types of bones fed on the raw diet are beef tails or necks from poultry and are usually available from your local butcher. One disadvantage about raw bones is that they can carry bacteria like salmonella or e-coli and can spoil in a few days if not eaten.

Avoid any bones that are already cut into smaller pieces as they pose a more immediate choking hazard. Be aware that any bone may cause a digestive upset in a dog.
Cooked Bones Cooked, brittle bones are more likely to splinter which may cause fractured teeth and possible perforation of the intestine or throat either on the way down or on the way back up if the dog vomits.

Veterinarians also report dogs eating bones run the risk of needing surgery to remove obstructions in the intestines. Any bone should only be given under supervision so you can monitor if the bone is breaking into dangerously small pieces. If this happens you can ask the dog for the rest of the bone (because you've already taught him the "give" command - right?). Finding an alternative to a potentially hazardous situation is always in you and your dog's best interest rather than leaving it to chance. If your dog gets in to difficulty while eating we recommend taking him to your local vet as soon as possible. 

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