My Dog Ate A Cooked Chicken Bone

The Short Answer is:

You should contact a veterinarian right away if your pet is in distress due to chowing down on a chicken bone. You can likely expect the bone to pass through the gastrointestinal tract if your dog appears to be acting normally. Keep a close eye on the situation.

The purpose of this article is to explain the “My Dog Ate A Cooked Chicken Bone“.

There are always going to be accidents. Fried chicken smells irresistible to dogs so given half a chance they’ll steal it even if it means rummaging through the garbage. 

Nothing will be solved by beating yourself up about what has already been done.

To be practical you need to think critically. Be calm! All the horror stories you’ll find on the Internet are rare cases of dogs getting sick from cooked chicken bones.

Theres a good chance your dog will be fine. Make sure he is okay by following these steps.

Why are cooked chicken bones dangerous?

Firstly lets examine what makes cooked chicken bones so dangerous. Canine teeth are supposed to chew on bones after all? There is no question that dogs should eat bones but not just any bones. Chicken bones become brittle and lose their elastic properties when they are cooked.

To begin with they are small and light. The bone can splinter when your pet gulps down its prey resulting in smaller pieces with knife-sharp edges. If your dog ingests those sharp edges they can cause a great deal of damage.

In addition to cutting the esophagus they can also scrape the stomach or intestinal lining. There will be a lot of pain for the dog and he might also develop an infection. In the worst-case scenario the splinter punctures the stomach or intestinal lining causing contents to spill into the abdomen which can lead to a very nasty infection called peritonitis.

Surgery and massive doses of antibiotics are likely to be needed in this life-threatening emergency.

What are the symptoms of the chicken bone getting stuck?

In view of the fact that you are reading this I can assume that your pet has not choked on the chicken bone but if he manages to get his paws on another tasty piece of chicken you need to be aware of this problem.

It is possible for a bone or a splinter to become lodged in the esophagus. If your dog is trying to remove the obstruction you’ll notice him salivating and pawing at his muzzle frantically. However he would not be able to remove the obstruction on his own so you will need to help.

See if you can find the obstructing piece by opening the dogs mouth. When your dog starts making choking sounds even when you can not see anything you will have to perform the Heimlich maneuver just as you would with a small child.

You might one day save your pets life if you take the time to see how its done.

What are the symptoms of cooked chicken bone splintering?

Once the dog swallows the bone there isnot much you can do but watch closely and hope for the best.

Please make it clear – if your dog has eaten the chicken bones do not force him to vomit as this might harm him. Those splinters may tear the esophagus or get caught if there are splinters.

The following symptoms might indicate that something is wrong with your dog:

• Vomiting
• Difficulties defecating
• Bloody stools
• Swollen or tender abdomen
• Lethargy
• Abnormal behavior

In order to determine whether the bones have passed it is recommended that you monitor your dog for the next 24 hours. I know its unpleasant but thats what must be done.

Can dogs digest cook chicken bones?

At least partially your dogs stomach acids are strong enough to digest a chicken bone. Considering that the acids will attack the outer layer of the bones theres a good chance they will soften the sharp edges or dissolve them altogether. This means the dog will be able to pass the bone splinters without any difficulty.

It should be noted that food typically stays only a few hours in the stomach before moving to the intestines so you can expect some pieces to end up there.

You should give your dog some soft bulky food if your dog manages to eat a cooked chicken bone.

The majority of vets recommend feeding the dog pieces of bread. If you have any plain pumpkin on hand or any boiled rice you can also eat it. 

You might find people recommending soaking cotton balls in olive oil on some forums. Oil would not hurt the dog but cotton balls could get stuck along the digestive tract causing further problems. Do not attempt at home!

How long will it take to digest chicken bones?

Dogs have a 24-hour window in which to digest their food and eliminate it. In case you do not see any bone fragments in the stool just give it a couple more days.

If you do not see any bone fragments in your stool do not be alarmed. It is possible that the dog chewed that bone very well and the pieces were small enough to be dissolved completely.

It is very likely that your dog is out of the woods if 72 hours have gone by and he is back to his usual self. Keep a close eye on his bowel movements for a few more days just to make sure he does not have an obstruction. Constipation rectal bleeding and bloody diarrhea are all symptoms of intestinal obstruction and you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

Are raw chicken bones better for dogs?

In general raw bones are better for dogs than cooked ones but when it comes to chicken wings stick with raw chicken wings. You can offer raw chicken wings as a treat to dogs on a raw diet or you can chop them up and mix them with boiled rice or vegetables.

Why are bones good for dogs?

It does not mean that you should not give your pet bones just because cooked bones can be harmful.

Including bones in your dogs diet is a good idea since they provide essential nutrients especially minerals like calcium.

While your dog chews on bones their teeth and gums stay clean and healthy. Many owners do not allow their dogs to brush their teeth on a regular basis so chewing bones doubles as dental hygiene.

It is also important to note that chewing is a natural instinct for dogs so they need to satisfy it. Moreover chewing bones provides dogs with mental stimulation as this fun activity makes their brains as well as their jaws work. In a dogs mind a large bone is an equivalent of solving a complex math problem. You should not be surprised if your pet is so exhausted from chewing a bone for half an hour that he needs a nap!

Why are bones bad for dogs?

Give your dog a large bone to chew on twice a week and he will be quite satisfied. Dogs who eat too many bones can develop health problems. The same is true especially for large marrow bones which are absolutely delicious to your dog. However the juicy parts of a large bone are also loaded with fat.

In the short term this might cause your dog to vomit and have diarrhea. You could be looking at a potentially more serious problem pancreatitis. Too many fats in a dogs diet can lead to inflammation of the pancreas which is quite serious for your pet.

What are the best animal bones for a dog to chew?

Raw large weight-bearing bones are quite dense and unlikely to splinter so your dog should always be fed raw. Cow bones especially leg bones are the best.

Pig leg bones and ribs are also good to give your dog but just do not ever give him leftovers from your dinner. These are too small and would not do him any good.

Lamb flaps or ribs are also an option.

Talk to a local butcher for a reliable source of fresh bones since your pet needs to eat them at least twice a week. You can buy bones in bulk and freeze some.

What is the best way to use cooked chicken bones with your dog?

There is no reason why your dog should not be fed chicken too if your family eats chicken. In the same way that chicken broth is healthy for humans it is also beneficial for dogs especially when they are recovering from illness. Collagen and glycine in chicken broth are good for pets’ joints as well as their livers and kidneys.

You can easily make chicken broth at home. The whole chicken can be boiled and simmered for one hour if you want. The chicken can be used to cook your family meals and the broth can be saved for your dog.

Furthermore if your family prefers only certain parts of the chicken you can cut out the breasts or legs for humans and only boil the rest of the chicken.

In case your dog usually eats dry food you can use the chicken broth to soften it.

You can boil some rice in the broth when your dog is on a bland diet following diarrhea. In addition to being nutritious it gives the rice a delicious flavor.

Additionally when you make chicken broth for your dog throw in a couple of carrots which are quite healthy for him.

You can save a serving of chicken broth for your dog before adding other ingredients such as onions garlic and salt if you’re making chicken broth for your family. Just be careful not to overdo it with salt!

Donot worry if you made a large pot – you can keep it in the fridge for a few days and just add a bit to your dogs regular diet.

Conclusion

If your pet has stolen your KFC meal there is no need to panic about cooked chicken bones. Its likely he would not choke on the bones if he did not choke on them. Make sure he gets some bread to cushion the sharp edges of the bones if the bones have splintered. A great deal of the bones will be digested by stomach acids and the rest will pass through without causing any problems.

You should not leave your dog unsupervised when theres yummy chicken on the dinner table next time. The temptation could be too strong even for a trained dog.

Donot forget however that dogs need bones in their diet. Make sure to get them big raw bones which are completely safe!

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.