If there’s one lesson I had to learn the hard way, it’s this: cooked bones are NOT a treat for your dog — and a simple, well-intentioned mistake can turn into a huge problem.
Let me tell you a story that completely changed how I feed Max, my big, goofy, food-loving Labrador.
It all started on a Sunday lunch with family. We had a big roast chicken with all the sides… and of course, there were a bunch of leftover bones.
Then someone said, “Give them to Max! He’ll love it!”
And I did. I gave Max two cooked chicken bones — cooled down, of course — and he devoured them with that happy tail wag.
Everything seemed fine… until it wasn’t.
The Danger of Cooked Bones
A few hours later, Max started acting weird. He was quiet, bloated, and trying to throw up without success.
I panicked and rushed him to the vet, who asked me right away:
“Did he eat cooked bones?”
Yes. And that’s when I found out the truth.
Contrary to popular belief, cooked bones — especially from chicken, pork, or ribs — are extremely dangerous for dogs.
Once cooked, these bones become brittle and can splinter into sharp shards.
These shards can:
- Puncture the stomach or intestines, causing internal bleeding.
- Get stuck in the throat, leading to choking.
- Cause intestinal blockages, sometimes requiring surgery.
- Break teeth or cut gums.
In Max’s case, luckily, there was no internal injury — but he had severe stomach irritation and needed meds and 24-hour observation. A real scare!
But Can Dogs Chew Bones?
That’s a fair question. And the answer is: yes, but with caution.
The best option is to offer raw, dog-safe bones, like raw chicken necks, beef knuckles, or ribs — but only with supervision and advice from your vet.
There are also recreational bones you can buy from pet stores, specifically made for safe chewing.
Nowadays, Max only gets those. And even then, I watch him closely while he chews.
No more leftovers from the kitchen, no matter how sweet his begging eyes are!
What I Learned
That situation with Max taught me something important: we need to treat our dogs’ food with the same care we treat our own.
What seems like a harmless scrap from lunch can seriously harm your furry friend.
So, if you love your dog (and I know you do), never give them cooked bones.
The best way to show love is by keeping them safe.
Max is doing great today — eating well, swimming, and running like always. But that Sunday? I’ll never forget it.
Chicken bones now go straight to the trash (or into a soup stock — for humans only!).