Have you ever caught your Chihuahua salivating with those eyes that scream “can I have a bite?” when you pick up a chicken bone? Does that make you wonder Can Chihuahuas Eat Chicken Bones? If so, here’s the right article!
In this article we will learn about:
- Can dogs eat cooked chicken bones?
- What happens when a dog eats chicken bones?
- What kind of bones can your dog eat?
- What to do if your dog is choking on a bone?
Can Chihuahuas Eat Chicken Bones?
Chicken bones can fragment and injure Chihuahuas’ interior organs. Chicken bones tend to splinter, and thus can cause serious internal injuries to Chihuahuas. Table remnants of chicken bones, as well as any other bones, are strictly prohibited.
Can Chihuahuas Eat Cooked Chicken Bones?
Dr. Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP says, cooked chicken bones can snap and disintegrate, causing choking and puncturing the gastrointestinal tract, as well as becoming lodged in your dog’s esophagus. This is incredibly uncomfortable for your chihuahua and may result in death, in worst cases.
Even though a dog’s tummy can aid in the digestion and softening of bones as they pass it, cooked bones cannot be entirely digested. So, in case your dear Chi has eaten a cooked chicken bone, you should check their stools to ensure that the bone fragments have passed through his digestive system and feces entirely.
Also Read: Are Milk Bones bad for dogs?
What To Do If Your Chihuahua Eats Chicken Bones?
If your Chihuahua has eaten chicken bones, you should follow the below steps to ensure his safety:
1. Stay Calm
You must maintain your cool and avoid frightening your Chi. The first step is to make sure your Chihuahua isn’t eating any more bones.
Take a close look at your dog’s mouth. If you can see or hold the bone to extract it, you should do so for as long as you can without further disturbing your dog or risking being wounded or bitten.
Also, in such cases, it is not advisable to punish your Chihuahua right away.
2. Examine your dog’s activities
If your Chihuahua is not showing any adverse symptoms after consuming a chicken bone, like choking, or difficulty in passing stool, then you should maintain your calm, and closely monitor your Chi’s day-to-day activities for 24 to 48 hours.
If your Chi is eating well, is in his regular mood, and is active, there is nothing to worry about.
However, take your dog to the vet right away if you think he or she has consumed a chicken bone and is exhibiting any difficulties.
3. Check for bones in stool carefully
It is important that the ingested bone passes through your Chihuahua’s tool. To guarantee that the bone passes, keep a close eye on your dog and his poop during the next few days. Usually, dogs tend to pass the chicken bones in the stool within 24 to 48 hours.
If the bone isn’t passed out in poop and your dog is having trouble defecating, has blood in his feces, has stomach enlargement, is vomiting, or appears agitated, take him to the vet right away.
4. Consult a vet
A lot of dog owners start panicking if their Chihuahua’s show adverse signs after eating a chicken bone. Some dog owners attempt to self-treat their pets. They may be concerned about the cost of a vet visit, or they may refuse to tell the vet what happened.
In either case, they promptly investigate possible courses of action and attempt to deal with the situation on their own. This, on the other hand, can be hazardous.
For example, you’ll frequently come across suggestions for making your dog vomit at home. But, returning up, chicken bones can get lodged. They could become stuck somewhere in your Chi’s internal digestive tract and cause extra damage. On the way back up, they’ll be hard to remove.
If your pet has consumed chicken bones, randomly recommended treatments are dangerous. It’s risky to follow suggestions from someone who isn’t a veterinarian.
This is true even if the individual giving the advice claims that the plan of action was recommended by their veterinarian.
Hence, you should ALWAYS visit a vet if your Chihuahua is facing any sort of discomfort, and explain the bone-eating incident to the vet in detail.
What Happens If A Chihuahua Eats A Chicken Bone?
1. Normal Digestion
Dogs have been ingesting bones for centuries and, for the most part, they handle them well. Chicken bones usually disintegrate once they reach the stomach, preventing them from becoming hazardous.
The majority of the time, Chihuahuas, just like other dogs are capable of passing chicken bones without incident. It’s easily digestible weak, fragile cartilages, but don’t take this for granted. It’s a good idea to check on your dog for at least 24 hours.
2.Mild Symptoms
If an enthusiastic Chi chews on a cooked bone, it is easy for it to shatter into sharp bits. These jagged splinters might cause minor symptoms, according to Dr. Ryan Llera, DVM such as:
- Teeth that have been broken
- Bone shrapnel piercing their tongue and gums; mouth wounds.
- Appetite problems
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea/Constipation
- Fatigue
- Retching or gagging
- Drooling
- Coughing
- Having difficulty breathing
- Loss of Appetite
- Bloating, Hacking
It is best to examine the dog’s mouth and look for bone pieces that cause potential harm. Once you eliminate those, the dog should recover, if not, then look for severe symptoms.
3.Serious Symptoms
According to Dr. Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP the serious symptoms of your Chihuahua eating a chicken bone could be :
- Possibility of Obstruction
A dog’s esophagus can become blocked if he consumes a chicken bone that would not go downward. Gagging, drooling, and retching are common side effects.
The bone can potentially become lodged in the upper airway—or even the beginning of the airway. This is a life-threatening situation in which the dog will display obvious signs of distress, such as coughing or difficulty breathing.
- Possibility of The Gastro Intestinal Tract being torn apart
Chicken bones splinter quickly and can cause rupture of the esophagus or the digestive tract of the Chihuahua if ingested.
- Bacterial Contamination
Your dog is at risk of contracting bacteria such as salmonella if the chicken is raw.In such cases, the symptoms will be severe like:
- Rectal bleeding
- Vomiting
- Extreme fatigue
- Continuous Choking
- Straining while pooping
This is a high alarm situation to consult your vet immediately.
How Long Does It Take For A Dog To Digest A Bone?
You might be pondering when you can rest again if your pet looks healthy after his chicken bone adventure. How long would it take a chicken bone to clear? That depends on the age, species, size, and regular food of the dog.
The chicken bone will probably pass in the stool within 24 hours, however, some pups can take up to two days to eliminate it. Throughout this stage, look for traces of bones in their stools. Well within the timespan, you should see them pass.
You might also notice that the dog’s feces have a white, powdery appearance.
If you haven’t noticed any pieces of bone in your dog’s stools after 72 hours, contact your veterinarian since it’s probable your dog has a blockage.
Also Read: Best dog food for chihuahuas
What Kind Of Bones Can Chihuahuas Eat?
Below are the different kinds of bones that your Chihuahua can eat, and you won’t have to worry!
1. Marrow Bones
Marrow is a fat-rich substance found in the center of bones. It contains iron as well as natural antioxidants that are good for pets. Hence, it is okay to feed marrow bones to Chihuahuas.
However, you should be aware of the high fat in these bones. Marrow bones demand a diet modification if your dog is obese to avoid piling on the pounds. (Or you’ll need to compensate by doing some extra activity.)
The fatty quality of marrow adds to the worry for dogs that are prone to pancreatitis. Marrow bones are not a suitable choice if your pet has a record of pancreatic eruptions.
2. Antlers
Minerals such as calcium can be found in antlers. And many dogs appear to enjoy the flavor. Chewing on a hard item is a calming and enjoyable activity for domestic dogs who are frequently bored.
Owing to all these reasons, Antlers is a good choice of bones for your dear Chihuahua.
3.Knuckle Bones
Raw knuckle bones are a great chew treat for your dog. However, make sure it is appropriate for your dog in terms of size and hardness.
What Raw Bones Can I Give My Chihuahua?
If you do decide to offer your Chihuahua bones, make sure they are uncooked. Raw bones work as a toothbrush, eliminating tartar and plaque from their teeth and keeping them clean.
They are also excellent boredom busters since they provide both cerebral and physical stimuli to your dog. Although they are less dangerous than cooked bones, you should be aware of the risks.
1. Beef Femurs
The act of gnawing on the bone has extra health benefits for dogs:
- Tartar is scraped from their teeth as they chew on the hard surface.
- The leg, neck, shoulder, and back muscles are all worked out by ripping the meat apart.
2. Marrow Bones
Obviously, scraping marrow from a bone and dumping it into your dog’s bowl of food is not an option. You give them a marrow bone as a gift. Meat, cartilage, and other soft tissue are often still bonded to the bone. The bone is abundant in calcium and phosphorus, but the meat is low in phosphorus. Both are necessary parts of your dog’s diet.
It’s always a good idea to double-check with your veterinarian before giving your Chi a raw bone. Some dogs will be unable to gnaw bones or have trouble doing so.
Can Chicken Bones Kill Dogs?
While dogs dying from eating roasted bones are uncommon, they can cause major medical problems, discomfort, and misery in your dog.
When the bones penetrate the esophagus, it’s the worst-case scenario (gullet). The esophagus connects the mouth and stomach, passing through the chest and along lungs and heart.
As a result, when the gullet’s defensive layers are penetrated (‘perforated,’) microorganisms can enter the chest cavity. Even if the shard of bone does not cause damage to the lungs or heart, the infections and inflammation caused by the perforated esophagus can be severe and even fatal for your dog.
Also Read: Best dental chews for chihuahuas
How Many Dogs Have Died From Eating Chicken Bones?
It is uncommon for a dog to die as a result of eating chicken bones.
As per the reports from the FDA, the eating of bone treats resulted in the death of 15 dogs.
While the numbers may not be much, you cannot ignore the other severe side effects of eating bones on dogs like:
- Bleeding
- Vomiting
- Choking
- Diarrhea
- Blockage in digestive tract
How Long After Eating Chicken Bones Would A Dog Get Sick?
The very first thing to look for in your dog would be whether the bones become lodged in the throat. Pawing at the mouth, compulsive licking, and drooling are common symptoms. Sneezing, choking, and spluttering may occur if the bone becomes trapped further back in your dog.
Shallow inhaling, pain, slurping, and even vomiting may be caused by bones lodged in the esophagus. All of these symptoms should show within the first 10 minutes, but if the bone reaches the stomach, the symptoms may take an hour or longer to appear in your dear pet.
What To Do If Your Chihuahua Chokes On A Chicken Bone?
If your Chihuahua is choking, strangling, wiping their face, salivating, spitting, or wheezing after eating chicken bones, contact the local vet as soon as possible.
Take a look at this video to get some insight into how you can help a choking dog.
Bones, particularly chicken or pig rib bones, can become lodged in the mouth. They can also become lodged at the back of the neck or deeper down the throat. This can result in pain, difficulty breathing, and even death.
It is never a good idea to try to get the bone out at home. You poor Chi could be harmed, as a wrong action can lead to the bone being pushed down further in the digestive tract.
