Bone treats could be harmful to your dog, FDA warns

Many dog owners consider it common knowledge that you should never give dogs a chicken or turkey bone due to how brittle they are.

But what they may not know is that these are not the only bones that can put your dog at risk of illness, or even death.

The FDA has released a consumer update regarding “bone treats” you might find at the store – the bones in the pet food aisle that are processed and packaged for sale as dog treats.

Commercially-available treats described as ham bones, pork femur bones, rib bones and smokey knuckle bones may be just as dangerous as chicken bones, the FDA warns.

“Giving your dog a bone treat might lead to an unexpected trip to your veterinarian, a possible emergency surgery, or even death for your pet,” Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA, said in the update.

The FDA has received about 68 reports of pet illnesses – some reports included more than one dog – related to these bone treats, which may be dried through smoking or baking them, and they may contain preservatives, seasonings and smoke flavorings.

Of the 90 dogs with illnesses reported to the FDA by both pet owners and veterinarians, 15 of the dogs have reportedly died after eating a bone treat.

Other illnesses included gastrointestinal obstruction, chocking, cuts and wounds in the mouth or tonsils, vomiting, diarrhea and bleeding from the rectum.

To report a problem with a pet food or treat, visit “How to Report a Pet Food Complaint” on the FDA website.

This story was originally published November 28, 2017 at 11:49 AM with the headline "Bone treats could be harmful to your dog, FDA warns."