My dog ate a beef bone!

[RaceRngr]

My dog (130# mastiff got ahold of a smaller beef bone (from a rib) and ate the bone whole. The bone and meet was uncooked, can he digest this or do I need to take him in for surgery or something. Thanks for the advise.

[cassiek]

RaceRngr,

I wouldn't be too concerned... but do keep an eye on him and make sure he has normal bowel movements, is acting normal, eating/drinking normal etc. Has he had any bowel movements since??

Because it was uncooked, I think he should be safe. Normally the major concern is when dogs consume cooked bones and they can splinter and cause damage. It probably will be broken down and passed through.

I know my dogs regularly consume bones (although usually poultry) with no problems. I know though that there is a difference between a weight bearing animal (i.e. a cow) and a animal like a chicken which has "softer" bones that are actually supposed to be consumed in a raw diet. Hopefully some people with more experience can help you out...

Keep us posted! Good luck!

[RaceRngr]

Originally Posted by cassiek

RaceRngr,

I wouldn't be too concerned... but do keep an eye on him and make sure he has normal bowel movements, is acting normal, eating/drinking normal etc. Has he had any bowel movements since??

Because it was uncooked, I think he should be safe. Normally the major concern is when dogs consume cooked bones and they can splinter and cause damage. It probably will be broken down and passed through.

I know my dogs regularly consume bones (although usually poultry) with no problems. I know though that there is a difference between a weight bearing animal (i.e. a cow) and a animal like a chicken which has "softer" bones that are actually supposed to be consumed in a raw diet. Hopefully some people with more experience can help you out...

Keep us posted! Good luck!

My dog regularly eats bone as well from Chicken (every night) as well. One thought I had was that in the wild if a dog kills a cow it's possible for them to eat a small bone like my dog did. He's been eating and acting normal so far.

[bendyfoot]

My dogs (much smaller than yours) have consumed raw beef rib bones. Is long as it was chewed there should be no problem. Just watch the stools, appetite etc. as PPs have suggested.

[Phoebespeople]

Phoebe regularly eats large chunks of pork rib/neck bones and completely digests them no problem. A beef rib bone would be easily digested by any large dog, no problem.
Also, dogs are natural masters of regurgitation. If a bone is too big, they wil bring it back up again and most likely try eating it again.

[Spatx]

The bone should digest fine since dogs are designed to eat meat/bones. Nova ate a large pork bone about two weeks ago, no issues except for diarrhea the next day..

[Sheri H]

Don't worry about it. Both of my dogs eat raw bones with no problems.