Its a standard recommendation in veterinary medicine to never feed rib bones or full ribs to a dog. Find out which bones you should skip and why.
After your latest cookout, you have a plate full of rib bones your pup has been eyeing. You’re wondering, “Can dogs eat rib bones?” You know that dogs like to chew on bones, but you should be careful that your dog doesn’t get hurt.
It’s a standard recommendation in veterinary medicine to never feed rib bones or full ribs to your dog. “The Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) makes it very clear that we shouldn’t give our dogs bones,” says Dr. Kurt Venator, a veterinarian.
Seeing your pup eyeing the leftover beef ribs on your plate after a backyard BBQ can tug at your heartstrings. You want to share a tasty treat with your furry friend. But are beef rib bones safe for dogs or do they pose a choking risk? This article has the veterinarian-approved details on feeding dogs beef bones of any kind.
We’ll cover
- Are beef rib bones safe for dogs?
- Choking hazards of bone shapes
- Raw vs cooked beef bones
- Safe ways to share beef bones
- Signs of choking and how to help
- Alternatives to beef bones for dogs
Understanding the risks versus benefits allows you to make the safest choice for your canine companion if you want to share a doggie bone.
Are Beef Rib Bones Safe for Dogs?
Rib bones may be tempting to toss to your eager dog after a rack of ribs. But veterinarians typically advise against giving dogs any kind of bone with their ribs and vertebrae still attached.
Why? The irregular shape and size of bones like beef back ribs or pork spare ribs make them easy to choke on, They can get lodged in your dog’s windpipe or even puncture their throat on the way down
So while beef bones are quite hard and not as splintery as other bones, the shape of beef ribs makes them hazardous.
The Choking Hazards of Bone Shapes
Vets caution against feeding dogs any bones with the following high-risk shapes:
✖️ Bones with knobby protrusions – Points and bumps can poke holes and get stuck.
✖️ Curved bones – Anything semicircular like rib or chop bones can wedge in the throat.
✖️ Small bones – Little bones are easier to swallow and block airways.
✖️ Cut bones with sharp ends – Fresh-cut bones have sharp points that can scratch or pierce.
✖️ Splintery bones – Bones that crack into shards pose internal injury risks.
✔️ Safer options are large rounded bones too big to be swallowed and with no sharp points or angles.
So when it comes to beef back ribs, it’s better to be safe than sorry and avoid feeding them. Now let’s look at raw vs cooked bones.
Are Raw or Cooked Beef Bones Safer?
Many vets recommend avoiding cooked bones because the cooking process causes bone to become brittle so they splinter more easily.
Raw beef bones are extremely hard and less likely to chip or break into sharp pieces. However, they do pose a bacteria risk if your dog swallows any bone fragments.
The bottom line is any size or shape of bone you feel is hazardous for your dog should be kept away from them, whether raw or cooked.
Safe Ways to Share Beef Bones
If you want to share beef marrow bones safely, follow these tips:
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Choose large, solid bones like femurs or knuckles. Avoid any bone shapes that could lodge in the throat.
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Supervise your dog the whole time to prevent swallowing. Take away when interest wanes.
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Feed raw beef bones instead of cooked, but handle carefully and wash your hands after.
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Consider a Kong toy stuffed with bone marrow instead. Gets the flavor without choking risk!
Your dog will still relish a chance to lick nutritious marrow without you worrying about hazards.
Signs of Choking and How to Help
If your dog starts choking on a beef or other bone, stay calm. Look for gagging, pawing at the mouth, wide eyes, and distress.
Try these steps to help:
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If you can see the bone, try to remove it gently but don’t reach so far back you push it in farther.
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Hold your dog’s mouth open to see if you can remove it with long tweezers or pliers.
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Place your hands below the rib cage and push up repeatedly to try to dislodge the bone.
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If your dog collapses or has severe breathing issues, perform doggie CPR immediately.
Call your vet right away even if you resolve the choking. Your dog may have internal injuries that need prompt treatment. Signs of damage include lethargy, appetite loss, vomiting, and bloody stool.
Safer Alternatives to Giving Dogs Beef Bones
The safest options to satisfy your dog’s craving to chew without any choking risks include:
- Durable chew toys like Kongs
- Rawhide or bully sticks
- Dental chews formulated for dog safety
- Carrots or apples for crunching
Rotating various chews and treats prevents boredom and keeps your dog happy and occupied for hours!
The bottom line? Think twice before assuming dogs can safely eat any leftover beef rib bones. While they may appear indestructible, the shape can make them hazardous. Stick to vet-approved bones or chew toys to avoid choking risk. Your dog will still get that satisfying gnaw time without the dangers.
Can dogs eat rib bones?
Bones, either cooked or raw, can splinter, which can pose a significant health risk to your dog. “Foreign bodies,” like splinters and bone fragments, can get stuck in your dog’s digestive tract and cause serious health problems, says Venator. This applies to all types of bones, such as beef, pork and chicken bones. “Beef bones may not break as easily as chicken bones, but all bones, including full ribs, are bad for our dogs’ health and can be easily avoided.” ”.
What if your dog really wants a bone?
If you do allow your dog to eat rib bones, give him raw rib bones, which are softer and pose less of a risk. But the risk still exists. “During the cooking process, the bones become harder,” says Kimberly Gauthier, a dog lover and a blogger at Keep the Tail Wagging. “As dogs chew them up, they splinter and become a health hazard that can lead to high vet bills and possibly death.” Cooking also removes the nutrition that’s contained in bones.
If dog owners want to feed their dogs raw rib bones, Gauthier says they should do it while watching their dogs and should also tell their dog sitter to do the same. Watch how your dog chews the rib bones and see if she swallows long shards of bones.
Can dogs eat pork rib bones?
FAQ
Are baby back rib bones safe for dogs?
What beef bones are safe for dogs?
What happens if a dog swallows a beef rib bone?
Can dogs have beef ribeye bones?
Can dogs eat baby back ribs?
You may want your baby back (baby back, baby back) ribs, as the Chili’s commercial jingle went a few years ago, but is it cool to give beef or pork rib bones to dogs as a treat once in a while? While there’s anything inherently toxic to dogs about cooked pork or beef rib meat, bones are a more complicated issue.
Can dogs eat beef rib bones?
Yes, dogs can eat beef rib bones, but only raw bones, not cooked ones. Beef rib bones can be a tasty treat for dogs, but it’s important to know the risks involved. Raw bones provide important nutrients and can help keep your dog’s teeth clean. However, cooked bones can splinter and cause injuries to your dog’s mouth, throat, or digestive system.
Can dogs eat ribs?
Because of the chances of choking, digestion problems, and sharp bones in the gastrointestinal tract, veterinarians like Renee Schmid, DVM, DABVT, DABT, a veterinarian toxicologist who works with Pet Poison Helpline, have begun shying away from recommending that dogs chew on animal bones. Here’s why. Are Ribs Safe for Dogs?
Can dogs eat raw bones?
Most veterinary experts agree that giving your dog raw bones is much safer than cooked ones. Cooking causes bones to soften and increases the risk of splintering when chewed. Raw bones are also an excellent source of minerals and vitamins.