Never cooked#
Cooked bones become brittle and splinter easily, creating sharp fragments that can injure the mouth, throat or gut, or cause a dangerous blockage. This applies to bones from any cooked meal, including leftovers.
This risk is one of the clearest, most consistent pieces of advice in dog care: cooked bones of any kind should never be given to dogs.
Raw, supervised#
Raw meaty bones, sized appropriately for your dog, are softer and more flexible than cooked bones and can help with natural teeth cleaning through chewing. Always supervise chewing sessions and remove the bone once it's been worked down to a size that could be swallowed whole.
Choose a bone size that's larger than your dog can easily fit fully in their mouth, to reduce the risk of choking.
Not for every dog#
Dogs who gulp their food, chew very aggressively, or have dental problems, broken teeth, or a history of pancreatitis may do better with other types of chews rather than raw bones.
If you're unsure whether your dog is a suitable candidate for bones, ask your vet or our team for guidance based on their chewing style and dental health.
When to call your vet#
Choking, gagging, drooling excessively, refusing food, vomiting, or straining without producing stool after chewing a bone all need urgent vet attention, since they can indicate an obstruction.
Broken or chipped teeth after chewing something hard should also be checked promptly, as dental pain can go unnoticed for a while.
How Organic Dog Chef can help#
We stock raw meaty bones and natural chews sized for different dogs, and our team can help you choose an appropriate size and type based on your dog's chewing habits.