The FDA first announced the dangers of turkey and chicken bones back in 2015, but with the holidays rapidly approaching, they thought it wise to send out a reminder. Most people know the dangers of tossing a turkey or chicken bone to the family pet – they are brittle and dangerous to Dogs – but they have also revealed the risk from giving pets the popular “bone treats” which are available in the stores.
68 pet illnesses related to bone treats
According to their report, they have received details of around 68 different pet illnesses that could be related to the bone treats in the period from November 1, 2010, to September 12 of this year.
They list a number of commercially-available treats including “Rib Bones,” “Smokey Knuckle Bones” and other similar products. These treats are different than uncooked bones purchased at the butcher due to their processing. The way they are produced is by drying them through a baking or smoking process, with added ingredients like seasonings, preservatives, and smoke flavors.
It's not just #Thanksgiving turkey bones that you shouldn't give your dog, bone "treats" found in pet stores can be just as dangerous. FDA has received dozens of reports that include choking, blockages requiring surgery & deaths. How to keep your pet safe: https://t.co/NrBYqW0jiq pic.twitter.com/0Txu3GfanJ
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) November 21, 2017
Camela Stamper, who is a veterinarian working at the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA, said that dog owners should avoid these bone treats, as they could lead to a sudden trip to the vet, an emergency surgery, or the death of your beloved dog.
The FDA went on to list some of the illnesses, which have been reported by veterinarians and dog owners and caused by bone treats. These include blockages in the digestive tract, wounds, and cuts in the mouth, choking, vomiting, bleeding from the rectum, and diarrhea. Care2 quotes the FDA as also saying that around 15 dogs have died from eating the popular bone treats.
The various reports involved some 90 dogs, with several of the dogs suffering the same illnesses. There have also been reports of problems with the products themselves, including mold and splintering in the treats when chewed by the family dog.
Fifteen Dogs Are Dead And Dozens More Ill After Eating These ‘Bone Treats’ https://t.co/JNMx1Duh2W
— Betty Pappas (@reddpups) December 6, 2017
Keep those turkey bones out of reach
The FDA goes on to advise dog owners to always keep chicken and other meat bones out of the reach of pets.
People should also take care when throwing the bones in the trash, as dogs just love to follow their noses straight to those tasty treats. They also recommend speaking with your veterinarian about more suitable treats for your pets – something they can chew on safely and still have fun. Most important of all, Stamper said whenever your dog is enjoying a treat or chew toy, keep an eye on them, especially if it is something new. If a dog owner notices something wrong with their pet, they should call their veterinarian right away.