Whether you have table scraps after a big meal or leftovers from your Thanksgiving dinner, it’s common for pet owners to wonder if it’s safe to give turkey bones to dogs. Canines are known for their strong teeth, which is why several pet owners regularly feed bones to their pets. But do you know that this practice can actually do more harm than good?
You should never feed your dogs any turkey bones. Turkey bones are highly dangerous to dogs and can cause several health issues, such as:
Periodontitis and Other Dental Issues
Turkey bones are brittle, and giving them to your dogs can adversely affect their oral health. Adding turkey bones into your dogs’ diets will put them at risk of broken teeth and periodontitis. Dogs who break a tooth will have to undergo surgery to have the tooth removed.
Mouth Injuries
Even if your fur babies don’t break a tooth, turkey bones can still cause several mouth injuries. For example, the turkey bones can get stuck in your dog’s jaws. This will still require surgery for treatment. Turkey bones can also cut your dog’s cheeks or lips.
Constipation
Turkey bones can trigger constipation among canines because their bodies can’t easily digest them. And while constipation usually goes away on its own, this health problem can be very uncomfortable for your dogs and can cause a lot of stress to pet owners like you.
Intestinal Blockages
Because turkey bones are hard to chew, your dogs might swallow them whole. When this happens, the bones can get stuck in your dog’s intestines, causing blockages. This can cause severe discomfort and pain and will also require surgery.
What Should You Do When Your Dogs Eat Turkey Bones?
If you suspect that your fur babies ate turkey bones, pry the bones out from their mouths. You can also offer high-value treats, so they drop the bones immediately.
However, if your dogs have swallowed turkey bones, it’s best to seek medical help immediately. Reach out to your vet and inform them of the problem at hand. Make sure to provide all the necessary information to your vet, such as the number of bones you think your dogs ate and how long your dogs have eaten the bones. This information will help the vet determine the ideal treatment for your dogs.
How Can You Keep Turkey Bones Away From Your Dogs?
Even trained and well-behaved dogs lose their manner when they smell or see a treat nearby, like turkey bones. To keep your dogs away from turkey bones, follow these tips:
- Avoid feeding your fur babies from the table. Over time, this can encourage your dogs to beg whenever you’re eating. In worse cases, they might even help themselves to eat from the table when you’re not around.
- Always keep the turkey covered. Using an aluminum foil is an effective hack as this discourages counter-surfers.
- When storing turkey at home, keep it in areas that aren’t accessible to your dogs. Look for a tall table, elevated bar, or high counter to hide your turkey.
- As soon as your family is done eating, remove leftovers from the table and dispose of them immediately. When your dogs can’t see or smell the turkey bones, they won’t beg you for them.
- Take out the trash regularly. The smell of leftovers often motivates dogs to get into your trash can and look for something to eat.
Can Dogs Eat Turkey?
Yes, they can! Turkey is a safe and healthy treat for your dogs as it contains lean protein and is very low in fat. Just make sure to inspect the meat and remove any bones before feeding it to your fur babies.
How About Turkey Skin?
No, you should never feed your dogs with turkey skin. Turley skin contains too much fat, which can trigger pancreatitis in dogs. The seasoning added to turkey skin can also cause an upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea when fed to dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Turkey Necks?
Yes, your dogs can eat turkey necks as long as they’re raw. Raw turkey necks can naturally clean your dogs’ teeth and provide calcium, protein, and phosphorus to dogs. Avoid feeding your dogs with cooked turkey necks as these become brittle, which can cause choking and intestinal blockages.
Work With a Vet
Turkey bones aren’t ideal for dogs, so avoid giving them any. If you often find yourself struggling to say “no” to your fur babies whenever they beg for food, follow the tips mentioned here. And most importantly, don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet if you see your dogs eating turkey bones. Vets are your greatest allies in keeping your dogs healthy and safe.