Throwing a dog a T-Bone is a pretty common sight in cartoons… but is that a good representation of what dog parents like you and I should be doing?
Can dogs have T-bones to chew on and eat or are there safety concerns that you should be considering before tossing your pup a bone with some leftover meat on it?
That’s a great question and it’s one we’ll be answering in this article today by covering the following information…
- Can Dogs Have T-Bones Raw?
- Can Dogs Eat Cooked T-Bones?
- My Dog Ate A Steak Bone… What Should I Do?
- How Will The Veterinarian Treat My Dog After Eating Cooked T-Bone?
- How To Stop Your Dog From Eating Steak Bones In The Future…
In the end, you’ll know if it is safe for your dog to consume raw or cooked steak bones, and you’ll know exactly what to do if your dog gets a hold of one accidentally…
Let’s begin by discussing if dogs can eat raw steak bones…
Can Dogs Have T-Bones Raw?
There is some debate as to whether or not feeding your dog raw T-bones is harmful. One school of thought feels that in the wild, wolves and dogs eat raw bones, and they’re just fine…
However, there actually are a few potential risks that come along with giving your dog a raw steak bone…
You see, in one sense these bones are safe for dogs because they are easy to digest and won’t splinter as a cooked bone will because they’re more flexible…
That being said, the danger with raw T-bones comes in the form of food poisoning bacteria. Things like Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E-coli have been found on raw steak meat, and they can cause digestive issues in your dog…
For example, your dog might begin throwing up or get diarrhea because of these types of food poisoning, and if that’s the case you’ll certainly want to contact a vet as soon as you can…
In addition to that, it’s possible for dogs to have blockages or to choke on various types of bones, especially if they’ve been cut or broken into small pieces…
And there is also the risk of intestinal obstructions which will require that your dog has surgery in order for them to be removed.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked T-Bones?
Cooked steak bones tend to be brittle and can splinter easily, and they can be extremely harmful to dogs for a number of reasons…
First of all, a cooked T-bone can easily become a choking hazard if it breaks into small pieces as your dog chomps down on it…
In addition to that, the small pieces of hard bone can cause your dog’s teeth to fracture if he attempts to chew on them…
And if your dog ends up swallowing splintered pieces of bone, he runs the risk of a possible perforation in his throat or intestine…
Perforations can actually happen as the splintered bone pieces work their way down or as they work their way back up because your dog is vomiting…
And as I mentioned before, small pieces of bone can also cause an obstruction in your dog’s intestines, in which case your dog will have to undergo surgery to have it removed…
So a dog should not be given cooked steak bone under any circumstances, and if your dog has ingested cooked T-bone, you’ll want to contact a vet immediately…
My Dog Ate A Steak Bone… What Should I Do?
Try as we might to prevent it, our dogs are sometimes still able to steal bones from off of the table or from plates when we’re not looking…
So if your dog was able to sneak away with the bone from your ribeye steak dinner the other night, here are a few steps you should follow…
Step 1: Don’t Panic…
Yes, if your dog eats a cooked steak bone there are some real medical risks and you should take it seriously…
However, some dogs don’t have any issues after eating cooked bones. So your dog isn’t necessarily going to have to be rushed into surgery to remove an intestinal blockage…
On top of that, your dog can sense when you’re nervous, and if he or she is in need of medical attention, your panic will only cause more stress and anxiety on your dog…
So try your best to remain calm, and move on to step 2…
Step 2: Clear The Area…
The next this to do is to clear the area of any remaining bones or bone pieces. Put any other bones up on a high counter or into the garbage where your dog can’t get to them…
And remove your dog from the area while you clean up by putting him in his crate, in another room, or in the back yard…
Step 3: Contact A Veterinarian…
The next thing to do is to contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. Tell the vet exactly what happened and he or she will give you some suggestions concerning what to look out for and what to do immediately…
There are some vets that may recommend giving a dog that swallowed bones some white bread as a way of cushioning their gastrointestinal tract…
However, each situation will be different, so it’s important to contact the veterinarian right away and follow their instructions…
Sidebar: Do Not Induce Vomiting…
Some people will try to induce vomiting, but this is not a good idea. As I mentioned earlier, splintered pieces of bone can potentially cause perforations in your dog’s throat and intestines…
If you try to make your dog throw up, you run the risk of causing perforations on the way up. So always follow the advice of a professional before trying any home remedies or methods.
Step 4: Observe Your Dog For Signs And Symptoms…
The next thing you’ll want to do is to observe the behavior of your dog. The vet will probably give you a number of signs and symptoms to watch for, and you’ll probably be asked to look out for these things for a 24-48 hour period of time…
Some of the things that your vet may ask you to watch for include…
- Your dog showing signs of choking
- Your dog appearing distressed and pawing at his mouth
- Your dog vomiting, gagging, or dry heaving
- Your dog acting lethargic
- Your dog has no appetite
- Your dog has abdominal bloating
- Your dog has diarrhea with blood in it
- Your dog is struggling to go poop or crying out while passing stool
- Your dog has blood in his stool
If you notice any of these symptoms, you’ll want to contact a veterinarian immediately.
It’s also a good idea to check your pup’s stool over the next few days to ensure that the bone fragments have passed…
If you don’t see bones in his stool in three to four days, be sure to take him to the vet to make sure the bones haven’t become stuck in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract.
How Will The Veterinarian Treat My Dog After Eating Cooked T-Bone?
The treatment your dog will receive from the vet will be determined by the specific medical issue that eating the cooked bone caused…
For example, if your dog is choking on the bone, the vet might sedate him before removing it from his throat…
If your dog was able to swallow a bone or pieces of a bone, the vet might take an x-ray to see how big the piece (or pieces) are and if they are causing any problems that would require removal…
The vet might also perform an endoscopy to try and remove the bone from your dog’s stomach if it becomes stuck there…
And if the bone does create an intestinal blockage, your dog will likely have to go through surgery to have it removed.
How To Stop Your Dog From Eating Steak Bones In The Future…
If you are in the habit of giving your dog cooked bones as a treat, you should stop and think of another food that he or she will enjoy…
A few pieces of the actual T-Bone steak would be much safer and more delicious in your dog’s eyes, or you can give him actual dog treats or perhaps cheese…
But if you’re worried about your dog snagging a cooked steak bone without your permission, here are a few things you can do to prevent it from happening…
Keep Cooked Bones In A Safe Place…
I know this seems obvious, but sometimes we put bones in places that we think are safe from our dogs but in reality, they aren’t…
For example, some dogs are pretty sneaky and can find their way into garbage cans. So just be aware of what your dog is capable of and make sure there is no way for him to steal cooked bones.
Train Your Dog To ‘Leave it’…
Training your dog to follow the ‘Leave it’ or ‘Drop it’ command is actually more important than you might have previously thought…
Not only will it help you stop your dog from chewing nuisance items like shoes and socks, but it will also prevent your dog from chewing or eating objects that can be harmful (like cooked T-bones)…
If you’d like some help training your dog how to follow your commands, I recommend you check out the Brain Training For Dogs program…
I like it because it’s highly effective, easy to follow, and you can go through the program from the comfort of your own home…
If you’d like to learn more about how Brain Training For Dogs can help you train your dog to be more well-behaved and to follow your commands, click the link below…
Final Thoughts…
In the end, our dogs are a part of our family, and they need us as their owners to always be looking out for their health, happiness, and safety…
Even though some pet parents see nothing wrong with giving your dog a raw T-Bone, it’s probably not a good idea because of the bacteria that can be found on raw meat…
After all, your dog is not a wolf that needs to scarf down an animal whole in the wild…
And under no circumstances should your dog be allowed to eat cooked T-Bones because of all the dangerous medical issues it can cause to your pup’s gastrointestinal tract.