We know the love dogs have for bones. They can eat the bones till the last piece on the bone, and they also eat it because of their chewing habits. A question is roaming around regarding bones: can dogs eat pork shoulder bones?
Although pork is generally not healthy for dogs, some people say they can eat plain one occasionally. In this article, we will figure out how dogs can eat pork shoulder bones.
You’ll also learn what type of bones can be harmful to dogs and what you should do if your dog eats pork.
Can Dogs Eat Pork Shoulder Bones?
Although, pork shoulder bones are not safe for your dogs. You should avoid using it. But yes, you can give it to your dogs. They can eat it, but with strict monitoring, also you need to prepare it perfectly so that the dog can eat it.
There are a lot of factors you need to consider if you want to feed your dog the pork shoulder bone. The size of the bone, its weight, if pork is good, breed, etc.
There are some other things that you should consider before feeding pork shoulder bone to your dog.
Before Feeding Pork Shoulder Bone to Your Dog –Things to Consider
Pork bones, whether cooked or not, can easily break when dogs bite them. When bones are broken, dogs can swallow the pieces, leading to choking, intestinal obstruction, and damage to the intestines.
Pork is rich in fats. So even after cooking the pork, the fats remain on the people. It is never a good idea to give cooked food.
1. Prepare it Correctly
The first thing you need to consider before giving pork shoulder bones to your dog is preparing them properly.
The bones should not be too small, not too hard, and should be raw. Raw bones for dogs are safe, as they are not too soft or hard either. So, make sure to avoid cooked pork bones.
It can be a problem if the bones aren’t appropriately prepared. Pork shoulder bones can become sharp and splintered during preparation, which can cause damage to your dog’s mouth or even digestive tract.
2. Size Matters
Pork shoulder bones need to be prepared correctly, but the most notable factor is their size. The size of pork bones should not be too small for dogs to swallow, nor too large so that it becomes too heavy.
The bones should neither fully fit in the dog’s mouth nor become too heavy to handle for the dog.
3. Your Dog’s Age and Health Condition Matter
The health condition of the dog will determine whether the pork bone is suitable or not. Dogs should not be suffering from stomach discomfort, then the dog cannot digest the pork.
Also, the dog’s age matters too, because that tells the condition of teeth, whether it can chew the bone or not or else it will damage its teeth.
4. Don’t Feed Your Dog with Pork Shoulder Bones If It Has Stomach Issues
Some dogs can get an upset stomach when they eat hard bones. That can be extremely dangerous because it can lead to a damaged esophagus, intestinal blockage, and even choking hazards in rare cases.
When your dog has digestive issues that include vomiting and diarrhea, they should not feed pork shoulder bone anymore until he has fully recovered.
5. Marinate it before feeding your dog with Pork Shoulder Bones
Marination helps to reduce the risk of getting any digestive problems. You can add other tasty items such as chicken broth, pineapples, or honey while marinating before giving them these delicious treats.
Your dog can get sick from eating raw meat, so make sure you take away all the uncooked pieces before giving them as a treat. Also, make sure there is no blood left on those bones.
7. Keep Your Eye on Your Dog After Feeding them With Bone
Monitor their behavior after feeding bones to your canines. Avoid feeding them pork shoulder bones when you notice unusual symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or lack of interest.
8. Pork Bones Contain Bacteria
Bacteria can cause harmful effects on your dog’s health, which can be fatal in rare cases.
Some of the most common bacteria found on pork bones include Salmonella and Listeria, leading to food poisoning. In addition to damaging your animal’s organs, it can also damage the liver and kidneys. Proper treatment is essential.
Type of Bones that May Cause Harm to Your Dog
1. Cooked Bones
Cooked bones can splinter and damage your dog’s digestive system, leading to severe health problems. Don’t ever give any cooked bones to dogs because they can become a choking hazard as well.
Cooked bones are dangerous to our pups for many reasons. Firstly, the nutrients in cooked bones have been leached and now leave them brittle and can be shattered into jagged pieces if chewed on by an eager pooch!
These shards can also cause severe internal damage should they enter your dog’s digestive tract.
2. Large Size Bones
It can be difficult for your dog to chew on large bones, which can become stuck in his throat, posing a choking risk. Ideally, the size of the bone should be such that it does not entirely fit in the mouth of the dog, nor does it become too heavy.
Some dogs can swallow large pieces of bone that may cause an intestinal blockage as well. So, you should constantly monitor their behavior after giving them these treats.
3. Hard Bones
You can give bones to dogs, but make sure that they are not too hard, as this could lead to breaking their teeth while chewing on them. These items can also cause tooth fractures and abrasions that can be very painful for your pet.
What to do If Your Dog Eats a Pork Shoulder Bone?
Due to a parasite known as trichinella spiralis larvae, raw pork bones are not safe for dogs. Trichinellosis is an infection caused by a parasite. It is an infection that is transmitted by pork meat. Dogs usually eat raw pork bones because they cannot resist them.
You need to see three factors while making sure that your dog is OK after eating the pork shoulder bone.
1. Check Your Pet’s Condition
Check on your dog regularly. Observe how the dog behaves. Upon giving the dog food, check the dog’s condition. If your dog doesn’t seem interested in the food, the stomach may not function well.
2. Check Their Body Language
Your dog ate pork shoulder bone, but his condition is not ok. He keeps throwing up or has diarrhea, lethargy, or if he has a fever. That means the pork bone they ate did not get digested.
3. Look into Your Dog’s Throat
If you can see a bone stuck in their throat, Remove Pork Bones from Your dog’s mouth ASAP. These can cause choking hazards, leading to the swallowing of these bone fragments. Then, remove all remaining pieces before giving them other treats afterward.
4. Take Your Dog to the Vet
If you feel that your dog isn’t doing well and starts showing severe symptoms like seizures or tremors after showing some minor signs.
It means they are severely in trouble, so you should immediately take them to the vet without any delay. Do not let them get into this state that never comes, and be a responsible owner.
Other Alternatives Bones for Dogs
Many people think that bone and dog are inseparable, but you should consider some facts before giving the bone to the dog. It should be big and not fit in its mouth.
There are a lot of risks with bones, but if the owners are careful and responsible, there should be no issue. The alternative bones for dogs can be bulges or lumps, like leg bones.
Although there is no issue with pork shoulder bones, they can eat them. However, there are other better alternatives, for example, beef bones, chicken bones (raw), goat antlers, and synthetic bones (can provide nutrients and calcium). They are helpful for dogs with chewing issues.
You can buy these items at any pet store near you or order online for convenient shopping! 🙂 They can even help reduce the risk of health issues like heart disease, arthritis, or joint pain in later life.
Bone marrow contains healthy fat, which helps the brain develop. Knucklebones and Beef knee caps should be taken together. Dogs need meat – pork, beef or lamb. This is a significant disagreement, but some people believe it is acceptable.
When you give your dog any bone for chewing, please ensure he’ll always stay vigilant. Even puppies can benefit from chewing marrow bones made of cartilage, soft tissues, and rounded bones, and it won’t cause mouth or throat problems.
Find a reliable butcher in your area and ask them to cut thick beef legs in marrow and knuckle bones so your pup can have lots of fun.
Conclusion
The point of concern was: can dogs eat pork shoulder bones? They can eat it only when correctly cooked without being raw or overcooked. That means it should be neither too hard nor not too soft that the dog is chewing it.
So, are pork shoulder bones safe for dogs? No, they are not safe for dogs unless they are adequately prepared. If you have no other option at home, you can give it to your dog.
However, do not feed it because it contains dangerous bacteria and pathogens that can cause severe damage to a dog’s liver and kidneys.
However, there are some alternative bones you can give to your dogs: beef none, lamb, goal antlers. The bones are very high in calcium, which is essential for dogs.
Cooked bones are not suitable for dogs to chew on since they can crack and get splintered. If they swallow it, it can make them choke or cause cuts in their innards that can block their digestive tracts.
If your dog ate a pork shoulder bone, observe their body language, condition, and throat regularly. But be sure to take your pet to the vet if you notice any changes or if they are not eating or have diarrhea.