Can Dogs Eat Steak Bones? How Safe Are They For My Dog?

Whether a seasoned pet parent or a new dog owner without experience, you must choose the best diet for your dog. While getting a balanced diet for our pet could be daunting, it is the only way to maintain its health.

Steak bones are among the most popular additions to any dog’s diet. The most popular choices are beef tails and poultry necks, thanks to their accessibility. However, the biggest worry is whether these bones are safe for dogs. The following insights will help.

Can Dogs Eat Steak Bones?

Steak bones are a safe choice for your dog under specific conditions. You need to provide your dog with raw steak bones because cooked ones can splinter in the mouth, causing injuries and choking hazards. You must also avoid chopped bones as they pose a choking hazard. The raw steak bone must also have some fat left to make it easily digestible.

Various bone options are available, from recreational to dietary. Recreational bones are not edible, yet they can be chewed. They have some meat, cartilage, and soft tissue attached, providing the dog with various micronutrients. These bones must be appropriately sized to avoid a choking hazard.

Recreational bones could also contain marrow, which is high in healthy fat. These bones include large femur and hip bones. You’ll need to pick relatively large bones for recreational purposes to minimize the risk of choking on the bone.

In contrast, nutritional steak bones are an enriched source of calcium and phosphorous. They are often ground rather than fed whole. Examples include chicken bones, which are rich in minerals, hollow, and relatively soft.

Related: Can Dogs Eat Steak?

How Safe are Steak Bones for Dogs?

Only raw steak bones are safe for dogs. These bones are often hard and less susceptible to splinters, cushioning your dog from gastrointestinal and mouth injuries.

Further, raw bones contain multiple natural micronutrients and minerals, including calcium, phosphorous, and calcium phosphate. These minerals help regenerate the dog’s skeletal system and increase bone density. The calcium in raw bones is also more digestible.

In contrast, cooked bones are brittle and could easily splinter in the dog’s mouth, causing injuries. Besides, these bones contain fewer nutrients, with some being diluted.

Can Steak Bones be Bad for Dogs?

Pet owners must consider the health risks steak bones pose before feeding them. These steak bones will likely cause the following issues:

Intestinal Blockage

Gastrointestinal obstruction happens when fragments of the bones get stuck in the gastrointestinal tract. These pieces could puncture the GI tract, causing severe health issues. Unfortunately, intestinal blockage prevents food and water from passing through the gastrointestinal tract and restricts blood flow.

Intestinal Damage

Steak bones will likely splinter, particularly among dogs with strong jaws. These splinters enter the stomach, rapturing and injuring the linings. A punctured gastrointestinal tract is susceptible to bacterial infections and other health complications. In addition, it could cause digestive problems and pain in the gut.

Bacterial Infection

Raw meat could contain different harmful bacteria, including salmonella and E.coli. These bacteria can cause gastrointestinal issues, including abdominal pain, vomiting, stomach upsets, and diarrhea.

How to Safely Give your Dog a Steak Bone?

Safety should be a priority when feeding your dog steak bone. It requires you to observe the following steps.

Supervision Is Vital

Always watch your dog when it is eating the steak bone, so you can prevent buccal injuries and reduce the risk of choking.

Confirm the Dental Health

Steak bones are ideal for dogs with excellent dental health. Weak teeth and gum diseases can make chewing on steak bones hard. You’ll have to avoid steak bones if you see signs of dental health issues.

Use the Right Bone Size

Choosing the right bone size cushions your dog against the risk of choking. The selected bone must be larger than its mouth.

Know the Right Time

Steak bones are an excellent treat when given after a meal. Your dog will likely be aggressive with the bone when it’s hungry.

Bottom Line

Raw steak bones are a perfect treat for your dog. While they offer incredible health benefits, steak bones can pose a health risk. You’ll need to supervise your dog if you feed them steak bones.