Urgent advice pl... Puppy eaten most of beef rib bone

[Misty]

I'm worried and looking for some advice ASAP pl. I gave 5 month old Beau the smallest of a pack of three beef rib bones (Hollings ones) whilst she was in her crate briefly when we were having dinner tonight.

It was the first time I've given her one and expected that she'd chew around the edges to take the flavour off etc but when I let her out her crate after 10 mins I found that she.s actually managed to eat 2/3rds of the bone. It must have been about 6cm long to start with. I was shocked because I didn't think she would be able to actually eat through the bone itself. The back of the packet doesn't say anything more about it and I've googled it but no other advice about whether its normal or not and now I'm really worried she might be ill. She's okay now (about half hour after eating it).

Any thoughts/ advice gratefully received COLers

[Pearly]

I'm assuming it was a cooked bone.  Does your vet have an out of hours service you can call for advice?  Think I'd call to put my mind at rest....

Hope Beau is ok x

[Sasha B]

I buy these for my two. They have them at least twice a week and have had for months now. They do eat the bone which to be honest surprised me the first time they did it, but they love them. I have never had any problems at all, no sickness to sloppy poos and no problems with the bone itself.

They are never given them when I am not there and are supervised but as I said no issues.

My two are 4 years old though so maybe their tummies will be more settled.

[Toni-UK]

I would have been a little concerned had i read this this morning,just keep an eye on Beaus poops.

This is the blurb on a pack of 3 Hollings beef rib bones....

"A lip-smacking tasty treat for your canine companion. Beef ribs are 100% natural treats that your pet will go crazy for. Bones may splinter, so always supervise your dog when they are chewing ."

You can't "supervise" splinters while they are traveling through a dogs stomach 

They are air dried as opposed to cooked,so tbh i'm not sure if the former is as bad as the latter,i'm sure someone will be able to tell us. 

[elaine.e]

I'm not sure about air dried bones but suspect they may be potentially less splintery than cooked bones. However, I think phoning your vet for advice is a good idea (hopefully there's an out of hours phone number).

Hope Beau is OK

[Misty]

Thanks for the responses folks. My nerves are still shredded but I really appreciate your thoughts.

I called the emergency vet who said it may be fine, especially as she seems ok in herself tonight, but there can be problems as the bone transits her system... It just depends how well she's chewed them up first. She said I need to watch her closely and watch her poos over next few days, taking her in if there are any problems or signs of bleeding.

I read the back of the pack and tried to find out more on Hollings website or elsewhere on the web but its so bad that there's nothing. OH said they're a commercial product for dogs so she isn't likely to be the first one to eat most of it.

Thanks so much Sasha B you've helped ease my mind a bit, given that your doglets eat them regularly with no problems.

Beau is mooching about as normal now and having a chew of her toys, drinking ok and has done a little bit of training for a couple of treats so nothing untoward there. I think I'll have a restless night though wondering how she,ll be going to the loo tomorrow.

One thing is for sure...NO MORE bones in this house- commercial do treats or not!

[elaine.e]

I hope Beau is well this morning and that you all had a good night

[x Denise x]

I Gave my dogs bones for the 1st time yesterday. i am too worried about the  bones. I was to to get uncooked bones i went to the butchers stall on the market. he told me he gives all his  bones to the man opposite, Pet shop stall. So i asked for Two bone he said they were Roast meat bones . i asked if they were Raw he said No i have special facilities for cooking these ?  I said oh i was told not to give cooked bones he said i sell hundred of these a week i wouldnt sell bones if they harmed dogs .. hes been doing it 35 years.. So i got the bones. My dogs went mad for them but they crunched them up and ate them in about an hour  they seemed to chew great lumps of them they loved them. but i was shocked at how they crunched them up.. Im now worring about the transit and the exit.
I dont think im going to get them again.

[JeffD]

Most dogs will eat cooked bones with out a problems they have been doing this since man first chucked meat in a fire, this does not mean its a good thing to give your dog as every year dogs die after complications from cooked bones.

The advice on the packet is not worth the paper its written on how would you know if the piece of bone in your dogs mouth is splinted or not.

The only cooked bones dogs should have will be pressure cooked until the bone turns soft.

I feed raw bones and accept there is still a risk but far less of a risk than cooked bones, get some raw Lamb/pork/ beef ribs or a raw chicken wing.

[Sharon]

When we have litters, my 5 week old pups eat raw chicken wings, bone and all, never had a problem.

[Misty]

I hope Beau is well this morning and that you all had a good night

Thanks for the concern Elaine. I had a bit of a restless night sleeping with my ears open in case I could hear Beau whimpering...but she was fine. She's continued to eat, drink, play and be her general merry self today. She's pooing as normal and no signs of any trouble. Of course ill continue to watch her closely over the next few days. She's been getting lots of extra cuddles as I've been so worried.