Please help- Dog swallowed a bone...?

Question

My dog has a bone and she had chewed a bit off it. My Mum put that bit on the window ledge because she thought it would be a bit dangerous. I just saw my dog jump up and grab it. I said 'no' and tried to grab it off her but I think she swallowed it.

I'm not sure how big it was (my Mum has gone to bed). Will she be ok? Will it come out the other end?

Thank you.

No it wasn't a chicken bone. I'm assuming a cow bone...

She has been quiet since then but it's nearly 11pm so she normally starts to sleep at this time. She hasn't had anything to eat or drink since then

King Les The Lofty- Thank you. That's reassuring. She's sleeping at my feet at the moment. She's got a broken foot so it hasn't been a good week for her. I know that the bone is defiantly uncooked and it wasn't sharp. She is just a bit quieter than usual but none of those other symptoms. I don't think we have an emergency vet in my city though.

Thanks again.

Answer 1

Most dogs retain enough of the wolf to make good use of small bones. Mine eat brisket bones every day. About once every 8 years one of them will chomp apart a rib bone so that the bit in the middle is EXACTLY the same length as the gap between the upper carnassials (the big triangular axe-shaped tooth just a bit more than halfway back) and the middle bit jams across the roof of the dog's mouth. In which case the dog's attempts to get the bone to move tell me I have to make it sit so that I can reach in and lift the chunk of bone out - whereupon the dog grabs the bit off the ground and returns to eating it.

The dangers are:
(1) Gulpers: Dogs that swallow too big a chunk of food so that no other dog (or cat) can get at it. It could be big enough to get stuck part way down. You will KNOW that's happened because the dog will be choking and or trying to vomit it back up.
(2) Needle-splinters: I won't let my dogs near those spiny fish bones, but one did eat a fish-head with no problems. Baked or roasted bones can be a problem, splintering to produce sharp ends, AND the heating makes it too solid for stomach acid to have enough effect on. Such bones can stick into and penetrate the lining of the stomach or intestines - VERY nasty! Not a lot of warning except that the dog doesn't want to "do poos", and gets depressed.
In either case, the dog might not survive. If it does survive, it must never again have access to bones.

Bones that have been cooked under pressure are usually safe - they are softened & get a porous surface from the acids produced during stewing (my dogs love oxtail stew almost as much as I do). But bones with a hard glazed surface are the ones to worry about. However, my pooches get the bones out of my pan-fried lamb chops, after I've sucked all the flavour I can manage

Raw bones are almost always safe, except with gulpers.
The modern table chicken is perfectly safe, its bones being so soft that the bird could barely stand up before being slaughtered; KFC chicken bones have been so softened by the pressure cooking that YOU can bite through them - but old broilers that have been running around a paddock for years might be a different matter after cooking. A police dog kennel in Britain feeds THOUSANDS of chooks to its dogs every year.

Small bones get totally dissolved, and help keep the calcium : potassium balance where it should be. A large bone might still be recognisable as a bone when it passes through, but the digestive acid SHOULD have smoothed out its ends .

From what you wrote, your pooch feels no discomfort whatsoever, so sleep well.
But if that changes you ring the emergency vet and say, "I'm on my way with a bone stuck inside a dog." THEN you wake Mum or Dad to do the driving.
Les P, owner of GSD_Friendly: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GSD_Friendly
"In GSDs" as of 1967

Answer 2

Bones are natural food for the dogs. If the bone has already passed through her throat there is nothing to worry. The situation is akin to us swallowing some large morsel which gives us a little discomfort.

Just wait and watch. If she is only listless it shows that her stomach is at work. Bones take a long time to digest. By morning she would be alright.

Answer 3

Hi Wabby, Was the bone sharpe? Dogs' don't chew bones up like cats do and some times a bone can get stuck in their throat or even put a hold in there intestines and this could be life treating. Make sure she can break will and that she doesn't have any pain in her tummy. If she looks okay in the morning and no tummy pain she should be okay.
A Friend,
poppy1

Answer 4

What kind of bone? Chicken bone there may be a problem later (they are hollow and splinter) A pork or beef bone it should not be a problem. Yes everything eventually comes out the other end.

Answer 5

It is perfectly normal for a dog to eat bones.
I can't understand how they break them down, so they don't come out as pieces at the other end.
Probably digestive juices break them down.

Looks like a fine sunny morning to take her for a walk Wabby. 0600

Answer 6

Dogs swallow bones all of the time Wabby, and they are cattle bones.
Cows are in the dairy side of farming.

Answer 7

just keep an eye on her for now. As long as she is eating and drinking normally, and not having any vomiting or diarrhea then it will most likely pass. if she developes vomiting or diarrhea, or is just not acting like herself (ex. not eating/lethargic/quiet) then you should get her to the vet for some abdominal x rays because it is possible for the bone to obstruct her GI tract, or even poke a hole in her intestines.

i hope she does well!

Answer 8

Wabby .I think that Les the Lofty has given a very thorough answer to you.I hope Tilly wil be ok.How is her paw doing?Take care.

Answer 9

my dog has a rib bone stuck in her back throat what can i do to get it out

Answer 10

i am suggesting you take her to the vet this could be serious or maybe not so much have her drinking plenty of water and have her by your side at all times and keep her cool. i really hope she will be ok! thanks!