Are Bones Good or Bad for Dogs?

Your pet's love for bones can be traced back to dogs' wild, predatory instincts. So you may think you're doing your pooch a favor if you go to the meat counter and get him a nice juicy bone to gnaw on. But beware! Just as milk isn't always good for cats, bones aren't always good for dogs. Small bones such as pork chops or chicken wings can fracture and get lodged in your dog's throat.

Large hock or leg bones are better choices because a dog can't swallow them. But even these bigger bones aren't a great treat for your pet since they tend to be hard and can fracture a dog's teeth.

So the best policy is to ban bones entirely. Try giving your dog a biscuit or a synthetic rubber chew toy instead.

– Dr. Andrea Looney, DVM for the "Purina® Animal Instincts" Podcast Series

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