Why do dogs like bones?

Why do dogs like bones? There are several reasons why dogs love bones, and the act of chewing can have many health benefits, such as providing mental stimulation and preventing gum disease. However, certain types of bones could pose a health risk to your furry friend. Read on to find out more…

Why Do Dogs Like Bones?

Just why do dogs gnaw on bones so much? It turns out this behaviour can be traced back to their wolf ancestors, who would chew on the bones of their prey to extract essential nutrients like calcium, and to reach the nutrient-rich bone marrow hidden within them. But why do dogs like bones so much nowadays? The truth is that your pooch has several reasons to want to eat bones, as the act of chewing provides some important health benefits:

Mental Stimulation

Have you ever stopped to watch your dog play with their favourite chew toy or bone and wondered, just why do dogs chew on bones so much? It turns out that playing with chew toys provides a great brain boost for your pup, as it satisfies their natural desire to chew. This helps to reduce boredom, relieve anxiety and provide an outlet for dogs with a lot of energy! 

Healthy Teeth

Your dog’s love for bones is likely making a big difference to their dental health, as the mechanical action of chewing on bones helps to scrape away plaque from the tooth surfaces, which helps to prevent gum disease and infection. It can also stop bad breath and keep your dog’s overall oral health in tip-top shape!

Are bones safe for dogs?

We now know why dogs like bones and the several health benefits that bones can offer, but unfortunately they do not come without risks. Let’s have a look at the main health risks that bones may pose for your pup:

Tooth fracture

Dogs that like to chew a lot, especially on harder bones like raw bones, are at risk of fracturing a tooth; puppies and elderly dogs are most prone, owing to their more fragile teeth. Broken teeth are painful and prone to infection, and often lead to a trip to the vets! For this reason, it is important to always supervise your dog when chewing bones.

Choking/obstruction risk

It turns out that not all bones are created equal when it comes to your four-legged friend’s safety. Cooked bones are at risk of splintering into sharp fragments, which could damage your pup's intestinal tract and lead to symptoms like vomiting and constipation. Bones that are too small for your pup’s mouth pose a choking hazard if accidentally swallowed, or may pass into their gut and cause a blockage. Therefore, it may be safer to satisfy your dog’s love for bones with some of the safer alternatives suggested in the next section.

Infection

Raw bones can harbour several harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli, that could make your pup sick. Whilst it may have been essential for their wild ancestors to chew raw bones for survival, modern day dog foods thankfully contain all of the nutrients that your pooch requires. For this reason, we suggest avoiding feeding raw bones and instead opt for some of the safer alternatives below.

Safer alternatives to bones for dogs

Dogs love bones because they satisfy their natural desire to chew, but we do not believe that feeding bones is worth the risk to your furry friend's health. Therefore, we have selected some of the best alternatives that will still give your beloved pup all of the benefits that they need.

Raw Vegetables

As well as being high in fibre and low in calories, vegetables like carrots and celery act like a natural toothbrush. To give your pooch an extra chew challenge, try putting a carrot in the freezer for an hour or two first!

Dried fish skins

As well as packing a nice crunch, dried fish skins are a high quality source of omega 3 that helps to keep your dog’s joints strong and coat shiny.

Himalayan Yak Chews

Made from yak's milk, these chews are gentle on the stomach whilst also acting as durable chew toys for your pup. As well as being more digestible than bones, they are also naturally softer and therefore much less likely to damage your dog's teeth.

Why do dogs like bones? A good dog sitter will be able to answer this question and provide safe alternatives for your pooch. To find out more about how to find a good dog sitter, click the link below:

Meet our veterinary expert, Liam

This article has been checked by veterinarian Dr Liam Bullock BVSc (Hons) MRCVS.

As a small animal vet, Liam has spent time working in both first-opinion and referral-level practices. After gaining a strong affinity for educating owners about their pets, Liam decided to dedicate some of his non-clinical time to tutoring students, who were preparing for exams or struggling at school. By combining a passion for teaching others, and a keen interest in raising awareness about animal health issues, Liam decided to begin writing veterinary content. This now also allows him to raise awareness of important animal health issues outside of the consultation room.

Useful resources

• Can dogs eat bones?
• Can dogs eat pork bones?
• Foods dogs can eat: your canine menu guide