In many cartoons and animations, we see dogs’ favourite food being bone. This fact is true. Hence, we may wonder if bones can be safe for them. Again, while eating steak, we may also think, Can dogs have steak bones?
Luckily, steak bones fall into the safe category of foods that mammals can eat. While offering a steak bone to your dog, you must check his teeth health first. Also, make sure the bone is raw to avoid the risk of splintering. Since raw bones can have bacteria, wash the bone thoroughly.
Unfortunately, steak bones can be an enemy for dogs in certain situations. This article will tell you how your dog can overcome the risks.
Can Dogs Have Steak Bones?
Table of Contents
The good news is that dogs can have steak bones in a limited quantity. Also, the bone should be free from bacteria and any sort of flavorful ingredients.
Whether it is a cooked steak bone or a raw steak bone, dogs will go crazy for both of them. Now, which one is safe for them? Well, raw bones are safe for dogs, as they can hardly splinter. It means your dog will keep chewing the bone and may not gulp it. Because raw bones don’t splinter like cooked bones do.
Are Steak Bones Good For Dogs?
Steak bones will not only give dogs satisfaction but also some nutrients. For instance, it has protein, vitamin B6, iron, magnesium, cobalamin, etc. Its high amounts of protein can promote muscle health and good weight in dogs.
With vitamin B6, the steak bone can improve brain health, the nervous system, and the immune system. The iron content can raise the haemoglobin level, and magnesium will regulate the blood sugar levels. Cobalamin will enhance their mood, memory, red blood cells, heart health, and energy.
What Are The Risks Of Having Steak Bones For Dogs?
No matter how much your paw friends like having steak bones, they may have to go through some side effects. This will happen, especially when he doesn’t eat them the right way. Let’s figure out the risks.
Digestive Upset
Let’s say you offer a raw steak bone to your pet. Meanwhile, raw bones and meats are prone to E. coli and Salmonella. These bacteria can upset a dog’s digestive system, resulting in diarrhoea, vomiting, weakness, etc.
Intestinal Blockage
Raw steak bones can also pose the threat of intestinal blockage if they are small. Offering raw bones to dogs is advisable because they don’t splinter easily. If a dog gulps the raw bone, the risks are going to be as adverse as eating cooked bones. Your dog can only gulp the raw bone if its size is small, like rib bones.
Perforation In Throat
Most dog owners provide cooked steak bones to their dogs so that materials can’t harm them. Trust me, this is the worst decision you can make. cooked steak bones or any bone splinters with sharp edges. These can tear their throats, which may require surgery.
Gastrointestinal Distress
When we prepare steak for us, we usually add onions, garlic salt, and spices to the meat. The ingredients will linger in their bones. If you offer a bone from that steak, your dog can have additional risks along with the choking hazard. That is high blood pressure, gastrointestinal distress, weakness, etc.
Weight Gain
A 100-gram steak contains 40% saturated fat. It means its bones are also high in fat. Hence, eating the steak bones frequently or in high quantities can result in weight gain or obesity in dogs.
Heart Disease
Along with saturated fats, steak is high in cholesterol. No wonder; its bones are also high in cholesterol. This can lead to heart disease and other organ issues.
How To Offer Steak Bones To Dogs?
Before you offer steak bones to your dog, you must be aware of his health condition. Steak bones, be they raw or cooked, are hard. A pet may break his teeth from chewing bones. For that, you must ensure the teeth and gum health of your dog.
As said earlier, raw steak bones are safe for dogs. So take a large piece of a raw steak bone. Then wash it properly. No problem if the bone has any meat in it. Then let your paw friend chew it. Make sure he doesn’t chew the bone for more than 15 minutes. This is because raw bone can build up bacteria at room temperature.
Also, remember not to add any salt or spices to make the bone flavorful. After your dog chews it for a minute, monitor his reaction. If his reaction seems normal, let him enjoy the treat. But if he is behaving abnormally after eating the bone, take it away from him gently.
When Can Dogs Have Steak Bones?
We know bones, whether they are raw or cooked, are hard. Chewing them will require strong gums and teeth. It means you can only offer steak bones to dogs when they have healthy teeth and gums.
Steak bones have some amounts of cholesterol that are not good for a heart patient. It means these bones should be a no-no for dogs who have heart disease.
Steak bones are also high in saturated fats. So consider adding them to your pet’s diet only when he needs fat.
Some vets even restrict dogs from eating certain human foods because of their past health conditions. Steak bones can be on the list. That’s why you should ask your dog’s vet before introducing these bones or any human foods to them.
Frequently Asked Questions: Can Dogs Have Steak Bones?
Which meat bones can dogs eat?
Dogs can eat bones. Several meats. They are beef, lamb, and chicken. However, the bones of these meats should be raw if you are considering offering them to dogs.
Is steak safe for dogs?
Steak is safe for dogs unless it has any salt, spice, or flavorful ingredients. Besides, it should be cooked and free from bones. because cooked bones can block their intestines.
Can all pets eat steak bones?
Almost all pets and mammals can eat large, raw steak bones. Small steak bones can get into their intestine and cause blockage.
Can dogs have raw steak bones every day?
Even if raw steak bones are safe for dogs, they shouldn’t eat them every day. These bones have fat and cholesterol in small amounts. Eating these every day can lead dogs to weight gain and heart disease.
Final Thoughts
After learning about some downsides of steak bones, we may wonder, Can dogs have steak bones? The answer is yes but with some exceptions. For example, dogs should have raw steak bones, not cooked steak bones. They should eat the large bones, not the small bones, like rib bones and T-bones.
If you ever see your canine friend enjoying this treat too much, you don’t need to worry. The fat content can be a threat to him in every possible way.
For smaller breeds, it is fine to let them chew the bone for 5 minutes. For larger breeds, you can let him eat it for 15 minutes. Since small breeds have fragile teeth, chewing the bone too much can break their teeth.
