Can dogs eat pork bones?

Updated 13/04/2024

As a diligent pet parent, you probably want to avoid food waste, especially with those irresistible puppy dog eyes and cute little pining noises that occur when you've finished your plate of food. So you might be wondering - are table titbits safe for dogs, or do we need to be careful about what we share with our furry friends? As you might have guessed, it's the latter.

So, if pork chops or barbecue ribs are on the menu tonight, you might be curious to know - can dogs eat pork bones - or should they simply head for the compost heap? Well sadly for your pooch, pork bones aren't safe for dogs, and you should be particularly careful to keep them away from the all too eager paws of your furry pals - those mouth-watering wafts of cooked meat sure are irresistible to your canine companion. And if you're wondering why dogs shouldn't eat pork bones, take a look below for info and advice.

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Are pork bones poisonous to dogs?

So can dogs eat pork bones at all? Or are they poisonous to dogs? Well as they're a meat product, pork bones aren't toxic to dogs, and won't cause any signs of toxicity if your dog consumes them. The biggest hazard with pork bones for dogs is the choking hazard and the risk of harm they pose to your pup's gastrointestinal tract - both reasons why your dog should never eat pork bones, cooked or raw. Be aware that pork bones may be poisonous if they have seasoning on them such as garlic or onions which are toxic to dogs.

Can dogs have pork rib bones?

Often smothered in a tail wag-inducing sticky glaze and oozing with fatty juices that frankly sends your canine companion crazy, we wouldn't blame you for wondering - can dogs eat pork ribs? Well firstly, anything cooked in the sauces we humans love shouldn't be shared with dogs - they're packed with ingredients either irritating to your dog's digestive system, or simply toxic to them. Secondly, pork rib bones should never be given to dogs as they pose a serious choking hazard. In fact, your pup could easily swallow them whole (depending on the size of your furry friend), which means their chance of getting stuck in your pup's system and causing serious damage is pretty high.  

Can dogs have pork chop bones?

And what about other cooked and uncooked pork bones? Are pork bones safe for dogs if they're from another cut like the pork chop? Sadly not - pork chop bones are just as dangerous for dogs as pork ribs - they can splinter and puncture your pup's insides, get stuck or cause choking, so never be tempted to share pork chop bones with your dog. 

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Why are pork bones bad for dogs?

You might be wondering why pork bones are so bad for dogs - in years gone by, it was standard practice to give a dog a bone. So why exactly do we advise never sharing a pork bone with your furry pal? Well the first hazard is choking. As you'll be well aware, our canine companions aren't exactly the most cautious of eaters. If it smells and tastes good, they'll chuck it back within a couple of chomps. Secondly, it's the risk of intestinal blockage. If somehow your dog manages to eat a pork bone whole without choking, it's highly likely that the bone will get stuck somewhere in your dog's intestines, causing a blockage (we'll talk about what to do if your dog eats a pork bone below). Another risk is puncturing to your dog's gastrointestinal tract. As you might know, pork bones splinter pretty easily, which makes them razor sharp and frankly a weapon once ingested. And lastly, raw pork bones will be covered in bacteria, some of which (like salmonella) can cause food poisoning in dogs. So, if you were wondering - can dogs eat bones from pork safely in any way, shape or form, the answer would be sadly not. 

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What to do if your dog eats pork bones

If you're here because your dog ate a rib bone or a bone from another part of the animal, you should contact your vet immediately for advice and potentially an emergency appointment. If you're here as a diligent pet parent, just in case the worst occurs and your dog somehow manages to nab a pork bone from the side, stay with us as we explore some advice on what to do. Firstly, if your pup still has the bone in their mouth, take it away immediately and wash their mouths with water if the bone was raw. Then, while we advise going straight to your vet if your pup has somehow swallowed a pork bone, it's always worth knowing the symptoms of intestinal blockage as this is a key hazard that pork bones for dogs pose.

Symptoms of intestinal blockage in dogs:

• Vomiting.
• Excessive drooling.
• Abdominal pain.
• Inability to defecate.
• Diarrhea.
• Reduced appetite.
• Lethargy.

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Other pork products

So, now we've settled the question - can dogs eat pork bones - you might be wondering - can dogs have pork bones if they're cooked in some sort of dog-friendly way? Well sadly cooked pork bones are even more likely to split than raw, so they should never be shared with dogs, no matter how they're prepared. If you'd like your pup to benefit from some of the nutrients in pork bones though, boil the bones up (without any seasoning), strain the broth thoroughly, let it set and then mix the jelly into your dog's food for a nutrient boost without the risk of choking. 

Other foods that are not safe for dogs

So, now we know that dogs and pork bones are frankly a match made in doggy hell, explore the other foods dogs can't eat.

• Garlic
• Hot dogs
• Grapes

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Meet our veterinary expert, Emma

This article has been checked by veterinarian Emma Chandley, BVetMed MRCVS PGCertSAS. Emma graduated from the Royal Vet College in London in 2011. She has a keen interest in surgery and went on to do a postgraduate certificate in small animal surgery and was then awarded advanced practitioner status in the same discipline.