Are Pork Bones Safe for Dogs?

A large pork bone with meat and cartilage on it will make a dog's day, but one with marrow is even better. Dogs chew bones to get the marrow. If you put a bone and some marrow in two bowls, most dogs will chose the latter.

  1. Rib Bones Are Dangerous For Dogs

    • Rib bones are a choking hazard for dogs.

      Rib bones are a choking hazard, and they can also get stuck transversely between the teeth, causing much distress, as a dog can't insert a paw deep inside its mouth to remove it. Also, when broken, these bones yield sharp edges, which can endanger the digestive tract.

    Temperament and Size Matter

    • Some dogs are relaxed about bones.

      Some dogs are relaxed around large bones, and if a bone is too hard, they will pass. But a stubborn temperament may go at it with the risk of teeth-breaking and choking. Of course, a tiny dog, given a large pork bone, can only nibble at it.

    Are Bones Good Sources of Calcium?

    • Bones are often contaminated with lead and arsenic.

      Richard H. Pitcairn, a natural nutrition authority for dogs and cats, author of "New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats," says that all cattle and pork bones can be sources of toxic minerals, such as lead and arsenic Also, bones are too high in phosphorus to counterbalance the high content of this mineral in meat and grains.