Dogs love bones! Your dog often drops everything for a nice ham bone.
In this article you will find out whether you are doing your dog something good with a ham bone or whether it is harming him and what else you should consider when feeding bones.
In a nutshell: Can dogs have ham bones?
Dogs are generally allowed to have ham bones. ham bone can be a healthy chew be for the dog.
Incorrect or improperly prepared bones However, they can have the exact opposite effect and harm the dog.
Are ham bones dangerous for dogs?
Ham bones are derived from pigs. Until recently, pork and bones could Aujeszky virus contain. That is a herpes viruswho the so-called pseudo-rabies can cause.
However, animal populations with the Aujeszky virus must be reported and the virus is considered to be contained. Occasionally, however, it can still occur in wild boar.
pork can trichinae contain. These are small threadworms that nest in the muscles, i.e. the muscle meat of the pig. But even trichinella have become very rare today.
However, pork should always be boiled before feeding it to your dog.
And this is where the first problem arises: If you have removed the bone from your roast ham and there is still meat stuck to it, it makes sense to give it to your dog.
But to do that, you’d have to boil the bone first. However, cooked bones pose a risk to your dog. These splinter very easily and can injure your dog’s mouth and digestive tract.
You can give your dog a fresh and raw ham bone, but you should thoroughly remove the meat from it first.
There is another variant of ham bones that is probably the most used by dog owners. This is air-dried ham bones.
These are available everywhere online and in local pet stores and mostly come from controlled livestock.
A intestinal obstruction is another danger of eating ham bones. Often when chewing, a larger piece is swallowed, which gets caught in the esophagus, stomach or intestines and causes a blockage.
An untreated intestinal obstruction can lead to death in dogs within 3 to 4 days.
In addition to “normal” ham bones, there are also Serrano or Parma ham bones. However, these have a relative high salt contentwhat the dog too Diarrhea can lead.
Reading tip: You want to know if your dog can eat lamb bones? You can find comprehensive information on this topic in our article «Lamb bones for dogs: You should consider this when feeding». Find out what risks and benefits are involved and how to make the right decision for your four-legged friend.
How often can a dog be given ham bones?
Ham bones are an ideal way to strengthen the dog’s chewing muscles and to care for the teeth. Chewing on the bone naturally rubs away plaque and tartar.
Generally Bones do not replace a mealbut are something for in-between. Your dog should only chew bones under supervision. If the bone becomes too small and pointy, you should remove it.
You should give your dog ham bones no more than once, at most twice a week give. Too much can lead to a blockage, known as bone poo.
This can often only be removed with an enema or a bowel opening and is very painful for your dog.
Ham bones for dogs – experiences from other dog owners
Many dog owners have tested ham bones. Very few are convinced of this and have left it at an attempt.
Serrano ham bones have come under particular criticism. The dog owners here complain about massive diarrhea in their dog even with a small bone.
Since dog owners shy away from further bad experiences with ham bones, in addition to experience reports, they are usually asked about alternatives to pigs.
Veal, beef or lamb bones are often recommended.
What bones are allowed for dogs?
Bone is not just bone and therefore there are big differences in suitability for your dog.
Generally you should bone from young animals use as Calf or lamb. These are softer and thinner than those of older animals. Here are particularly suitable Joint bones, ribs and sternum.
Poultry bones are only suitable for dogs to a limited extent. chicken or turkey necks you are welcome to give to your dog, while the pointed and splintering carcasses of roast or grilled chicken are absolutely taboo.
Danger!
It is important, as already mentioned, bones only raw to feed. Cooked bones become brittle and splinter easily. Cooking also depletes the bones of important minerals such as calcium lost.
As an alternative, the bones of all suitable animals are also available in air-dried form, specially made for dogs. These include dried bones from horses, game or small animals such as rabbits.
Conclusion
Ham bones are somewhat controversial in dogs. If your dog likes it and tolerates it, there is nothing wrong with it. Your dog shouldn’t be getting any more bones more than once or twice a week anyway.
If it’s ham bones, the air-dried form from the pet store is probably the best alternative.
With fresh bones, it is better to switch to veal or lamb bones.