Can Dogs Have Ham Bones?

It is not safe for dogs to consume ham bones. These table scraps present serious hazards to your canine’s health, with consequences ranging from an upset stomach to organ damage.

While there is technically nothing dangerous about your pup simply gnawing on a bone if it remains whole, your dog’s teeth can splinter them into sharp pieces, which (when swallowed) can cause choking, damage their mouths, or puncture their internal organs. Cooked ham bones break even more easily than raw ones, meaning that the leftover scraps from a prepared cut of meat can be especially hazardous.

Avoid letting your dog chew on any type of bone unless they are under constant supervision. Always consult a veterinarian before incorporating any human food into your pup’s diet.

Regardless of your dog’s size or breed, eating ham bones can have unwanted consequences, such as:

1. 1. Blocked intestines: Splintered bones can get stuck in your dog’s GI tract and cause intestinal obstruction, leading to blood flow issues that require surgery to fix.
2. 2. Choking: Chewed-up ham bone can splinter into small pieces and become a choking hazard, potentially obstructing your dog’s airway.
   
3. 3. Internal damage: Sharp bone pieces can perforate your dog’s internal organs and gastrointestinal tract, causing complications such as internal bleeding. They can also puncture your dog’s abdomen, leading to peritonitis, which requires surgery to fix if they develop a bacterial infection.
4. 4. Mouth damage: Chewing a real bone can wear down your dog’s teeth, impacting their dental health over time. Additionally, the small pieces of bone that break off when your dog chews them can also cut their mouth and cause pain.
5. 5. Upset stomach: Due to its high-fat content, eating a ham bone can make your dog’s stomach upset, leading to side effects like lethargy, diarrhea, and vomiting. Feeding them too much ham can lead to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

If your dog eats ham bones, follow these step-by-step instructions.

1. 1. Call a veterinarian. Call your vet immediately if your dog has eaten a ham bone or you suspect they consumed one recently. Bone splinters can cause extreme damage, so it’s wise to use an abundance of caution. The veterinary professional will be able to tell you what to do next.
2. 2. Monitor your dog for side effects. It is possible that most—or all—of the ham bone pieces will pass through your dog without complications. However, if there are issues, you will need to explain your dog’s symptoms to your veterinarian. If your dog experiences vomiting, dark stool, or diarrhea, immediately take them to a veterinarian.
3. 3. Feed them bread and pumpkin. Some foods will help relieve your dog's side effects. Bread will help sharp bone fragments pass through their digestive system. Pumpkin, or other squash, will help soothe their stomach pain and aid digestion.

Certain human foods can cause adverse reactions in canines, so always consult your veterinarian to determine whether it is safe to add these foods to your dog’s diet. This article is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

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