Although most pet owners assume it's safe to give their pets a bone to chew on, the US Food and Drug Administration recently called it a "dangerous practice" that can cause injuries to pets.
"Bones are unsafe no matter what their size," said Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA . "Giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to your veterinarian's office later, possible emergency surgery, or even death."
The FDA listed 10 reasons to not give a pet a bone, including broken teeth, mouth/tongue injuries, blocked windpipe and infections.
"There are many bone-like products made with materials that are safe for dogs to chew on," Stamper said.
Feature
By Lindsay Beaton
Pet food safety is top-of-mind all along the production line, and everything from the ingredients to the equipment must offer solutions.
Feature
By Debbie Phillips-Donaldson
Many hours, efforts, dollars and brainpower go into pet food companies’ and regulatory bodies’ efforts to ensure that products on the market are safe and healthy for pets.