There are many varying opinions between dog experts as to whether bones should be given to a dog raw, cooked, hard, or soft and even whether they should be given at all. The one unanimous opinion among all experts is that you should NEVER give a dog splintering bones from chicken, pork, fowl or rabbit. These bones can splinter off, get caught in your dogs throat and cause death.
Marrow bones are the common symbol of a treat for a dog, and all dogs generally love chewing on these. You need to be careful that the size of bone you are giving is the correct size for your dog. Large breeds will handle bones much easier than small dog breeds. Bones that are mostly cartilage such as shoulder, knuckle and soft rib bones are good chewing material and can be consumed entirely without problems.
The real danger of consuming bones is in the possible intestinal compaction that can occur. This occurs more frequently in small dogs such as French Bulldogs if the chewed bone has not been mixed with other digestible material in your dog’s stomach. A small amount shouldn’t cause any trouble if it is given after a meal. However, pork chop and steak bones can be dangerous especially if your dog is anxious and tries to eat the meat and fat off too quickly. If they do this they run the risk of bone splinters causing intestinal injury.
The best policy to follow with your French Bulldog is as follows:
A teething puppy should always be given a bone, either real or imitation, to chew on. An adult dog can have a suitable bone, either real or imitation as an occasional treat perhaps once per week. It will give them enormous pleasure and will also help keep teeth clean and free of tartar. Remember, nylon bones offer the same advantages of real bones without any health risks!
