Can dogs eat squirrel bones?

In this brief discussion, we will answer the question “can dogs eat squirrel bones?” We will also talk about are squirrel bones safe for dogs? Are squirrel bones healthy for dogs? 

Can dogs eat squirrel bones?

Yes, dogs can eat squirrel bones along with squirrel meat. Dogs are omnivores and it is their instinct to hunt. Dogs are known to hunt squirrels and eat them often with bones. But squirrel bones are a health hazard for dogs therefore, they should be kept away from dogs.

Are squirrel bones safe for dogs?

No, squirrel bones are not safe for dogs. If your dog hurts a squirrel himself and eats it, his chances of getting sick are low. However, if your dog eats the bones of a  squirrel that has been poisoned to death or that died due to natural causes and is rotting for some time, his chances of getting sick are very high. Eating poisoned or rotten squirrel bones can cause serious health consequences in dogs.

Are squirrel bones healthy for dogs?

No, squirrel bones are not healthy for dogs. Squirrel bones are not good for your dog’s health because they are difficult to digest. Moreover, they carry the risk of choking. 

Sharp squirrel bones can also damage your dog’s intestine which can further cause many serious health issues. This can cause gastrointestinal distress in dogs including severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

So far we have discussed whether dogs can eat squirrel bones and if they are safe and healthy for dogs. Now let us discuss the potential risks of feeding squirrel bones to dogs.

What are the potential risks of feeding squirrel bones to dogs?

Squirrels are not a safe food option for your dog. It is highly unhealthy and puts your dog at risk of serious health consequences. Here are some of the potential risks of eating squirrel bones:

• They are difficult to digest and can cause abdominal discomfort in dogs including stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
  
• Squirrel bones can become lodged in your dog’s throat which can result in serious consequences.
  
• Sharp squirrel bones can perforate your dog’s intestine causing serious damage which can result in severe pain and sometimes bleeding.
  
• Raw squirrel bones carry the risk of contamination with dangerous pathogens.
  

Can dogs eat cooked squirrel bones?

No, dogs cannot eat cooked squirrel bones. Cooked squirrels are much more brittle than the raw ones. Therefore, they carry the risk of choking. They can also damage your dog’s gastrointestinal tract which can prove to be fatal in many cases. Moreover, the risk of indigestion remains a concern since dogs’ stomachs are not able to digest squirrel bones.

Eating cooked bones might also cause mouth and tongue injuries. They can also cause intestinal blockage along with constipation and rectal bleeding. They also put dogs at risk of bacterial infections by puncturing the stomach walls.

Can dogs get Lyme disease from eating squirrel bones?

Yes, dogs can get Lyme disease from eating squirrel bones. Squirrels are mostly found in dense tree areas where ticks are fairly common. If your dog hunts a Lyme-infected squirrel and eats its bones with blood on them, your dog is likely to get Lyme disease as well. 

Lyme disease is considered very harmful for dogs because of its harmful effects on kidney and heart health. Lyme disease can cause kidney and heart failure in a very short period. Following are a few signs and symptoms of Lyme disease:

• Your dog can develop a fever
  
• Your dog might appear weak due to a loss of appetite
  
• Joint swelling and stiffness are also seen in dogs with Lyme disease.
  
• Limping can also be seen in infected dogs.

What to do if your dog eats squirrel bones?

If you suspect your dog has eaten a squirrel bone, monitor them for some time and look for signs of abdominal discomfort, choking, diarrhea or vomiting. If your dog shows any of the symptoms, take your dog to the vet and get him checked as soon as possible. 

It is also important to find out if your dog hunts that squirrel or if it is already dead. Because if it was dead due to poisoning, the poison can harm your dog as well. 

Moreover, if the squirrel died of natural causes and its bones had been rotten for some time, this can cause serious health consequences in dogs.

Conclusion

We answered the question “Can dogs eat squirrel bones? We also talked about Can dogs eat cooked squirrel bones? Can dogs get Lyme disease from eating squirrel bones? And what to do if your dog eats squirrel bones? 

References: 

https://benyfitnatural.co.uk/blogs/news/is-it-safe-to-feed-my-dog-raw-bones