07 Jul 2022

Choking Hazards for Dogs

Top line information and links to research explaining some how to choose chews and food that are appropriate for your dog.

All dogs eat slightly differently. The less chewing of the food a dog does, the more likely they are to swallow large pieces of a chew or toy, which could potentially cause trauma or choking. This factsheet is a general guideline and should only be treated as a starting point. If you are unsure about a product, please contact the manufacturer or your vet for more advise, before feeding to your pet.

Food, Treats and Chews

• Treats and chews come in a variety of types and sizes. It’s important to choose a chew that is the appropriate size and shape for your dog, and always closely supervise them when eating it. If you are unsure if a treat or chew is suitable for your dog, consult the packaging, the manufacturer or your vet.

• Some owners choose to feed their dogs raw bones. Smaller, softer bones, such as chicken wings or turkey necks are considered the easiest for healthy dogs to eat and digest.

• Larger, denser bones, such as beef ribs, are more difficult for dogs to eat. These larger bones should only be given to larger, more experienced dogs used to eating bones, otherwise the potential for problems such as tooth fractures, constipation and injury is higher.

• More specific advice on appropriate raw bone feeding choices for your pet can be found on the websites of reputable raw pet food companies, such as those that are members of UK Pet Food.

• Cooked bones are more likely to splinter than raw bones, as the cooking process makes them very dry and brittle. This can potentially increase the risk of injury, therefore giving cooked bones to dogs is generally not advised.

• Some dogs who gulp their food at mealtimes can also be victims of choking. For these types of dogs, a ‘slow bowl’ or ‘puzzle feeder’ can be recommended to slow down eating and encourage chewing. The addition of water to the food to soften it can also help prevent large morsels being inhaled.

Tips for choosing the right chew:
• Read the product’s label carefully.
• Buy from reputable retailers and manufacturers.
• Supervise your dog when they are given a treat or chew.

Toys

• When choosing toys for your dog, it’s important to consider your dog’s size and mouth type, to minimise the risk of them swallowing large pieces.

• When buying puppy toys, remember that your dog’s size will change, so some toys might become unsuitable as they grow.

• As toys age, they can also become more fragile and are more likely to break. Check your pet’s toys frequently to ensure that they are still safe for them to play with.

• If you have dogs of different sizes, always ensure the toys are large enough for the biggest dog not to choke.

• Sometimes it can be important to separate multidog households when playing with certain toys and also when feeding treats and chews, to prevent ‘resource-guarding’ behaviour and fighting between dogs.