What should you do if your dog eats turkey bones?

Thanksgiving is here and for a lot of us that might mean turkey on the table. Whether you are cooking a whole turkey or not, one thing we should always be mindful of as pet parents is the scraps and bones.

While we might try to keep our dogs away from things that are harmful to them, that doesn't mean that they don't find ways to get into trouble. So what happens if your dog ends up getting into the trash or snagging the turkey off the table?

What do you do if your dog ends up eating turkey bones? We decided to ask some experts for advice so that we could help you in case this actually does happen this holiday season. So what did the experts have to say?

What do you need to know if your dog eats turkey bones?

Up first, we have an answer from Jessica Apted from Sploot Veterinary Care, who shared that, "turkey bones can splinter and pose a serious risk to dogs. If your dog eats turkey bones, monitor for signs of choking, vomiting, or abdominal pain. Contact your vet immediately for advice. They may recommend bringing your dog in for an examination or an X-ray to check for any obstructions or injury in the digestive tract."

Lorraine Rhoads, the Director of Health and Safety at Dogtopia, also shared what we should do if our dogs end up eating turkey bones on Thanksgiving Day (or any day of the year). "First, don't panic—save the turkey drama for the dinner table! Turkey bones can splinter and cause serious issues, so keep an eye on your dog for signs like vomiting, lethargy, or trouble pooping. If you notice anything concerning, call your vet ASAP. In the meantime, remind your dog that turkey bones are off the menu for a reason (and keep them out of reach next time)!"

Essentially, we need to be paying attention to our dogs. They could be fine, but we should also monitor them if we think they actually ate these small bones. And if we notice a change in their behavior, we should immediately contact our veterinarian's office.

Things happen and we understand that. So if we can help to alleviate some of the potential stress, that is what we want to do. And luckily we have experts who are also here to help us strop from panicking unnecessarily.