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My dog ate rotisserie chicken and rib bones. What should I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My dog ate half a rotisserie chicken and 3 rib bones

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 5th, 2017

Poor dog. Unfortunately bones have the potential to cause intestinal obstruction in pets, so you want to monitor him/her for he next 24-48 hrs for signs of trouble. The rotisserie chicken can also cause an acute inflammatory response of the pancreas (pancreatitis), so monitoring for that is also advised. Watch out for signs that include: excessive vomiting (even water), lack of appetite, and abdominal pain. If you see these symptoms then your pet should seek medical attention by your local vet immediately for a proper care. In the meantime you should feed your pet a bland diet of plain boiled chicken and rice or cottage cheese to help the stomach settle. You can also offer your pet 1/2-1 slice of bread (depending on the size of your pet) twice a day to help bind the bones and encourage passage through the gut. Also taking your pet on 20-30 minute brisk walks twice a day can help promote GI (gastrointestinal) motility and encourage passage of the bones as wel. I hope this helps and I hope that your furry friend turns out ok. Best of luck!

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20Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Your dog is likely to not feel very well in the next 48 hours, obviously the bones could be a real life threatening issue if they block or puncture the intestines, you will need to keep a very close eye on him, if he starts vomiting or if he is lethargic- take him to the vet right away.

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    14Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 11th, 2017

    Yes, this is a common occurrence with dogs and for the most part they do just fine. Since it may be a bit more rich than he is used to, it could cause him to vomit or have diarrhea within the next couple of days. If he ate the bones too, then there is always a concern that they can get stuck in the throat, stomach or intestines; but again, most dogs will have no problems. The last thing I worry about is pancreatitis, which can be brought on with high-fat meals. There is nothing you can do about it now, but here are some things to watch for: 1) Blue is acting very depressed. 2) Vomits more than three times in a 24 hour period. 3) Has blood in his stool. If you see any of those, then you should take him to the vet. For now, just stay optimistic. If you don't see any problems after three days, then there's a good chance there will be no negative side effects.

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    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 28th, 2018

    Oh dear, poor Luna! Cooked chicken bones are prone to splintering, which can cause internal bleeding, perforation of the stomach or intestines, or a foreign body obstruction. Inducing vomiting in these situations is rarely recommended since the bones are likely to cause more harm on the way out. You can try feeding Luna some plain bread to essentially “pad” the bones and allow them to be digested. Eating half a pound of the rotisserie chicken meat could also cause stomach upset or pancreatitis since the rotisserie meat contains a fair amount of oil and seasoning. Over the next few days, closely monitor Luna for signs of lethargy, vomiting or diarrhea (particularly if any blood is present), or a loss of appetite. Black or tarry vomit or stool can also indicate the presence of digested blood. If you observe any of these changes, take Luna to her vet immediately for evaluation. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

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    3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 13th, 2018

    Hello, sorry to hear about Buddy. Chicken bones can be digested by dogs readily, however, they may still cause irritation and inflammation of the GI tract. Monitor for any vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite or lethargy and have Buddy evaluated by a veterinarian if you note any of these. You can offer an extra regular meal or bread to help protect the GI tract from the bone as it passes, but this may also cause a delay in the digestion. Otherwise, Buddy can continue his normal life style. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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