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Is it safe for my puppy to chew bones, and what type is recommended?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 1 month and 25 days old

My puppy is only 8 weeks old. At what age can I introduce a dog bone?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on March 25th, 2018

I personally never recommend giving dogs bones. They too often break teeth, and can and do lead to obstructions in the GI tract. Now there are rubber bones that Stormy can chew on, and you can give her one designed specifically for puppies. They are a bit softer and will help her when she starts teething in a couple of months. The Kong brand has a great range of puppy rubber bones, and I would get her one of those from a pet store. Just make sure to watch her when she chews on it to make sure she doesn't bite off and swallow any parts. Best of luck!

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    Answered By Mara Howard, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 21st, 2018

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Chewing is a normal but frustrating part of puppy development. I do not recommend rawhides or dogbones for puppies, as they can cause an upset tummy or large pieces can get swallowed and cause a GI obstruction. A great option for chewing puppies are ice cubes. You can mix together water and a small amount of low sodium chicken broth to give them flavoring, which are great options for chewing! Kong toys or other rubber toys are a great option, and they can be filled with peanut butter or spray cheese, then put in the freezer o allow them to last longer. Puzzle toys (such as busy buddy, etc) can also be great options. Good luck!

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    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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