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My dog ate old chicken and bones. Should I take her to the vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Our 9 mo. dog got into our trash and seems to have ingested chicken (maybe a few cups worth) and possibly the bones. We were not sure if it was originally raw or cooked, just that it was quite rancid smelling. Should we be watching and waiting out for certain symptoms or taking her to the emergency vet? Is it possible for her to contract and/or spread salmonella?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Tomasz Wnuk

Veterinarian

Published on August 21st, 2020

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You should monitor your dog at home for signs of vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, abdominal pain, lethargy. If you notice any of these symptoms you should take your dog to your local vets as an emergency. Typically, the symptoms of food intoxication commence within 2-6 hrs after ingestion. Inducing vomiting in dogs that ate bones is never recommended as it pose a risk of esophageal tear from the sharp bones. Salmonellosis is a potential risk after eating decomposing food, however, Salmonella infection is not common in dogs in general. Typically, the symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and fever.

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