"Giving your dog a bone treat might lead to an unexpected trip to your veterinarian, a possible emergency surgery, or even death for your pet," veterinarian Carmela Stamper said in a statement. The Food and Drug Administration is warning pet owners of the risks involved with dog bones, especially with the upcoming holiday season where treats may be offered as gifts. FDA has received about 68 reports of pet illnesses related to "bone treats,” which differ from uncooked butcher-type bones because they are processed and packaged for sale as dog treats. A variety of commercially-available bone treats for dogs—including treats described as “Ham Bones,” “Pork Femur Bones,” “Rib Bones,” and “Smokey Knuckle Bones”—were listed in the reports. The "bone treats," regularly sold in stores nationwide, are described as different from uncooked butcher-type bones because they are processed, either by drying or baking, and may contain other ingredients like preservatives, seasonings and smoke flavorings. According to Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at the FDA, “Giving your dog a bone treat might lead to an unexpected trip to your veterinarian, a possible emergency surgery, or even death for your pet.” 
 
 Illnesses Reported 
 
 Illnesses reported to FDA by owners and veterinarians in dogs that have eaten bone treats have included: 
 
 Gastrointestinal obstruction (blockage in the digestive tract) 
 
 Choking 
 
 Cuts and wounds in the mouth or on the tonsils 
 
 Vomiting 
 
 Diarrhea 
 
 Bleeding from the rectum, and/or 
 
 Death. In addition, FDA received seven reports of product problems, such as moldy-appearing bones, or bone treats splintering when chewed by the pet. Tips to Keep Your Dog Safe 
 
 Here are some tips to keep your dog safe: 
 
 Chicken bones and other bones from the kitchen table can cause injury when chewed by pets, too. According to WCMH, the FDA is also advising pet owners to avoid giving dogs chicken, turkey or steak bones, and to be careful about allowing them to reach them in the kitchen or trash cans. “We recommend supervising your dog with any chew toy or treat, especially one she hasn’t had before,” adds Stamper.
– Before you stuff Fido's stocking with edible treats this holiday season, you might want to check the Food and Drug Administration's latest announcement. Per Syracuse.com, the "bone treats" dog owners pick up in the supermarket or pet store could be a health hazard for our four-legged friends. This is based on reports submitted to the FDA that indicate about 90 dogs have been sickened, with at least 15 deaths, after gnawing on these commercially prepared items, which the agency didn't ID by brand. The reports, sent in by both pet owners and veterinarians, said some of the medical issues have included digestive blockages, choking, diarrhea, vomiting, and cuts and other injuries in the mouth. Seven reports focused on product issues: treats that splintered upon being chewed as well as "moldy-appearing bones." "We recommend supervising your dog with any chew toy or treat, especially one she hasn't had before," an FDA veterinarian says in the agency's warning. The agency notes these types of treats differ from regular bones in that they're often baked or smoked to dry them out, and that they may contain seasonings, preservatives, and "smoke flavorings." But it's not just store-bought bone treats dog owners should be wary of. The FDA warning says it's also important to keep pups away from chicken bones and other bones you may have cooked with, as they can cause injury as well. The notice advises to keep food dishes out of reach of curious canines sniffing around the table, as well as to make sure they don't get into the trash to dig any bones out.