Rise of the paleo pooches! Dog owners are feeding their pets platters of luxury raw meats in new TikTok trend – but vets warn it could prove DEADLY

A growing social media trend sees dog owners feed their pets raw meat on the bone – but vets warn it could prove deadly. 

Viral videos on TikTok and Instagram show canines being offered various cuts on platters, including chicken carcasses, goose necks, duck wings and lamb heads. 

In the popular clips, the exceptionally–trained dogs wait for the signal from their master before devouring each one.

Often in less than a minute, the drooling mutts completely clear their plates accompanied by bone–crunching sound effects.

However, veterinarians now warn raw bones shouldn’t be given to dogs – regardless of how big or small the cuts of meat are. 

Raw bones can cause choking, tooth fractures, gastrointestinal blockage or perforation, and bacterial contamination – while cooked bones are even worse. 

‘Raw bones can cause blockages in the stomach or intestines,’ Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux, senior vice president of the British Veterinary Association, told the Daily Mail. 

‘And as with raw meat, they can pose a potential disease risk in dogs.’ 

Humans have long given their dogs bones to gnaw on, while the famous phrase ‘give a dog a bone’ dates back at least 200 years. 

But despite what social media videos are suggesting, vets have valid concerns about bones, describing them as unsafe and not even a necessary part of a dog’s diet. 

Cooked bones are the biggest danger because they are harder and become brittle, which is why you should be very careful giving dogs your leftover Christmas dinner.

Raw bones aren’t generally considered safe either as they can splinter too. 

After being crunched and swallowed, sharp pieces can perforate the stomach or intestines, which can be a life–threatening emergency. 

‘While cooked bones are certainly not safe for dogs, neither are all raw bones and there is always a risk when giving a dog any type of bone,’ says Doncaster Veterinary Hospital in a statement. 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also among the authorities saying uncooked butcher–type bones are dangerous. 

Carmela Stamper, veterinarian at the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said: ‘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.’ 

Meanwhile, Dr Brian Collins at Cornell University’s hospital for animals, said he discourage pet owners ‘from giving bones, antlers or hooves of any kind’. 

According to University of Sydney experts, raw bones can also cause constipation if pets aren’t used to eating them. 

Other raw bones such as leftover steak bones with a lot of fat or gristle can be overly fatty and trigger a painful inflammation of the pancreas. 

What’s more, even when raw flesh has been taken from the bone, dogs are still at risk of health complications when eating meat that’s not cooked. 

Raw chicken meat can be a source of certain kinds of bacteria that can lead to gastrointestinal salmonella infections for dogs as well as humans.

‘We don’t encourage feeding a raw diet due to the increased risk of bacterial infections such as E. coli, Campylobacter and Listeria, for both people and dogs,’ Lauren Bennett, RSPCA scientific and policy officer, told the Daily Mail. 

‘These infections can be particularly serious for people and dogs who are pregnant, older or immune compromised. 

‘Those who choose to feed raw diets should be aware of the risks and remain vigilant with their hygiene, and if giving raw or cooked bones, monitor pets closely so they can spot the signs of choking, in case they get stuck or cause damage to the throat and digestive system. 

‘Before making any changes to a pet’s diet, owners must always speak to their vet.’ 

Of course, dogs love to chew to relieve boredom and anxiety, relieve the pain of teething and exercise jaw muscles. 

Instead of giving them bones to gnaw on, American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends dried, chewy cuts of meat and ‘dental bones’ mostly made of proteins, or even carrots raw or cooked.

In a statement, AKC’s chief veterinarian told the Daily Mail: ‘The majority of veterinarians, including the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) do not advise feeding bones of any form to your dog. 

‘Feeding dogs raw bones has many advocates for their nutritional needs, to prevent boredom and for dental health.

‘However, raw bones, though more malleable, can still splinter, lodge in the throat, plus they have the chance of bacterial contamination (Salmonella, E. coli) which can harm pets. 

‘These bacteria will still be present in a dog’s stool, so caution owners when cleaning up after their dogs.’ 

Owners who insist on feeding their pups raw bones should at least do so while the animal is under constant supervision. 

If unsure, owners should discuss their dog’s diet with a vet to ensure the animal is fulfilling their dietary needs.  

‘If owners feed their dog raw bones, we would recommend they speak to their veterinary surgeon to understand the risks and to only do so as part of a balanced diet,’ added Dr Mullineaux. 

‘Handling raw meat and bones can also have risks for human health, so good hand and surface hygiene are extremely important when doing so.’