Swallowed Chicken Bone; Is This Anything to Worry About? Complete Explanation!

By - Haleema Sadia

Almost every person has an experience of accidentally swallowing an object anytime during their life. Sometimes, the swallowed object gets stuck badly in the gastrointestinal tract and becomes a medical emergency. And sometimes it just passes out in stool without doing any harm to your body. But, have you ever swallowed a chicken bone?

We come across a lot of questions like, I swallowed chicken bone, Is it a medical emergency?

Well, it depends upon the size and sharpness of a chicken bone that you swallowed. Also, it depends on the location of the bone inside the body. It also depends on whether it is stuck in there or has passed out in the stool. The acid inside your stomach can digest most objects including small bones but sometimes swallowing a chicken bone becomes a medical emergency.

In this article, we will learn about how to remove a chicken bone if it gets stuck somewhere and when to see a doctor.

Symptoms of Swallowing a Chicken Bone

Sometimes, it happens that you accidentally swallow a chicken bone but you don’t feel it.  In this condition,  you may experience its after-effects in the form of a few symptoms. Although the symptoms can differ in different individuals, the common symptoms of swallowing a chicken bone are as under:

If you experience such symptoms after eating any chicken dish, it is most likely that you swallowed a chicken bone accidentally. But there is nothing to get worried about. There are a lot of solutions to this common problem until it doesn’t get stuck anywhere in your throat or esophagus.

Swallowed a Chicken Bone, How to Know Where Exactly it is?

Swallowing a chicken bone is a common problem, so there is no need to panic. If you swallow a chicken bone, stay calm and try to feel where the bone is irritating. You have to feel, whether it is present in your throat or has passed through it.

If you can feel the bone prickling inside your throat, it means that the swallowed chicken bone is stuck in your throat. In this condition, you may also face difficulty in breathing and swallowing. 

On the other hand, if there is no difficulty in breathing and you can swallow easily, it means that the bone has passed down in your throat. In this case, it might be difficult for you to pronounce the letter ‘H’. Now, the swallowed chicken bone may be stuck in the esophagus.

If the bone is inside the esophagus, you may feel a shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. If You’re normal, it means that the bone has passed down to the stomach. Now there are two possibilities. It is most likely that the acid in your stomach will dissolve the piece of bone. Or it will pass out on the stool.

But in a few unfortunate cases, the bone can Pierce the stomach walls or can make perforations in the intestine. This is a medical emergency and you immediately need to consult your doctor.

Swallowed Chicken Bone, What to Do? Are there any home remedies?

Yes, there are a lot of home remedies if you swallow a sharp piece of chicken bone. There are a lot of ways through which you can help the bone to pass through the gastrointestinal tract. Following are some common home remedies to remove a chicken bone, if you swallow it.

Marshmallows

Marshmallows can help a lot in dislodging the bone if it gets stuck anywhere in your throat or esophagus. If you feel like your bone is stuck and it is hurting, you can swallow a marshmallow without chewing it. The bone can stick with it and pass out of the body.

Olive oil

If the chicken bone gets stuck in your throat, olive oil is the best home remedy. Swallow a tablespoon of olive oil. It will provide lubrication and the bone will pass down your throat.

Bananas

If you swallow a chicken bone, and you want it to pass out in the stool immediately. Eating bananas is the best way. Eat a lot of bananas until you feel an urge to poop. Chicken bone will pass out in your stool.

Bread and Water

Bread and water can mix up in the stomach and the mixture can stick the chicken bone with it and then the bone passes through the intestines and finally comes out through the rectum in feces. So, eat whole bread and drink enough water to dislodge the bone.

Soda

People have been using soda for a lot of purposes including the digestion of swallowed objects. The carbonation properties of any see bone. So, drinking coke can help a lot if you swallow a chicken bone and your throat hurts.

Vinegar

Vinegar contains acetic acid that can help in dissolving chicken bone. So, in case of swallowing a bone accidentally, dilute some vinegar with water and drink it. The symptoms of discomfort will soon disappear.

Bread and Peanut Butter

Peanut butter provides lubrication and can help in dislodging the bone. If the chicken bone gets stuck in your throat or esophagus, eat bread with peanut butter. This will help the bone pass out in the stool.

Swallowed Chicken Bone During Pregnancy, What to do?

If you swallow a chicken bone and you’re pregnant, there is nothing to worry about. Wait until the bone passes out in the stool. Following any of the home remedies that can work out to remove the chicken bone from your body.

If the chicken bone piece was sharp and it is hurting anywhere in the stomach or intestine, it is important to consult your doctor. The doctor can suggest any treatment or medicine to remove the bone out of your throat or esophagus.

My Dog Swallowed Chicken Bone, What to Do?

It is very normal for dogs to swallow bones as they eat bones along with the meat. The problem is if the dog swallowed a sharp piece of chicken bone. It can hurt the stomach or can perforate the intestines. Mostly, the bone can dissolve inside the acid in the stomach. You can also examine the stool for the presence of chicken bone. But immediately consult a vet if the following symptoms appear.

These symptoms can be an indication that your dog is in serious trouble and needs medical care immediately.

My Toddler Swallowed Chicken Bone, What to Do?

If it was only a small piece of chicken bone, then it’s totally fine and will pass out on its own. If it is not hurting your child, just leave it to pass out with feces.

However, if the piece of bone was sharp enough and it is hurting the child, you should immediately seek medical care. A doctor can remove the piece of bone from the throat, esophagus, or stomach depending upon where it is.

Swallowed Chicken Bone, Should I See a Doctor?

If you have swallowed a chicken bone, there might be a need to see a doctor. Immediately consult your doctor if you’re facing any of the following problems.

FAQs

Question: what happens if you swallow a chicken bone?

If you swallow a chicken bone accidentally, and it has passed down your stomach, it is not a big issue. As the hydro hydrochloric acid in the stomach is enough to dissolve a very small piece of bone. But sometimes, the bone might get stuck in the throat or esophagus.

Question: Can your stomach dissolve a chicken bone?

Yes, your stomach can dissolve chicken bone. It is a natural process in which the stomach produces acid for the digestion of food. The same is the case with the chicken bone. But sometimes the bone is sharp and it can damage the stomach walls.

Question: Can swallowing a chicken bone hurt you?

Yes, if the bone piece was sharp, it can hurt you. The sharp edge of the bone can Pierce your throat or it can make perforations in the intestine that can further lead to intestinal ulcers. It can also cause gastric ulcers.

Bottom Line

If you swallowed a chicken bone accidentally while eating chicken, it might or might not be a medical emergency. First of all, stay calm and check if the bone is hurting anywhere. If you’re normal, there is no need to panic, the bone will pass out in the stool.

If the bone is hurting somewhere in your throat or intestine or if you are facing difficulty in breathing and swallowing, follow a home remedy. If it doesn’t work, immediately consult your doctor and seek medical attention.