Cooked bones, such as those from roasts or barbecues, lose their flexibility during cooking and become hard and brittle. When dogs chew them, these bones readily splinter into sharp pieces that can lodge in the throat, causing choking, or injure the mouth and gums. Worse, swallowed fragments may puncture the esophagus, stomach, or intestines, leading to life-threatening conditions like peritonitis (abdominal infection) that often requires emergency surgery. The ASPCA and veterinary experts strongly advise against giving any cooked bones to dogs. If you want to provide bones, use raw, meaty ones from appropriate sources (like large knuckles) under close supervision, but always consult your veterinarian first for personalized advice on safe treats and portion sizes to prevent digestive upset.