“It seems swallowing live animals completely WHOLE (bones and all) doesn’t seem to bother them on the exit end. “
Stomach acid dissolves bones. Remember the guy with the monkey who comes into the bar? The monkey takes a maraschino cherry and jams it up its butt. He then eats the cherry. It’s because last time he swallowed a Q ball. Now he checks everything for fit.
Drop the golf ball in a bottle of Coke. Or a penny.
Then remember that your stomach acids are much, much stronger.