Reduced bone toughness, the energy absorption capacity of the tissue, has been consistently documented in vertebrae of animals treated with a wide range of bisphosphonate doses. Data regarding toughness changes in the rib are conflicting with one report showing no effect and another showing a significant reduction following treatment of beagle dogs with high doses of bisphosphonates. The goal of this study was to evaluate changes in bone toughness and various other tissue-level properties of the rib following three years of bisphosphonate treatment with doses at and above those used to treat osteoporosis. Skeletally mature intact beagle dogs were treated daily for three years with vehicle (VEH), alendronate 0.2 mg/kg/day (ALN0.2), or alendronate 1.0 mg/kg/day (ALN1.0). The lower ALN dose approximates, on a mg/kg basis, that used for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with the higher dose being 5x higher. Ribs were assessed for biomechanical properties, bone turnover rate, microdamage, density, and geometry. Toughness was significantly lower with ALN1.0 (-33%), but not ALN0.2 (-19%), compared to VEH while neither ultimate stress nor modulus differed among groups. Bone density, geometry, and structural biomechanical properties were similar among the three groups. There was no significant difference in overall microdamage accumulation among groups. Intracortical bone formation rate was significantly lower than VEH in both ALN groups (-69 to -90%). These data show that while rib cortical bone experiences significant reductions in turnover following bisphosphonate treatment, it is only in animals treated with doses above those used to treat osteoporosis that toughness is significantly compromised.