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In addition to all types of toys for dogs, cats and the 'little critters', we can assist you with toys that can be thrown and safely chewed on. Our Petstages Dogwood Mesuite is especially good for dogs that love sticks, as well as our Doog range. We can also help you with just about everything you need for your pets. Do have a look at our website at www.mcmac.co.za and don't hesitate to ask us any questions.
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Should Dogs Chew on Sticks and Wood?
Scotty Valadao - Friends of the Dog - Canine Behaviourist
I don’t know about you, but when I see a dog running gleefully after a stick that has been thrown, carrying it back in its mouth, or lying chewing on a stick, my blood runs cold!
For some reason, some dogs love to chew on sticks more than any other object. It could perhaps be that the dog associates the stick with walks and time with their human, or it could be the natural wood scent that comes from it – remember that a dog has very few taste buds compared to humans, but their sense of smell is enormous. They have approximately 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about 6 million in us humans. It could also be that they love the way that the stick pulls apart and they can really get stuck into it., plus dogs love to retrieve things and to chew on them – it’s part of their natural behaviour.
Lucky for the dogs that are still chasing and chewing on stick, nothing un-towards has occurred to date, or I am sure their owners would have stopped the practice immediately.
This article is aimed at dogs that are not chewing in an excessive or obsessive manner. If your dog is an excessive or obsessive chewer, and the tips lower down do not help, please get in professional assistance, as other modifications may need to be brought in.
Another point is that if your dog is only chewing when you are out, you could have an element of separation anxiety occurring.
So, what can go wrong: -
So, what can you do instead?
For some reason, some dogs love to chew on sticks more than any other object. It could perhaps be that the dog associates the stick with walks and time with their human, or it could be the natural wood scent that comes from it – remember that a dog has very few taste buds compared to humans, but their sense of smell is enormous. They have approximately 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about 6 million in us humans. It could also be that they love the way that the stick pulls apart and they can really get stuck into it., plus dogs love to retrieve things and to chew on them – it’s part of their natural behaviour.
Lucky for the dogs that are still chasing and chewing on stick, nothing un-towards has occurred to date, or I am sure their owners would have stopped the practice immediately.
This article is aimed at dogs that are not chewing in an excessive or obsessive manner. If your dog is an excessive or obsessive chewer, and the tips lower down do not help, please get in professional assistance, as other modifications may need to be brought in.
Another point is that if your dog is only chewing when you are out, you could have an element of separation anxiety occurring.
So, what can go wrong: -
- As the dog pounces on the stick after chasing it, the stick can impact either the roof of the mouth or the gum. If the stick un-lodges by itself, the dog may be left with the open wound, which the owner may not notice as it happened so quickly, and which could become infected.
- Small splinters can become impacted in the gum or between the teeth, as above, and result in infections or ulcers, often requiring surgery.|
- A splinter of the stick can become lodged across the roof of the gum. As dogs do not tend to show pain unless very severe, the owner may not notice that there is a problem, unless the dog is pawing at its mouth to try to dislodge.
- Small splinters can also become lodged in the respiratory tract, which could lead to a build-up of bacteria, which could result in illness.
- If the dog swallows some of the stick, it could result in intestinal blockages.
- Some trees, such as the Bell tree (white cedar), apple trees, avocado, red maple and black walnut are apparently toxic to dogs, and some of the pine varieties can cause irritation.
- If the dog is chewing on furniture or skirting boards for example, apart from the damage that is being cause to the item, the wood could have been treated with chemical, which could cause illness.
So, what can you do instead?
- Apart from chewing being a natural behaviour, it also helps a dog to de-stress and provides mental entertainment and helps to lower frustration. Ensure that your dog is receiving a good deal of physical, mental and social stimulation - we have given you a link to an article at the bottom.
- Management – never throw an actual stick for your dog – rather look for other items that can be easily thrown such as any of the DOOG range, which are great for throwing and many of them look like sticks – however they are not for the professional chewer.
- In the event the dog is off lead, teach a solid recall and leave cue.
- For the dog that is a “stickaholic”, replace the natural stick with a top-quality dog stick toy that contains the natural wood flavour. Our favourite is the Petstages Dogwood chewing toy. It won’t splinter, can be chewed, and does not contain any nasty chemicals, and it looks like a natural stick.
- Experiment with other top-quality toys that can be chewed and thrown (if the throwing side is important to your dog). Other favourites we have for chewing is any of the chew toys, especially those that can be stuffed.
- Use management – pick up any sticks that have fallen from trees in your garden, and if you do have a tree that drops dried stick often, consider fencing this area off.
- Keep your dog on lead in the park if there are trees around, and look for areas where there are fewer trees, or keep away from them.
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