Dog eats sticks, is it ok ?

[Skrowten]

My collie x likes to chew on and partly digest bits of tree/sticks. Is this ok or very bad for him?

My 2 year old dog eats sticks, leaves, cigarettes...I have given up worrying the more I protest the more fun she finds it

It's very difficult to manage. If they chew, they chew. The only way to avoid it is a muzzle and who wants that?
Our dog was hyper-salivating and the vet found a 4 inch stick wedged sideways up in her soft palate. She needed a general anaesthetic to remove it. He said if left, it could have caused a brain infection.
We can only be vigilant!

Dangerous due to splinters in mouth or if they swallow, try to discourage if you can

Our dog is a terror for this. She finds a stick and will actually lie down to have a good old chew. If we take it from her she then starts leaping up and down to get it back, so we distract her and throw it away, only for her to go and find another one!

I've heard all sorts of horror stories about chewing sticks but there are so many other things that can happen I just hope for the best.

My dog does this and i do try and stop her. Two days ago I noticed she was jumping about and gagging.

She had a twig stuck in the roof of her mouth. Took a while to get it out.

I just wanted to tell you so's you can keep an eye on your dog. I'm so glad I was there!

This is our dog and her pal both arguing over a particular stick. The place is full of them, but no, they both want this stick!

Sticks are very dangerous for dogs.If you are brave google stick injuries and look at some of the images.

However having a stick chewer is great because they can be diverted really easily.

If they like chewing sticks, nylabones are good as are stag bars.

If they like holding sticks on walks then you can substitute with the kong safestix - these come in various sizes. Best to have more than one as dogs usually want the one you are holding!

here they do look a bit like a sex toy though

As a teen I threw a stick for our collie, went done her throat and out through her neck.

Wasn't pretty.
Or cheap.
Rubber sticks are fab!!

Our vet is very anti-sticks for dogs after giving surgery to so many of them.

My dog also likes to chew sticks but unfortunately for her I don't allow her to after she swallowed bark from a stick she was chewing and was seriously sick afterwards.

Then of course there's the danger of injury from splinters and bits of wood sticking in their throat or gut.

Coffeewood dog chew sticks are the way forward

My dog does enjoy chewing them up and spitting out (most of) the resulting chunks of wood. Taking them off him means that he will think there's a game of fetch about to start, and putting it down means he will start chewing again.

However, I don't throw sticks for him on dry land - I've heard too many horror stories of dogs catching them in mid air and having throats etc. punctured. I do throw them for him when he's going for a swim as (a) the stick will always land before he gets there and (b) I want something disposable as eventually he gets tired and refuses to retrieve the stick, so I'd be going out and buying a new toy every week or wading in to save a fiver

Like @cannotthinkofaname I pick my battles and hope for the best - and while I try to minimise the risk, I can't wrap him up in cotton wool.