Puppies and Sticks? Good, Bad, Normal?

Question

Hi!

I'm a new owner of a cute 3 month old black lab/blue tick hound puppy... a wonderful gift from my husband. I have never owned a dog before, so need advice. Here is my concern:

When I take my puppy out to go potty, he has a routine. He does his business, rolls around in the grass or dirt, then finds a stick to chew on. Big stick, small stick... any stick, puppy isn't picky.

I have been taking the sticks away from him because I'm afraid he will choke on it. I try to give him his chew toys, but Drew (my puppy) doesn't want the toy, he rather have a stick. I was really worried about the stick thing, so my husband went out yesterday and tried to remove all the fallen sticks/branches/twigs from the yard. But still, Drew always manages to find one that we missed (we have a ton of trees on our property, so it's not hard).

What should I do? Should I keep taking the sticks away from him? Or should I let him chew to his heart's content?

Thanks...
T.

Thanks Everyone for answering... :)

Answer 1

He will be just fine. It's better than him chewing on things in your home & the sticks will digest in his system (not block him up). The main things to worry about are rocks & rawhides. We've had to remove many of these items from dogs.
Have never had to remove a stick.

Answer 2

Good question! My dog is the same - she has no interest in the ball or chew toy if there is a stick around. I asked my vet, and he said to avoid it in case a small splintered piece gets stuck in her throat. However, my vet also said he discourages the use of raw bones, rawhide, Greenies, and just about every other item out there, so I guess you can't win!

I suppose it's a risk, just like all the other chew things. I let her chew them but I supervise it.

Another option is to buy him raw marrow bones from the butcher or pet store. Because they are raw, they're not prone to splintering or breaking. And I am sure your dog will pay more attention to that than sticks - our dog goes nuts for them and she gnaws on it for weeks.

Answer 3

Sorry but I don't agree with puppies and sticks. There are to many health and non dangerous chews that are available. I have 3 Bishons and they all really like the nylabones. They last a long time and they don't get stuck, they dont shred and they don't make them gag like some other chews do.
There are to many nasty things that could be on outdoor sticks and twigs. Do you really want that in your puppy's mouth?

Just my opinion,
Thanks D

Answer 4

You are right to have some consern with your puppy chewing sticks. I take them away from my dogs.

Many times the dogs will get the stick logded in their intestines with will NOT digegest only after a week or two. A week or two is engough time for that stick to cause irreputable damage, possibly causing lots of money to repain or sepsis and may lead to death.

Also I see alot of chewed sticks stuck in their mouths, puncturing the upper palate, and into the nasal pasage. (very costly surgery) Many have caused ulcers of the gums and esophogus from splinters.

You are very wise to take the sticks away, intead offer him a chew toy and praise him when he's chewing on it, and not the stick

VET TECH

Answer 5

Hmm, tough. My concern, more than the wood splintering would be that he'll develop the taste for wood and end up chowing down on the chair legs. He would not be the first to make that transition.
Talk to your vet about ideas, and talk to an obedience professional.. obedience classes are a good idea for every dog, especially if you are a first time dog owner.
Also, try chatting at a dog forum, where the people will actually know what they are talking about.. you'll get a lot of wonky answers here on yahoo!
Try http://www.dogforum.org
Good luck with your puppy, he sounds wonderful

Answer 6

I wouldn't let him chew on the sticks. I have seen many dogs come into the hospital with infections in their mouth, gums, or throat from splinters. We usually have to anesthetize the pet to remove it and put them on antibiotics.
One even worked its way through tissue and got lodged in the neck requiring surgery, and another lodged into a salivary gland requiring surgery.
I also have met several dogs who liked to chew on & carry rocks. Those usually end up with teeth that are worn to the pulp requiring extraction or surgery to remove the rock (that the owner swore was to big to swallow) from their stomach.
It's best to teach your puppy now that he is young what is not ok to chew on, it will be easier than paying a huge vet bill and trying to un-teach him as an adult. Remember in your "pack" you're the boss, and its best he learn it sooner than later.
Good luck and congrats on your new puppy :)

Answer 7

Most puppies and dogs like to much on sticks though there is the hazard of them swallowing them and it getting stuck in their throat. Try 1) Letting the puppy chew on the sticks (he is most likely teething) and just supervise closely and take away pieces that are too small. or 2) when you see your pup chewing on a stick take it away and immediately replace it with a different toy. Good Luck and Congrats on your Puppy!!

Answer 8

Sticks are ok for puppies. Just hope he does not develope a liking to rocks like my dogs. Sticks are soft enough for their teeth so they wont hurt themselves that way. And dont worry about Drew choking on the stick. Its not very likly for a dog to choke on what he is chewing. He will be just fine, so let him chew away all the sticks.

Congrats on your puppy. I bet he is gorgeous, Lab and Blue tick hound, Good combo.

Answer 9

Let him chew on sticks if he wants. The only problem I ever heard of was a dog getting a large splinter stuck in his mouth from one, but considering the amount of dogs chewing on sticks, seems like a pretty rare thing to happen. My dogs always chewed on sticks, nothing terrible happened to any of them. Sure beats eating rocks.

Answer 10

Chewing timber or sticks is undesirable for a doggy, not purely does this inspire destruction of timber products contained in the abode even if the canines may also conflict through from inner injuries from the timber. both major issues a canines chewing timber encounters are that they are going to in all probability get splinters of their mouth and that their body is unable to digest timber. Splinters can motel everywhere interior the digestive tract or mouth. in accordance to the canines proprietor "abode Veterinary education guide" timber splinters on the interior a canines body or mouth and reason painful abscess. There are non safe to eat not user-friendly bones that are counseled for doggies, they very last for years and the help with teething and protecting teeth sparkling. Fiber ropes also serve to sparkling and floss teeth, many canines relish gnawing on them and wearing them round.they are an impressive coaching device too. only flow via a puppy shop and get the doggies some issues which will be theirs and could not damage them to chew on. solid success with the doggies.

Answer 11

If you haven't tried one yet get a Kong, they are the red stuff-able rubber chew toys. I think they make one for puppies that is blue and is made out of a softer rubber. You can smear peanut butter of spray cheese on the inside and the dogs will work on them for ages!

Just PLEASE whether you let him chew on sticks or not DON'T throw them for him to play "fetch" with!! Think of it as running with scissors in your MOUTH!! There are tons of toys out there that are much safer to play with then a stick!!