Why Does Your Dog Eat Sticks? And How to Curb the Behavior · Kinship Leave a comment

Sooner or later in your canine’s life — most likely ahead of later — you’ll discover them chewing on a stick. Chewing on non-food gadgets is pretty regular, instinctive conduct, particularly for puppies (cue a lament in your favourite pair of Birkenstocks). It retains canine busy and helps them expend power. 

Extra particularly, canine might chew on sticks when teething, bored, in search of consideration, or struggling a dietary deficiency. Nonetheless, this conduct isn’t secure and veers into harmful territory when your pet or canine begins consuming sticks. 

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Michelle Baker, founding father of, and canine conduct specialist at,  Furkids Inc. (a canine daycare and enrichment heart), says that though your canine carrying the occasional stick may appear innocent, the truth is that sticks can pose severe medical dangers. “Sharp edges can puncture gums. Splinters can get lodged within the throat,” Baker says. “And if swallowed, items of wooden could cause intestinal blockages or inside accidents.” 

That is why it’s vital to grasp the rationale behind why your canine is consuming sticks. As soon as you identify the trigger, yow will discover methods to redirect the conduct in direction of one thing much less harmful.  

Can canine eat sticks?

Most canine can and can eat sticks. However ought to they? No. Consuming sticks can result in severe points, resembling inside accidents and intestinal blockages. The excellent news is that when you determine the rationale why your canine is exhibiting this doubtlessly harmful conduct, you possibly can learn to discourage it. 

5 explanation why your canine is consuming sticks

Pure intuition

Puppies exploring their atmosphere will eat sticks and different non-food gadgets (resembling grime and rocks) out of curiosity. To most canine, the form and texture of sticks mimic bones and toys. “Canines discover the world with their eyes, nostril, and — most significantly — their mouths,” Baker says. “Sticks, being conveniently scattered throughout yards and parks, make for easy-to-grab pure toys that many canine discover irresistible. Not solely do they supply an outlet for play, however chewing can even assist relieve nervousness. Whether or not it’s a teething five-month-old pet or a senior canine wired by the neighbor’s residence renovation venture, chewing on a stick can really feel like a type of self-soothing.”

Teething

Teething puppies, particularly, benefit from the texture of sticks to appease their aching gums. From six weeks to 6 months of age, puppies slowly lose their child enamel as their everlasting enamel begin erupting. The method causes discomfort and ache, which triggers their intuition to chew on something they discover. 

Colby Julien — a pet guardian, canine behaviorist, and canine coach at Geo-Sniffing (an interactive scent-pod discovery sport for canine) — says that between teething and exploration, puppies appear to place all the things of their mouths. “As an alternative of chasing or forcibly eradicating the stick, which might result in useful resource guarding, you possibly can redirect their consideration with one thing extra fascinating,” she says. 

Boredom

Bored canine will discover their very own enjoyable, which could not be enjoyable for you. “Canines who lack psychological stimulation typically search their very own leisure, and typically which means making sticks their chew toy of selection,” Baker says. “Check out your pup’s enrichment routine. Are they participating in interactive play, puzzle feeders, or snuffle mats? If mealtime consists of a fundamental meals bowl and nothing else, switching to extra participating options may curb their urge to show the yard right into a buffet of bark and branches.”

Consideration-seeking

In case your canine figures out that you simply’ll run over and begin taking part in tug-of-war once they begin chewing on a stick — nicely, sport on. To keep away from reinforcing this attention-seeking conduct, attempt responding as calmly as potential. Canines are pure scavengers and can return from a foray into the woods proudly carrying their newest trophy. 

Dietary deficiency

Your pup could also be looking for one thing they want in that stick. Poor-quality business pet food typically comprises synthetic, non-essential substances that may result in a dietary deficiency. Home made diets and an extra of treats can even trigger nutrient and mineral imbalances, main canine to eat non-food gadgets, a situation referred to as pica. The easiest way to search out out in case your canine has a dietary deficiency is thru blood work.

Is it secure for canine to eat and chew on sticks?

It’s by no means secure for canine to chew on sticks. Regardless of the purpose, canine and puppies mustn’t chew on sticks. Splinters could cause oral lacerations, choking, intestinal trauma, and toxicity. 

Methods to discourage your canine from consuming sticks

Baker says with somewhat coaching (and some well-timed deal with swaps), you possibly can be certain that your pup enjoys their playtime and not using a potential emergency journey to the vet. Canines study that buying and selling sticks for treats or toys is enjoyable. “Encouraging secure chewing habits and providing participating enrichment options may also help redirect your canine’s love for sticks in a safer course,” she says. “Instructing a powerful ‘go away it’ cue can be a game-changer. This helps your canine study to let sticks be — earlier than they flip right into a splintery snack.”

Present a secure different for chewing.

Protected choices for chewing embrace pigs’ ears and bully sticks. (A bully stick, in case, you didn’t know is a dried, cured bull’s penis.) Don’t give puppies something as arduous as a bully stick till they’re no less than six months outdated, as a result of their gums are too delicate. Keep away from plastic bones, rawhide, and marrow bones for canine of all ages.

While you’re going to an space the place your canine would possibly discover sticks, Julien advises carrying a toy that your pet or canine will get solely once they’re exterior. For puppies, she says, “Should you overlook the toy, keep in mind all the things is novel, so even a leaf or an empty poop bag can redirect. Or name your different canine over to create a distraction. Puppies are simply distracted, so participating them in play helps them drop the stick voluntarily.” Be affected person — some puppies worth sticks greater than toys, so you could have to experiment with completely different distractions. 

Casually throw the toy far-off. And keep calm, she says, as a result of overreacting and reaching in your pet’s mouth makes the stick a beneficial useful resource. “The toughest half is to remain calm and never overreact. Vets will warn you of the hazards of ingestion, however behaviorists give attention to stopping useful resource guarding,” Julien says. “Not solely does grabbing an object make a pet guard the article, however some would possibly even swallow it. If the stick isn’t [capable of being swallowed], supervise calmly and redirect.”

Train your canine.

Train is likely one of the greatest methods to make sure your canine will probably be drained sufficient to keep away from temptation, whether or not the article is a stick or a pair of sneakers. If you recognize that your canine chews on sticks to launch power and treatment boredom, investing in additional train is the easiest way to discourage your canine from chewing on sticks. 

Present psychological stimulation.

Baker says some canine carry objects of their mouths to handle nervous power. “It’s their model of a stress ball besides, on this case, the ‘ball’ occurs to be a tree department,” she says. 

Julien provides that puppies may chew sticks as a result of they’re overstimulated. “Overstimulated puppies get additional mouthy, and chewing generally is a signal they want a nap, no more exercise,” she says. “Recognizing when your pet wants relaxation can forestall pointless chewing.”

Prepare your canine to not eat sticks.

Baker says in case your pup has developed a severe attachment to sticks — one which borders on obsession — it’s time for an intervention. The perfect strategy? A trade-off. “Supply a high-value deal with in trade for the stick, adopted by an permitted chew toy,” she says. “Reward them enthusiastically for making the swap as a result of — let’s be sincere — giving up stick is a giant deal within the canine world.”

What to do in case your canine has eaten a stick

Should you suspect your canine has swallowed a stick, don’t wait it out. Search emergency veterinary care instantly. “A lodged or sharp piece of wooden may rupture the digestive tract, turning a minor chew session right into a life-threatening emergency,” Baker says. 

Backside line

• Chewing is a really regular, pure intuition for canine, and sticks resemble objects we generally give them resembling store-bought bones, antlers, and bully sticks. 

• Canines additionally chew and eat sticks as a result of they’re bored, teething, in search of consideration, or attempting to fulfill a dietary deficiency. 

FAQs 

Why does my canine eat a number of sticks? 

Chewing is a pure intuition for canine. Chewing retains canine busy and makes use of power. Canines additionally chew and eat sticks as a result of they’re teething, bored, in search of consideration, or want a nutrient they’re lacking of their diets. 

Is it OK for my canine to eat sticks?

No, splintered wooden could cause oral lacerations, choking, and intestinal trauma. Some kinds of wooden like walnut are poisonous to canine, as are items of wooden handled with pesticides, fertilizers, or different chemical substances.

What do I do if my canine is consuming a stick? 

Don’t attempt to seize the stick out of your canine’s mouth, yell at them, or chase them. You’ll solely make the stick extra attractive. As an alternative, ask your canine to commerce the stick for a deal with or toy.

How do I get my canine to cease consuming sticks and rocks?

Our job as pet dad and mom is to provide our pups the most secure gadgets to fulfill their urge to chew. Be certain your canine has a balanced food regimen, and swap sticks and rocks for high-value treats and toys. 

Why does my canine eat rocks?

Consuming non-food gadgets is a situation referred to as pica. It could stem from medical, behavioral, and psychological issues, or due to a dietary deficiency in your canine’s food regimen. Different situations that will lead canine to eat rocks embrace canine diabetes, parasites, worms, or tumors. Puppies might eat rocks as a result of they’re teething. 

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