My puppy loves chewing sticks. Is it safe for her to chew on branches?

Hi there. Yes, I would definitely recommend giving Lirril some things to chew on. It's normal for puppies and adolescents to be very mouthy and want to chew constantly at this age. I normally recommend things like all-natural sturdy rawhide chews, bully sticks, and puzzle toys such as a frozen Kong stuffed with peanut butter. These do not cause cancer, and are generally safe for dogs to chew on.

No, I would not let her chew on any wood actually. Willow trees can toxic if the bark is ingested. Wood pieces in generally are not digested and can lead to an obstruction, vomiting and bloody diarrhea, or cough and choking.

Certainly sticks and stones are not good for Teddy's GI tract. They can cause irritation, ulcers, and can get stuck and require surgery to remove them. You can try keeping Teddy on a leash to be able to keep him from the sticks as he learns what is ok to chew and what is not ok. I also recommend always having something to redirect his behavior when he does things like grabbing a stick. Things like chew toys or balls to fetch can be helpful tools to redirect Teddy's behavior to something more appropriate to do besides chewing sticks and stones. I always tell clients that animals cannot change behavior in a vacuum. Meaning just saying, "Teddy No!" When he chews sticks or digs in the yard is only one half of the equation. The other half is to give him something that IS ok to chew on or play with. Eventually with consistent redirection your little guy should get the hang of it. Keep in mind, also, that digging is a part of normal puppy behavior, even though we need to stop them from doing it or our yards will look like disaster zones. You can try this same redirecting trick with digging. Also make sure not to leave Teddy unattended outside until he gets the hang both of not digging and not going after sticks and stones. Best of luck with your sweet little trouble maker!

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Heidi. Do NOT induce vomiting, the wooden shards from the stick could damage her esophagus on the way out. Give her half a slice of whole wheat bread now, and one with every meal. This may form a ball of ingesta around the stick, and cushion it as it passes through the Gi tract. Monitor her closely, and if you see vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, lethargy, or blood in her feces, take her into the vet. I hope this helps!

Some dogs just have a preference with what toys/items they like to play with or chew on. If he is a stick lover, then you can try to find a similar dog toy for his to play with instead that will satisfy his oral fixation. You can also look into some dental chews for his, such as the Virbac dental chews, which can last him a little bit and get him focused on something else. I hope that this helps and best wishes with your pet oscar moving forward. Take care! : )

It certainly is possible that the tree branches can cause a blockage in Ghontu's intestinal tract. Sharp pieces of the branch can also puncture her GI tract, and could break her teeth. I do not recommend giving her branches to chew on. Instead, I recommend a Kong toy. They are extremely durable, safe for Ghontu to chew on, and you can fill them with treats. You can get Kong toys from a pet store or the internet.

If Hennighn just swallowed the stick, you can take into into the vet right away for them to induce vomiting. The only concern with this is that it could get stuck in the esophagus, which would be a bad complication. The other option is to wait and see if he digests and passes the stick. Dogs do eat wood, and often pass it without problem. You will need to monitor his feces and his behavior. The stick should pass within 24-48 hours. If he starts vomiting, having diarrhea, stops eating, or becomes very lethargic, then it is likely that the stick is stuck, and he will need to see a vet right away. Hennighn is a big dog, and Labs often eat things they aren't supposed to, so I wouldn't be surprised if he passed it on his own. Give him a slice of whole wheat bread now, and with every meal, to give him more fiber and encourage the stick to pass along. The bread now will help cushion the stick as it passes through the intestinal tract. If the stick passes, you have no worries, just keep monitoring the feces for it. Hope this helps, and good luck :-)