A journalist recently asked “Are sticks safe for dogs to play with?” and it got me thinking about news headlines dating back over a decade, warning us not to throw sticks for our dogs to fetch. But what exactly are the dangers of dogs playing with sticks?
Why dogs shouldn’t play with sticks?
Throwing and fetching a stick is not just a harmless game to play with your dog on a country walk or at a visit to the park; it can be dangerous and can even be fatal.
But let’s be real. You are on a walk, your dog’s eyes light up because they have spotted a stick that makes them drool and before you know it you are joining in by starting a game of fetch. It feels wholesome and safe but actually it is not a good game to play with your dog. Sticks can cause serious injuries.
Let’s discuss exactly why sticks are best left on the ground.
The hidden dangers of sticks
Mouth injuries – This would be things like splinters in the tongue, torn lips, or even sticks impaled through the roof of the mouth.
Throat damage – If the stick hits the ground at the wrong angle or lands sticking up, a running dog can race straight into it and cause themselves serious injury. Sticks are sharp and unyielding and can jab deep into your dog’s throat and soft tissues.
Chest trauma – In more severe cases, sticks have actually pierced through to a dog’s chest cavity, leading to a very serious emergency situation.
Infections – Germy bits of bark and wood debris can get lodged into delicate flesh, potentially leading to nasty infections that are tricky to spot early on and can be difficult to treat.
Dental issues – Even something as innocuous as chewing on a stick can lead to wedged bits of bark and potential mouth issues. If your dog has a piece of wood or a splinter in their mouth, chances are you won’t know about it until it is a much bigger problem.
Dog dentist Dr. Rachel Siddall says “Over time, the presence of this material (called a foreign body), causes inflammation and infection which can lead to periodontal disease and severe bone loss.”
Do we really need to be worried?
For a while now we have been warned about the dangers of letting our dogs play with sticks, with possible injuries ranging from painful splinters to potentially fatal neck or chest punctures.
In 2016 there were news headlines about a collie who got a stick stuck in her throat. Maya was playing fetch when a piece of wood punctured her tongue and displaced her voicebox. But this was not an isolated or unusual case. It wasn’t the first and won’t be the last dangerous stick injury. Fetching and playing with sticks can cause horrific and sometimes life-threatening injuries in dogs.
Going back even further to 2008, Dan Brockman, professor of small animal surgery at the Royal Veterinary College, led a study of both acute and chronic stick injuries in dogs. He explained that he had treated dozens of serious injuries and infections caused by dogs stabbed while chasing sticks and warned that owners risk thousands of pounds’ worth of vet bills by throwing sticks.
Vet advice on stick injuries
Vet and columnist Pete Wedderburn wrote an article in 2009 on the dangers of throwing sticks for dogs. He talked about what happened to a five year old Golden Labrador called Whoopie. She was an ardent stick chaser. After selecting a stick, her owners would throw it for her, until one day when the stick was thrown and landed one end stuck into the ground and the other end pointing up. The end of the stick impaled Whoopie’s mouth but she was actually one of the lucky ones. Pete explains “If the stick injury had been just an inch in the other direction, it would have damaged the main blood vessel to her head, and she could have bled to death”.
So before you dismiss these warnings, a quick look online will confirm what vets have been trying to tell us for years – playing with sticks is dangerous to your dog. There are so many great alternatives you dog will love (or could learn to love) so why take the risk?
But my dog loves sticks
Of course they do. Sticks are interesting to most dogs. They smell like squirrels (lol) and are just laying there waiting for a free and exciting game of spontaneous fetch. But just because something is from nature and the great outdoors doesn’t mean it is safe. Dogs don’t know what is and isn’t dangerous – that’s our job. But don’t worry, there are stick alternatives that are much safer and just as much fun.
Safe alternatives to sticks
If sticks are out, what can you fling instead? Luckily there are plenty of safe alternatives. Woof! Here are some dog-safe toys that scratch that itch without the risk.
Rubber throwing sticks – Designed to look somewhat like a stick but made of fun chewy and bouncy rubber that is much safer and chomp-tastic.
Rope toys – Great for tug and fetch whilst being gentler on your dog’s teeth than those dirty old bits of wood and bark.
Dog balls and launchers – Why throw a dirty stick when you can launch a bouncy, lightweight ball for miles. Way more fun and no risk involved.
Fetch ‘training’ dummies – Popular with gundogs these traditional dog toys endure because they are great fun for any breed or size of dog who loves retrieving.
President of the British Veterinary Association, Sean Wensley, says “We don’t want to stop owners from playing and exercising with their dogs. We just want them to know they can protect their pets by using safe dog toys.”
Chuckit Sport 25M Ball Launcher
Final Thoughts
It is so easily done – you forget to take the dog’s fetch toy on your walk, your pooch finds a particularly wonderful stick and grabs it or you absentmindedly pick up a stick and throw it… we are all human. And most of the time it will be fine but the time when it is not… is it worth it? Better to step away from those sticks.
