Vets settle debate on whether you should throw sticks for your dog

Many dog owners will admit that throwing a stick for their four-legged friend is a regular part of their routine walk, and it makes sense. Dogs love chasing after sticks—they carry interesting smells, have unique textures, and have various lumps that make them exciting for dogs to chew on. 

Using sticks can also be more convenient than dealing with wet or dirty toys, and they allow dogs to connect with nature in a simple, instinctive way. Some dog owners prefer other forms of play, while others stick to the classic fetch with sticks. Still, many remain unsure whether playing with sticks is a good idea. Fortunately, Bluecross, a registered animal welfare charity, has the answer.

According to advice from the Blue Cross, approved by Roisin Bolger, a veterinary surgeon, and Claire Stallard, an animal behaviourist, allowing your dog to chew on sticks “can cause serious issues.”

They wrote: “Sticks come in different sizes and weights. This means that when you throw them, they can be unpredictable in how far they’ll go, which direction they’ll travel in, and how they’ll bounce off the ground.

“Pair this with the danger of thorns and other branches on the stick itself, and it makes for a dangerous toy for your dog.”

The risks range from mild to life-threatening, with the charity urging pet owners to find safer alternatives for their dogs. 

Sticks can cause splinters in your dog’s gums, choking, obstruction in the bowel, eye injuries, body wounds, bacterial infections, and impale your dog’s body.

They added: “Vets at Blue Cross hospital have treated many dogs with stick injuries, including a dog with a stick stuck end-on in his throat, causing very painful and serious damage to the internal tissues. Some dogs sadly have been put to sleep due to the severity of their injuries.”

While sticks can be a helpful outlet when your dog has sore gums, you should avoid giving them to your dog, as doing so “makes it easy for them to fall into the bad habit of chewing sticks for the rest of their lives.”

Instead of sticks, Bluecross recommends using a ball big enough for your dog so it’s not a choking hazard, a rope toy, or a fake stick toy made of rubber or plastic, as “safe alternatives” when playing with your dogs.