Chewing wood or sticks is bad for a dog or puppy. Not only does this encourage destruction of wooden objects inside of the home, but the dog can also suffer internal injuries from the wood.
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Problems
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The two main problems a dog chewing wood will encounter are that he'll likely get splinters in his mouth and that his body is unable to digest the wood. Splinters can lodge anywhere in the digestive tract or in the mouth.
Identification
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According to "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook," wooden splinters on the inside of the dog's body or mouth can cause painful abscesses.
Misconception
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Dogs do not instinctively know what is good and what is bad for them to chew. Dogs can learn unhealthy habits, just as people can learn unhealthy habits. Still, they can also learn to undo those bad habits.
Prevention
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According to "KISS Guide to Raising a Puppy," when puppies teethe, chewing makes them feel better. By teaching puppies not to chew on wooden objects, they will be less prone to seek out wooden objects to chew as an adult dog.
Expert Advice
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The University of London's Royal Veterinary College urges all dog owners not to throw wooden sticks for dogs to fetch because they have seen numerous cases of dogs impaled or suffering internal injuries.
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