Dogs Eating Wood & Paper

Walking in and finding Teddy happily gnawing away on your morning newspaper is not the way you want to start your day. Some dogs not only chew on but also eat things that aren̵7;t actually edible, including wood and paper. Because large amounts can be dangerous for your pooch, you̵7;ll want to give him plenty of things he can chew on and keep him away from anything he shouldn̵7;t have in his mouth.

  1. Possible Reasons

    • Your dog could be bored and looking to get your attention, so that newspaper is appealing. Sure, he'll get negative attention, but it̵7;s still attention. Teddy might nibble the corners of your solid-wood dresser each morning because he knows you̵7;re leaving and he̵7;s starting to feel anxious. Additionally, pica, or the consumption of inedible items, could stem from a nutritional deficiency in the diet, the Humane Society notes, though the exact cause of pica is not known. Talk with your vet about Teddy̵7;s behavior and nutrition, especially if you can̵7;t get him to stop. Puppies also chew because they're curious or teething.

    Why It̵7;s Dangerous

    • Of course it̵7;s annoying when your canine buddy nibbles on any kind of paper you have in the house or pulls dirty wood out from the fireplace, but these behaviors can also be detrimental to his digestive tract. His body isn̵7;t designed to break down these materials, so they pass through his gut in relatively big, solid pieces. Those chunks can tear the lining of his intestines or get completely stuck, causing waste to back up. If Teddy winds up with a blockage, he̵7;ll lose his appetite and could vomit for days. He might wind up needing emergency surgery to remove the blockage.

    Getting Him to Stop

    • Because you know how much Teddy loves to chew, provide things that are safe for him to nibble on. Rather than dumping Teddy̵7;s breakfast into a dish each day, fill a hollow chew toy with his kibble and seal it up with a little peanut butter. He̵7;ll have to work hard to get his meal, while chewing on something that isn̵7;t harmful. Rope bones and sturdy rubber meat-flavored bone toys are other alternatives that help keep Teddy̵7;s chompers occupied. To avoid his boredom, rotate them every couple of days. Last, always get excited when Teddy is chewing on something appropriate, which lets him know that this behavior makes you happy.

    Other Tips

    • The general rule is that if you don̵7;t want something in his mouth, put it away. Don̵7;t leave Teddy unattended in your office space, where he̵7;s free to destroy mounds of paper and chew on furniture. Close doors to rooms that are off limits, forcing him to stay within your line of vision. If Teddy is chewing away at all the table legs in the dining room or gnawing on the corners of the boxes in your storage area, add a bitter product to them to discourage the behavior. These types of sprays and lotions aren̵7;t bad for your dog; they just taste bad so that he won̵7;t want to nibble there anymore. You may have to apply the formula daily until he gets the hint. If the bitter product doesn̵7;t faze him, use hot sauce or sprinkle black pepper in the area instead.