For many dogs (and their parents) sticks make ideal toys for a classic game of fetch – they’re easy to throw and easy to pick up, but vets from a leading UK charity are warning after a young dog almost died playing with a stick recently.
Scooby, a one-year-old English Bull Terrier cross in Berkshire, England, needed emergency surgery after a stick he bit on got stuck in the roof of his mouth.
His owner Louise said Reading Today“Scooby loves to jump and we were playing in the garden when he jumped to grab the stick and disaster struck.
“Blood started pouring out of his mouth and began to drip onto the floor. He didn’t even scream or cry out in pain, he just kept quiet and retreated. I scooped him up and let him in right away.”
Although the bleeding stopped, Louise decided to contact PDSA, a veterinary charity. They told him to head to his nearest PDSA Pet Hospital, where vets saw Scooby right away. After a thorough examination, they told Louise she had a lucky escape, and sent her home with an anti-inflammatory pain relief injection as well as other medication.
PDSA vet nurse Nina Downing said, “Chasing and playing with sticks may seem like a lot of fun for your dog, but many owners are unaware of the terrible injuries they can cause.
“Sticks can puncture your dog if they land on the ground after being thrown or cause nasty cuts in the mouth and throat that can bleed profusely, as well as long-term problems from splinters.
“In the worst case scenario, if a stick hits your dog, the injury could be fatal. It’s hard to watch our dogs all the time but we should try to encourage them to play with pet-friendly toys instead.”
So, should you throw a stick for your dog? All in all, this is not recommended, as it can lead to serious injury and, unfortunately, sometimes death. Although many dogs over the years have played with sticks and experienced no ill effects, it is not worth the risk and we suggest you choose one of the best dog toys instead. Or why not check out some fun game to play with dogs, instead? Not a stick in sight!
