Eating wood

Laura · Master

Eating wood

Isla · Enlightened One

Wills and Millie are not against having the odd chomp on a handy log or stick. Don't know why they do it but they seem to like it!

I too would be interested in knowing if there is a reason for it and if it will do them harm.

Tigger just trys to eat her plastic squeaky toys but fortunately I've managed to confiscate them before she's eaten much.

-- Edited by Isla at 12:45, 2006-09-17

Teresa · Enlightened One

I have no idea why they do this but it's one way of making your own sawdust !!

Dave and Daisy haven't done anything like it but Tom, last night, decided that he would liberate a wooden spoon from the dishwasher and destroyed it I don't think he swallowed any of it but he's none the worse today

Anyanka · Master

What kind of wood? Mine are partial to the prunings from the fruit trees. Bonnie also picks up rotten logs and shreds them with relish (that's metaphorical relish, not culinary

).

I've been told by other dog owners in the past not to let my hounds chew sticks, and not to throw sticks for them, because they can get splinters in their gums - but how d'you stop a dog picking up branches when you walk them in the woods? Anyway, I think that is overcautious.

Gail · Big Cheese

Years ago my Boxer dog got a splinter in his gum from chasing and chewing on sticks. I had no idea until it got infected and the vet had to remove it and put him on a course of antibiotics. i remember the vet at the time saying it's not uncommon but most splinters just work there way back out of the gum without causing any problems.

It certainly didn't stop me throwing sticks for him, he would have been mightily miffed if i had and to my mind the risk was worth it to see him having so much fun

Laura · Master

Anyanka wrote:

What kind of wood?

Eh, Im not sure. She only does it in the evenings/when shes shut out. I dont think it does her any harm, but at least she has stopped eating poo now

Isla · Enlightened One

Rotting logs and ordinary manky looking sticks are what mine seem to prefer. Certainly nothing as posh as fruit tree prunings!

The only problem that I've ever had was when Wills got a chunk stuck between two of his teeth and I had to prise it out. Actually that has happened a couple of times and one of them was a devil to remove! Silly boy!