Throwing Sticks for Your Dog: Is it Safe?

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| Print | By | December 30, 2008 4:47 PM

Walking in the woods with your dog for a delightful jaunt can be a delightful treat. Grabbing a stick to throw for your dog to retrieve however can turn a relaxing romp into a nightmare.

According to an article recently published by the Times Online, Dr. Dan Brockman, Professor of Small Animal Surgery at the Queen Mother Hospital of the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, this very common and popular method of play is extremely dangerous. Dr. Brockman, a practicing veterinarian claims that he and his colleagues treat dozens of serious accidental injuries caused by tossing sticks tossed by their owners.

Thankfully many of the injuries are minor, but life threatening ones can occur as well. They range from simple scratches to the lining of the mouth to limb paralysis, esophageal punctures, blood loss and acute and chronic infections. Since sticks are dirty and sharp they are considered to be a huge danger for dogs to play with. As your dog runs holding the stick in his mouth, puncture wounds can occur easily occur.

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Additionally most canines love to chew on sticks which put them at great risk for injury and infection. Small pieces can break off and lodge themselves in your dog's mouth. These pieces are laden with bacteria, fungus and yeast, and resulting infections can be difficult to treat and may even become lethal.

Dr Brockman reports, "A study of both acute and chronic "stick injuries" in dogs, performed at the Royal Veterinary College, has shown how serious these can be. Most dogs that were presented within 48 hours of the injury had surgical exploration of the neck and the majority was found to still have wood in their wounds.

Spinal cord injuries were less common than esophageal damage but the most lethal problem was infection. Several dogs involved in the study died as a result of their stick injury and these deaths almost always involved resistant bacteria and infection that spread from the neck to the chest.

What's more, dogs that were not presented to the RVC until some days after the initial injury typically had serious infections building up around a residual wood fragment. These were challenging to treat, required either computerized tomography or MRI scans to find the fragments and needing one or more operations to remove them. "

So it is indeed crucial to heed these warnings which were provided by Dr. Brockman. While throwing sticks for our pooches to fetch may seem at first glance to be benign, the risks are great and should be totally avoided.

Instead, bring along a Frisbee or other toys to entertain and to provide exercise for your canine companion. It is also crucial to train your dog not to pick up sticks. By your dog learning a simple command it may help prevent a dangerous and potentially lethal injury.

Do you throw sticks for your dogs? If so, will this information change your method of play? Leave a comment and let us know if this was new and helpful advice.

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Vicki December 31, 2008 1:40 PM

I have never thrown sticks for any of my dogs. But I can certainly see why they may be dangerous for them. I would think that throwing a frisbe would be a lot safer, and a lot more entertaining.

Amy December 31, 2008 3:33 PM

I remember watching a program on Animal Planet about a dog who had actually had a huge piece of stick lodged in his throat. It had to be removed surgically by the vets.
I agree that owners should take a frisbee or something similar to give to their dogs assuming the dogs don't actually try to eat the frisbee.
Owners should always be aware of the potential danger to their pets and keep an eye on them when they are playing with anything that could cause harm to them.

Skylark December 31, 2008 7:36 PM

I remember my first after hours emergency trip to the vet with my son's black lab. They had been playing in the back yard, he was tossing sticks and Josie was doing what retrievers do...retrieving them. Well, one of the sticks stuck into the ground, and when Josie ran to it and tried to grab onto it, it pierced the roof of her mouth. What a mess! She was bleeding all over the place and crying in terrible pain.

Lucky for us, the vet was only about 3 miles from the house and met us at the hospital. It was not a life-threatening injury, but it well could have been. If the stick had gone a little further, it would have pierced the sinuses and then would have required major surgery to repair the damage.

No more sticks. After that, tennis balls were the treat of choice for that retriever!!

Georgette Brantley January 2, 2009 11:09 AM

I didn't know that it was so dangeous for dogs to get a hold of sticks. This will certinly change the way that I play with my dog.

Anonymous October 18, 2009 5:33 PM

you go george use one thats not from trees not talking about misssing branches upstairs though

Anonymous October 18, 2009 5:41 PM

get to gribs not vets these animals are and get old of usn playing dog and fetch is part of us with dogs please diont let publicity or huggets put you off what your loved dog enjoys most LET THE DOG DECIDE

david kenny October 18, 2009 5:46 PM

my dog is living the way i was brought up with them playing with branches and sticks lets see whocd cough or crauk first first

Bob December 21, 2009 12:38 PM

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This is good advise. I just had my dog put down because of a stick injury. You might think its a million to one shot, dont learn the hard way as I have. Throw a ball or frisbee. My heart is broken.

nancy February 1, 2010 10:47 AM

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My dog bounded after a stick that landed vertically in the snow. He was impaled under his tongue and down his throat. After spending an afternoon in emergency surgery we are now (4 weeks later) finding that he may have a pseudoaneurysm that will cost either thousands to MAYBE fix. Chances are great that we will have to put him down. This family is very sad all due to a stick.

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