Dog owners continue to be perplexed by one of our four-legged friends’ strangest habits, which is an obsession with pine cones. The pine tree’s pine cones are an organ with a woody cone shape and rows of bracts.
Dogs are drawn to pine cones because of the fragrant terpenes oils they release. Because they are bad for a dog’s stomach and can cause internal bleeding and intestinal blockage, pine cones are not safe for dogs to eat or chew.
Even though they may be exciting for your dog, pine cones aren’t a good chew toy or tasty treat. The dangers of eating pine cones and the reasons why dogs eat them are covered in the remainder of this article.
Can Dogs Eat Pine Cones?
The short answer is that dogs should never consume pine cones. As you might suspect, pine cones come from pine trees. Technically speaking, pine trees’ cones serve as their reproductive organs. From September to December, they typically drop from the trees to the ground.
Due to their superior sense of smell, which is at least 40 times greater than a human’s, dogs find pine cones to be extremely alluring. Our noses contain six million olfactory receptors that enable us to smell things. Dogs can smell pine cones before they can see them because they have 300 million olfactory receptors.
Are Pinecones Toxic to Dogs?
Although dogs are not toxic or poisonous to pinecones, this does not mean they should eat or chew on them.
You see:
Although they may not be toxic in and of themselves, pinecones can still be harmful to our furry friends in various ways.
Are Pine Cones Edible?
Pine cones are indeed edible for humans. In actuality, all parts of some pine trees—aside from the outer layer of the pine bark—can be consumed. The pine nut is also popularly used in making pesto. Therefore, there are undoubtedly some pine tree parts that can be used in food preparation.
The pine nuts are also a fantastic source of minerals and vitamin C.
FAQ
What happens if my dog eats a pine cone?
Dogs who consume pine cones or pieces of them run the risk of developing gastrointestinal blockages as well as having their tongue, lips, or throat splintered. Nausea and vomiting. Diarrhea.
Why do dogs chew on pinecones?
Dogs love to chew on any appetizing food they find lying around, so why is your dog eating pine cones? Therefore, if you notice your dog eating pine, it probably means that they are either hungry or drawn to the pine cones. Dogs are attracted to the scent of the pine cone sap.
Is pine OK for dogs to chew?
Pine is one of the wood types that can be problematic for dogs because, depending on where it comes from, it can contain both natural and synthetic toxins. Additionally, swallowing broken pieces of wood always carries the possibility of suffering from gastrointestinal harm.