Is it bad for dogs to eat wood?

Dog owners frequently ponder why their dogs appear to enjoy chewing on wood. We often enjoy playing fetch outside with our furry friends using a tree branch or a small log. However, chewing on wood can make you and your pet very unhappy. Have you ever returned home to discover that your dog has been chewing the woodwork around a door or window, or that one of the dining table’s legs has been attacked by a sizable “termite”?

Some dogs appear to be obsessed with chewing on wood, whether it be furniture or outdoor wood. No matter what kind of wood your dog prefers, eating or chewing wood can be a sign of underlying health and behavioral problems in dogs.

Reasons Your Dog May Be Chewing Wood

Your dog might be chewing sticks and wood in your yard for a number of reasons. It’s important to become knowledgeable about the problems associated with canine chewing because this instinctual behavior can be made worse by other conditions. Here are some of the most typical reasons, from tooth pain to boredom:

Tooth pain: This is an especially common reason in young puppies and growing dogs. Just like children, puppies will experience pain with growing teeth. The shifting and growing of their teeth can cause major discomfort, whereas chewing on objects can help to alleviate this pain. It provides the same relief for them as a cold teething ring does to a teething toddler.

Boredom: Boredom can cause our dogs to engage in destructive behavior. When your pup is overcome with boredom, he may look for something to occupy his time. Chewing on a stick might be the perfect solution to that problem, no matter how risky it is!

Separation anxiety: A lot like boredom, separation anxiety will lead a dog to participate in destructive behavior. A stressed pup may feel the need to chew, and the chewing and eating of wood may act as their outlet for stress.

They like the taste: Oddly enough, your dog may find the twigs and bark in the yard incredibly tasty. They very well might be eating the bark for their dietary pleasure. Some kinds of bark are known to be tasty to dogs, so don’t be surprised if your pup seems to enjoy snacking on your tree.

Need to chew: Some dogs just have more of an inclination to chew than others. Some dogs require constant chewing stimulation and will chew anything they can get their paws on without a proper distraction.

Pica: Pica is a condition that drives dogs to eat non-food items. Truly, anything can cause a dog to experience pica. Nausea, stress, anxiety, hunger, or underlying medical conditions can cause this strange disorder. If you find your dog constantly chewing and eating random objects, you may need to talk to your vet about this possible disorder.

When dogs chew wood, the wood is broken up into several sharp pieces by their teeth, which can harm the dog’s body in a variety of ways. Imagine these fragments as hundreds of tiny splinters that are eager to cause damage to any area of the body that they come into contact with. When your dog plays with foxtails, a similar thing occurs, and trips to the vet end up being very pricey. Some of the risks of chewing wood include:

Tooth damage: When a dog is chewing on sticks, they may be putting great force behind each bite. Chewing something with a tough exterior such as wood can cause a tooth to chip or break. Broken teeth can cause pain and possible infection. This can even lead to dental abscesses.

Abscesses: When sticks and wood are chewed, hundreds of tiny pieces are floating around the mouth. These tiny pieces can become lodged in the gums, causing an infection to brew under the tissue. If these splinters remain in the mouth, the infection can grow to the point of an abscess. Abscesses are incredibly painful and can cause severe swelling in the area that is affected.

Damage to the esophagus: Pieces of sticks and wood can be incredibly abrasive to the esophagus when swallowed. This can cause damage to the esophagus and severe pain. Imagine swallowing a large chunk of wood, and how uncomfortable that would have to be!

GI obstruction: Wood and sticks are not meant to be eaten, therefore, they are not easily digestible. Twigs can remain in a pet’s stomach or intestines, leading to GI obstruction. If not surgically resolved, a GI obstruction or blockage can be fatal.

Airway obstruction: Due to the irregular shape of the wood and sticks that your dog may swallow, pieces of sticks can become lodged in their throat. This can lead to extreme distress, and even difficulty breathing. Anything that affects your pup’s ability to breathe is a serious medical emergency.

If left untreated, each of these complications can be extremely painful, bring on a serious infection, and even be fatal. If you fear any of the aforementioned situations and think your dog may have consumed wood or sticks, call your veterinarian right away.

Is It Safe For Dogs To Eat Wood: The Side Effects When Dogs Eat Wood

It’s possible that your dog won’t get sick from gnawing on your old console or the dry twigs outside.

But, the wood chunks or particles can easily hurt Fido. The dog runs the risk of choking if a piece of the wooden stick it is chewing on breaks off.

Splintered wood can cause mouth blisters and even throat and intestine perforations, which can be extremely expensive for a veterinarian to treat. Your dog, especially an older one, may have a difficult recovery process if surgery is necessary.

Additionally, fragments of broken wood can obstruct and interfere with the digestive system, leading to a potentially fatal condition that could have been avoided in the first place.

Last but not least, some types of wood, including red maple and black walnut, among others, are toxic and can be bad for your pet’s health.

Chewing on wood can cause property damage that will cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to fix. You need to take action to break this habit and socialize Fido differently.

Let us now take a look at how you can prevent your dog from eating wood.

Dog Pica – an Eating Disorder

Dogs and even their pet parents may be afflicted by the eating disorder known as pica. The condition known as compulsive eating disorder causes people and dogs to consume substances that are not food. Among the things that are eaten are dirt, clay, wood, glue, hair, and more. Malnutrition, intestinal parasites, or a psychological problem (like boredom or separation anxiety) can all contribute to this condition. Pica may also be the cause of your dog’s vitamin deficiency if they are eating wood. If the dog consumes things that are toxic or could harm his digestive system, it could result in pica. The condition can also cause choking, poisoning, etc.

Signs and symptoms of pica can include:

The following may be more severe signs of pica, such as an intestinal obstruction:

Straining during bowel movements

Dark stools

Burping

Excessive drooling

Abdominal contractions

Inability to produce stools (constipation)

Also keep in mind that some wood is poisonous to dogs. This includes wood from trees like red maple, yew, black walnut, and black cherry. It’s time to take your furry friend to the vet if you observe any of the aforementioned signs or symptoms. If you think you may have a bowel obstruction, you should seek emergency medical attention right away.

FAQ

Why does my dog like eating wood?

A stressed puppy may crave chewing, and chewing and eating wood may provide them with an outlet for their stress. Oddly enough, your dog might find the yard’s twigs and bark to be incredibly tasty. They may very well be consuming the bark for dietary purposes.

Can a dog’s stomach break down wood?

Your dogs run the risk of getting very sick if they consume wood. The dog may pass it without incident. However, there is a chance that swallowing a sharp object could harm your pet’s digestive system. Dogs who’ve digested wood often vomit and have abdominal pain.