Can Dogs Eat Sticks and Stones? Risks & 4 Safe Alternatives

Choose durable chews to curb unsafe nibbling and protect your dog’s health.

By Srija Burman

Created on Aug 29, 2025

Choose durable chews to curb unsafe nibbling and protect your dog’s health.

Can Dogs Eat Sticks and Stones? Understanding the Risks and Safer Alternatives

Dogs have an almost universal reputation for chasing, carrying, and chewing on sticks. The image of a happy dog bounding through a park with a large branch is deeply familiar, but is this natural behavior really safe? Dogs are also notorious for tasting, chewing, or even swallowing stones, particularly young puppies. While exploring their world through their mouths is instinctive, substantial dangers may lurk in these habits. Understanding why dogs are drawn to sticks and stones, the risks involved, how to recognize signs of trouble, and what safe alternatives exist is crucial for every dog owner.

Why Do Dogs Like to Eat or Chew Sticks and Stones?

Chewing is a basic, instinctive behavior for dogs. Puppies certainly chew to relieve the discomfort of teething, but dogs of all ages explore objects with their mouths. Sticks and stonesâreadily available in most yards, gardens, and parksâoffer texture, resistance, and novelty that can be hard to resist.

Instinct to Explore: Dogs use their mouths the way humans use their hands, to understand and interact with their environment.
Texture and Taste: The fibrous crunch of a stick or the hard feel of a stone can be satisfying for dogs, especially those with strong chewing urges.
Play and Retrieval: For many breeds, chasing and retrieving objectsâincluding sticksâis hardwired as part of their play and exercise drive.
Teething (Puppies): Chewing eases the pain of growing new teeth, and sticks are ubiquitous natural chew toys.
Avoidance of Boredom: Chewing can relieve boredom, anxiety, or frustration, especially in under-stimulated dogs.

While the behavior is natural, the risks associated with chewing or eating sticks and stones can be severe.

Are Sticks Safe for Dogs?

Despite their popularity among dogs, sticks can be very dangerous when chewed on or eaten. Allowing your dog to play with or chew sticks, whether just for fun or after a game of fetch, can lead to a range of injuries and health threats.

Common Dangers of Sticks for Dogs

Choking Hazard: Pieces of stick can break off and lodge in your dogâs throat, risking choking or airway blockage.
Internal Blockages: Swallowed fragments may obstruct the intestines, potentially requiring surgical intervention.
Splinters and Punctures: Wood can splinter into sharp slivers, causing puncture wounds in the mouth, esophagus, stomach, or intestines. This damage can lead to pain, infection, or even life-threatening internal injuries.
Mouth Injuries: Splinters get lodged in the dogâs gums, tongue, roof of the mouth, or under the tongue, causing bleeding, infection, and inflammation.
Tooth Damage: Chewing on hard sticks can fracture teeth or wear them down over time, just as gnawing on inappropriate objects can wear down enamel, exposing nerves and causing lasting dental pain.
Eye Injuries: Abrupt movements during stick play can result in accidents where the dog pokes or impales its eye.
Toxicity: Some sticks, such as those from boxwood or beech trees, are toxic and can cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain.
Bacterial Infections: Wood in the mouth or digestive tract can introduce harmful bacteria, leading to dangerous infections.

Danger	Description
Choking	Fragments or whole sticks can block the airway, risking suffocation.
Splinters & Puncture	Sharp wood can puncture soft tissues (mouth, throat, intestines). These injuries can lead to serious infections.
Blockages	Swallowed wood can create a blockage in the gut, demanding emergency surgery.
Toxicity	Some woods and plants are poisonous to dogs, causing gastrointestinal upset.
Eye/Body Injury	Thrown sticks can impale the eye or body, sometimes fatally.
Dental Damage	Chewing hard sticks wears down teeth and can fracture them, exposing nerves.

Veterinarian Perspective on Stick Injuries

Veterinarians regularly treat dogs for injuries sustained while playing with sticks. Among the more severe cases are dogs suffering from sticks lodged end-on in their throats, requiring emergency intervention and leading sometimes to chronic pain or the necessity of euthanasia due to irreparable damage.

Are Stones Safe for Dogs?

Chewing or eating stones is also common, particularly in puppies, but carries its own set of severe dangers. Stones are indisputably unnatural for dogs to ingest and should never be permitted as toys or chews.

Broken or Worn Teeth: Stones are much harder than dog enamel, so chewing leads to cracked, fractured, or worn-down teeth, resulting in long-term discomfort and expensive dental treatments.
Choking or Obstruction: Swallowed stones block the throat or digestive tract similarly to sticks, but can be even more difficult to remove and may require surgical intervention.
Gastrointestinal Injury: Stones can cause abrasions, ulcers, or perforations to sensitive tissues lining the GI tract, leading to bleeding and infection.
Poisoning Risk: Stones from chemically treated areas, or those harboring residues from fertilizers or pesticides, can introduce toxins into your dogâs system.

Signs Your Dog Might Be Hurt by Eating Sticks or Stones

Recognizing the signs of injury or distress after a dog has chewed or eaten sticks or stones is crucial for early intervention. Immediate action can be life-saving.

Vomiting or attempts to vomit
Mouth bleeding or drooling excessively
Whimpering, whining, or pawing at the face
Loss of appetite or reluctance to eat
Visible wounds inside the mouth
Changes in bathroom habits, especially straining, bloody stool, or constipation
Lethargy or hidingâwithdrawing from play or social interactions
Difficulty breathing (emergency)

If you observe any of these symptoms or see your dog struggling after consuming sticks or stones, seek veterinary care immediately.

When to Contact a Veterinarian

Prompt evaluation by a veterinarian is essential if your dog has:

Choked, gagged, or is having trouble breathing
Persistent vomiting or inability to keep food down
Blood in the saliva, mouth, or stool
Signs of severe abdominal pain (whining, guarding, distended belly)
Ingested a stick or stone from a potentially toxic plant or area (e.g., where fertilizers or pesticides are used)

For poisoning, immediately call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline for urgent guidance.

Why Do Dogs Eat Sticks or Stones? Behavioral Insight

Understanding the underlying reason your dog chews on or eats sticks or stones can guide prevention and behavioral modification.

Teething: Puppies will naturally seek relief from teething by gnawing on anything they find.
Boredom: Understimulated dogs use chewing as a way to pass time and alleviate loneliness or stress.
Anxiety: Dogs may develop compulsive chewing (known as pica when non-food objects are targeted) due to separation anxiety or environmental stressors.
Nutritional Deficiency: Rarely, mineral or nutrient deficits could drive a dog to chew non-food items, though this should always be evaluated by a veterinarian.
Play and Imitation: Dogs observe humans or other dogs throwing, carrying, or chewing sticks and may mimic the behavior.

Prevention: How to Stop Your Dog from Eating Sticks and Stones

Supervise Outdoor Time: Observe your dog closely during walks, park visits, or in the yardâredirect them if they begin chewing on sticks or stones.
Remove Temptations: Regularly clean up fallen sticks and collect visible stones from your property.
Train a ‘Leave It’ Command: Teaching your dog to reliably respond to “Leave it” or “Drop it” can effectively interrupt unwanted chewing behaviors.
Replace with Safe Alternatives: Give sturdy, non-toxic chew toys designed for dogs that satisfy their urge to gnaw and explore.
Provide Enrichment: Increase mental stimulation with interactive toys, training exercises, and attentionâespecially if your dog is bored or anxious.
Consult Your Veterinarian: If your dog obsessively eats non-food objects, ask your vet about possible behavioral or nutritional disorders.

Safe Alternatives to Sticks and Stones

Fortunately, there are many products specifically designed for dogs that provide the satisfaction of chewing without the associated risks. Consider these safe alternatives:

Commercial Dog Chews: Durable rubber or nylon chew toys, dental chews, and edible chews designed for the dogâs size and strength.
Fetch Toys: Balls, rope toys, or synthetic sticks (designed to mimic the fun of real sticks but with safer materials and construction).
Puzzle Toys: Interactive toys that challenge your dogâs mind and substitute the need for risky chewing.
Kongs and Stuffable Toys: Can be filled with treats or food, providing extended enjoyment and focus.

Avoid bones, antlers, or hard chews not suited for your dogâs size, as they can also cause dental or digestive problems if used incorrectly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is it ever safe for my dog to chew on real sticks?

A: No. While not every instance leads to injury, chewing on real sticks carries substantial risksâincluding choking, dental problems, internal blockages, and poisoning. Veterinarians do not recommend allowing dogs to mouth or ingest real sticks.

Q: What do I do if my dog eats a stick or a stone?

A: Stay calm and watch closely for symptoms of distress such as vomiting, gagging, drooling, pawing at the mouth, or changes in appetite or stool. If any such signs develop or the object swallowed was large or potentially toxic, seek veterinary care immediately.

Q: Are there specific trees or types of wood that are more dangerous?

A: Yes. Sticks from boxwood, beech, yew, and black cherry trees are notably toxic to dogs. Avoid wooded areas with unknown plant species and always err on the side of caution if in doubt about tree type.

Q: Why do puppies especially love chewing sticks and stones?

A: Puppies chew more during teething due to gum pain and to learn about their environment. Theyâre also less discriminating about what objects they put in their mouths, making supervision and redirection especially important during early development.

Q: My dog seems to prefer sticks to toys. What should I do?

A: Try toys that mimic the size, shape, and texture of sticks but are made from safe, dog-friendly materials. Rotate toys regularly and reinforce positive behaviors each time your dog chooses the toy over a stick.

Q: Can I play fetch with something other than a stick?

A: Absolutely! Use durable balls, synthetic stick toys, or rope toys for fetch. These options are much safer and just as enjoyable for most dogs.

Conclusion: Protecting Your Dog From the Risks of Sticks and Stones

While sticks and stones are common in any outdoor environment and may seem like an easy source of fun, the risks they pose to dogs are significant and should never be underestimated. Promptly redirect your dog to safe, vet-approved alternatives and always watch for signs of injury or distress. By understanding these dangers and being proactive, you ensure your dogâs play time remains safe, engaging, and worry-free.

References

Author

Srija Burman

Srija holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Calcutta and a PG diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her interest in writing and editing ranges across niches, including academics, sports, and human psychology.

Read full bio of Srija Burman