Are sticks bad for dogs: Vet nurse explains why playing with sticks is dangerous for dogs

A veterinary nurse has issued an unexpected warning to dog owners.

A video on TikTok shared Jade The Vet Nurse details why you and your dog should never use a stick when you play fetch.

According to Jade, what seems like a simple game can quickly become fatal.

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“I am afraid to say that sticks can actually be very dangerous for your dogs and they are not a suitable toy for your dogs,” she said.

Jade explained that when you throw a stick for your dog, it often goes spinning and can sometimes land with one end of the stick stuck into the ground and the other end sticking upwards.

“What happens when your dog comes running towards it at a really high speed, they use their mouth to grab it and basically this bit [the top end of the stick] can go through the roof of their mouth and into their brain which will be fatal,” she shared. 

Urging dog owners to steer clear of playing with sticks, Jade added that she’s personally seen and heard of these kinds of injuries before.

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“They can also cause trauma to your dogs mouth, to the tongue. They can get splinters that get stuck all the way along their esophagus and their stomach and intestines,” she continued.

“It can possibly lead to your dog needing surgery to remove the pieces. So, sticks are not a good or safe toy for your dog to play with.”

Dr Katrina Warren agrees that sticks should be kept away from dogs, previously writing for 9honey that “any vet” could tell you a horror story they’ve personally encountered.

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She shared that an alternative option is to play fetch with toys designed for dogs with no sharp edges, explaining that plenty of brands even make “dog sticks” made from safer materials.

But Dr Katrina says that the most important thing you can do to keep your dog safe from the dangers of playing with sticks is to make sure that they learn and understand commands such as “leave it” or “drop it”. 

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