Mary Allen
Does your dog eat wood or like to chew on it? Unfortunately, this preference can be dangerous for your four-legged friend. You can find out here why this is the case and the motives behind the behavior of your furry friend.
If possible, discourage your dog from eating or chewing on wood. Otherwise, there is a risk of injury or poisoning. First of all, however, it is important to find out the reason for the behavior of your furry friend. This is the only way you can wean your four-legged friend from unwanted behavior in the long term.
Dog Eats wood: Instinctive Behavior as the Cause
Chewing is a completely natural behavior for dogs. This is how they explore their environment and look for something to eat. Actually, your pet doesn’t need it at all, after all, you feed it regularly. But such instincts are deeply rooted in your four-legged friend.
When your dog eats wood or bark, however, instinct alone is not always the only cause. Often there is more behind this behavior, which is why you should watch your dog closely. He might be bored.
Frustration as a Cause When Dogs Eat Wood
If your four-legged friend is under-challenged and only gets little attention in the form of games, this causes frustration – which your dog could take out on wood.
Do not react to this behavior of your furry friend in an angry manner. Such a reaction could reinforce the misbehavior as your dog learns that eating wood will get your attention.
Does Your Dog Eat Wood? Separation Anxiety as a Possible Trigger
However, eating wood can also be an indication that dogs suffer from separation anxiety. This is especially common in dogs that are left alone for long periods of time.
Loneliness can lead to unusual behavior in four-legged friends, including increased chewing on wood. The animals try to calm themselves down. Often only a professional dog trainer or dog psychologist and a lot of attention can help.
Deficiency Symptoms and Pica Syndrome as Possible Causes
If your dog eats not only wood but also feces, this may be a sign of a nutrient deficiency. The animal tries to compensate for this deficit by eating things that are difficult to digest. Fiber-rich dog food can already help in this case.
Another possible trigger for eating wood is pica syndrome. This is not only the case in humans but also in dogs. It is an eating disorder in which sufferers eat things that are commonly thought of as inedible, such as wood, hair, feces ( coprophagia ), or soil.
The reasons for this disease can be metabolic disorders or problems in the gastrointestinal tract. A veterinarian can provide a more accurate diagnosis. In most cases, he will recommend a change in the feed that is individually adapted to the dog’s age, weight, and state of health.
Young dogs in particular eat wood or chew on it when they are teething. Like us humans, it does them good to bite when their teeth push their way through their gums.
Nevertheless, you should not just let your young dog chew on wood. Instead, offer him an appropriate chew toy. This is safer and also provides relief.
If it is absolutely necessary to use wood, make sure that the wood is suitable for your dog to chew on. High-quality chewing wood such as coffee wood is better suited for your darling, as it has softer fibers that do not injure the dog’s sensitive mouth.
Dog ate Wood: Possible Consequences
If your dog eats wood, you should rather take the branch or log away from your fur nose. Because: Eating wood can be dangerous for your four-legged friend. Here are some of the most common consequences:
- Small splinters of wood can pierce the palate, tongue, gums, or lips.
- Larger pieces of wood can get stuck between the palate and upper teeth.
- Larger pieces of wood can irritate the dog’s digestive tract. The result: the four-legged friend vomits.
- Ingested pieces of wood can injure the esophagus, stomach, or intestines and cause internal bleeding.
- Inhaled wood particles can block or injure the airways.
- Some plants such as lilac, mountain ash, or horse chestnut are poisonous to dogs, poisoning could occur.
Barter: Getting Dogs to Stop Eating Wood
But what to do if the dog eats wood? So that your four-legged friend no longer engages in this behavior, you should carefully take the wood away from him. It is best to exchange the piece for an even more interesting toy that is safe for your darling.
Chew toys in particular are a good substitute for wood. Nothing can flake off or be swallowed here, thus eliminating possible sources of danger. You’ll probably have to try a few variations before you find your dog’s favorite toy. But once he has fallen in love, the wood soon no longer interests him.
Keep the Dog Busy: Makes Him More Part of the Family
Another possibility is to integrate dogs more into the social fabric of family or friends. Dogs are pack animals and do not like to be alone. Give your pet the opportunity to be in the middle of the action. Play with your dog and regularly challenge him with small tasks. That way he doesn’t get bored.
Have you followed all the tips and still can’t stop your dog from eating wood? Then it is advisable to have your fur nose examined by a veterinarian and, if necessary, to involve an animal behavior therapist or dog trainer. The latter know other exercises with which they can playfully discourage a dog from eating wood.