What happens if the dog eats wood?

Playing is one of the most exciting activities of our life. dogs as it allows them to release energy, exercise their instincts and strengthen the bond with their owners.

However, while the game is an enriching experience, theingestion of inedible materials, such as wood, they can pose a significant risk to the health and well-being of our pets.

Time, patience and a lot of love are the key to changing these bad habits, which are relatively common in the behavior of some dogs. Wood is a strange element It can cause internal injuries, digestive system obstructions and even poisoning.

Furthermore, this behavior may be an indicator of pain, malaise or even boredom or stress in our four-legged friends. So what do we do?

What happens if the dog eats wood?

Even though it may look like eating pieces of wood harmless behavior or even natural in our dogs, the reality is that it is not.

The specialized site Animal Expert argues that understanding the possible causes behind this behavior It is crucial to deal with it effectively and prevent future problems. In a text by specialists, these are the most frequent causes indicated:

Natural exploration

Puppies and young dogs are naturally curious and explore their environment using their mouths, which may lead them to bite, carry or tear objects that they find interesting. This behavior intensifies from four months of age, during the teething process, which increases the frequency of destructive behavior and the need to chew various objects.

Seeking attention

A common mistake is trying to take something away from the dog that he has caught in his mouth and that we don’t want him to bite or ingest.

For many dogs, being chased or chasing someone is a exciting gameso grabbing an object and running away can become a fun activity that tries to capture the owner’s attention.

Fatigue

Prolonged chewing stimulates the release of serotonin e endorphins in the brain, which has a calming effect. For this reason, some dogs resort to chewing as a way to cope with stressful or unfamiliar situations.

Pica syndrome

The pica is a behavioral disorder characterized by the ingestion of inedible objects such as plastic, stones or sticks. It can arise due to chronic anxiety, poor nutrition, or underlying organic problems.

Dogs affected by this syndrome may exhibit a compulsive behavior from the consumption of non-food materials, requiring veterinary care and possibly behavioral interventions to address the specific causes.

How to prevent them from eating wood

Once detected and understood that the dog’s habit of eating wood can be very harmful to healththe most advisable thing is to avoid it doing so, whether it is a puppy or an adult dog.

The site specializing in pets, Gabricawarns on its website that “it is never too late for an obstacle or accident to occur that seriously compromises the health of your pet. Precisely for this reason, act in time and seek an immediate solution to the problem.”

And he recommends 5 very specific actions:

1. New toys. Provide your dog with toys designed for chewing. These can help satisfy his natural need to chew. And they will be safer than wood.
2. Hide wooden objects. Don’t leave sticks or wooden tools within your dog’s reach. Not having an easy life can help you forget about wood.
3. Make sure of their diet. You have to eat correctly, with balance. Talk to your vet about giving him supplements to keep him off the wood.
4. Give him exercise and attention. If the dog spends a lot of time alone, it is natural for him to get bored and seek entertainment even by eating wood. It is always very important that you do physical activity and find harmless toys in your environment that also keep you occupied.
5. Train your dog. It is essential that your pet has limits, otherwise he will get out of control. A good way to teach this is through the NO command.

Finally, it is a good idea to remind all dog keepers to take walks in quiet or new places, stimulate the sense of smell, provide snacks Appropriate foods to encourage healthy chewing and increase environmental stimulation in the home can reduce your dog’s stress level, which is sometimes related to a tendency to chew and ingest wood.