Now that the good weather is here, and we don’t need to bundle up for the great outdoors, our focus turns to lazy summer days playing with our pets in the yard or at the park. Summer arrives with its own set of dangers for our pets. The term sticks and stones may break our bones is a warning we need to heed. Dogs love to pick up sticks for us to throw, purely for their own entertainment. They proudly trot up with that impish grin and deposit that prize at our feet, and wait with anticipation for the throw. This seemingly harmless game can end with a frantic trip to your Vet. Punctures from sticks into your pet’s mouth, throat or chest are a common enough site at this time of the year. Even if this never happens to your pet, the wear and tear of chomping down on those sticks can cause those pearly white teeth to be prematurely worn down, exposing the sensitive pulp which causes pain every time your pet eats or drinks.
Playing with stones also comes with its own hazards. Stones can get lodged in their throat causing a choking, sometimes fatal, outcome. If swallowed the stones can prevent food from exiting the stomach which brings about vomiting and loss of appetite. If the stones are small enough they can form an impasse or plug in the intestines, all of which require surgical intervention. The abrasiveness of the stones also wear down the enamel of the teeth, or cause the enamel to break off when they are chewing, which in turn can result in mouth pain for your pet.
Commercial toys are great, but do try to take into consideration the type of dog you have and the size of his mouth. Find a toy big enough not to cause a choking hazard, yet pliable enough not to cause dental issues.
Always make sure your pet is supervised when playing with any toy. But most of all have fun with your pet and enjoy those lazy summer days together.
