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Labrador Retrievers/Lab chewing wood.

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Expert: Labman - 9/17/2006


Question
Hello
Me again! Its just so good to have some much advice right at my fingertips!

Just wanted to ask, Maxwell, our 12 week old chocolate lab is a typical chewer. We have got hime kongs and nylabones which he loves to chew as well as ice! but he does love to chew wood. It has been coming out in his pooh as well. Can chewing wood be a problem? Will it give him splinters in his throat? or damage his intestines?

Thanks

jude

Answer
Well, I have let my 16 puppies chew sticks they find outside and never had a problem.  Sometimes ther stools are more crumbled wood than anything else.  Now 16 puppies is a 2 week supply for the people that wrote my puppy manual, and it says not to let them chew wood.  I think the real problem is with scraps of lumber or wooden objects in the house such as pencils.  If the wood he is chewing makes sharp splinters, it is only a matter of time until one punctures his intestines.  

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Housebreaking, chewing, feeding Most medical questions are best handled through a local vet. I try to base my answers on carefully proven methods confirmed by my own experience. Much of what I know about dogs, I have learned raising a puppy every year since 1991 for a large dog guide school. I am familiar with several similar programs. Nobody is in a better position to know dogs, need ones with long, active life, and share what they know, than the service dog schools. In addition I have done extensive reading. My answers have much more to back them than the limited experience any one dog owner can have. PLEASE DON'T SEND ME MEDICAL OR BREEDING QUESTIONS. An internet forum is not the appropriate place for them. Even if I could tell what was wrong from a handful of symptoms, you would still need to get the medications from your local vet. Breeding should be left to those not needing to ask simple, basic questions. Books have been written about it. Rather than ask me a question, start reading. Those unwilling to do the work it takes to produce quality puppies should spay/neuter their pets at 6 months. I will not answer questions that sound like a poorly prepared breeder.

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