PupkeeperCaution
Sticks (stick injuries) and dogs: what to do
Caution. Thrown or chewed sticks can splinter, wedge in the mouth or pierce the mouth and throat, causing deep wounds and infections.
If your dog ate or touched this, call your vet or a pet poison line now
United States
Poison lines in other countries: United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand
What to do now
- Call your vet now for advice.
- Get your dog seen right away if it yelps, bleeds from the mouth or swells up, even if the bleeding stops.
Don't
- Don't throw sticks; use a dog-safe toy instead.
Signs to watch for
- Yelping while playing with a stick
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Swelling under the jaw or of the tongue or neck
- A stick stuck across the roof of the mouth or in the throat
Why
Sticks can splinter, get stuck across the roof of the mouth or in the throat, and puncture the mouth. Wounds can become infected.
Sources
- AKC: Is Throwing a Stick to Your Dog Dangerous?
- PDSA: Dog Needs Emergency Surgery Following a Game of Fetch
Guide reviewed 9 October 2026.
General information from the sources above, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call your vet.