More to the point, can your dog eat leaves? In most cases, the answer is no! Some leaves are toxic. Most leaf chewing is done in an exploratory way by puppies, and they aren’t really going all out and “eating” leaves. Dogs may also chew on leaves out of boredom.
For example, foxglove and oleander contain digitalis-like toxins that may affect the way heart’s ability to beat normally. With oleander, even one or two leaves could be fatal to your dog. There are even accounts of dogs dying after drinking from a water bowl that had oleander leaves blown into the bowl.
Many plant leaves are not deadly for dogs, but their leaves may cause gastric irritation, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Locust tree leaves may be deadly. Oak leaves are not usually deadly, for example, but can cause lots of gastrointestinal symptoms.
Can dogs run and play in leaf piles? Yes, and many dogs love to do that. Be aware, however, that the leaf pile may contain fleas or ticks because they gravitate to those piles too. While playing in a leaf pile, your dog may grab and toss leaves, but they don’t usually ingest them.
Why Do Dogs Chew on Plants?
It may be to add fiber to their diets. While you could grow a safe mini grass plot like many cat owners do, it is simpler to add some plain canned pumpkin to your dog’s diet.
Why Do Dogs Eat Sticks?
Sticks seem to be an attractive play toy. Many dogs chew on sticks because they are handy, especially if your dog is out in the yard and bored, and because you throw them. While a sturdy, non-toxic stick may be relatively safe for your dog to chew on, if he is ingesting wood that can cause problems down the road. Sticks from poisonous trees and plants are toxic, so unless you know for sure, it’s best if your dog doesn’t play or consume stick pieces.
Despite the fun your dog can have with a stick, it is best to avoid getting your dog “hooked” on them. Dogs have knack for getting short pieces of sticks stuck on the roof of their mouth. You will see your dog drooling, panting, and pawing somewhat frantically at his mouth. If your dog is relatively calm, you may be able to remove this yourself but if he is frantic, be careful or you may get bitten by accident.
There are many horrifying tales of dogs running with sticks and accidentally impaling themselves. Those injuries can range from minor emergency room visits to serious surgeries or even death.
How to Stop Dogs From Chewing on Sticks
In addition to adding plain pumpkin to your dog’s diet, make sure your dog has plenty of safe chew items.
Sturdy chew toys can safely take the place of sticks. For my dogs, Kong products tend to survive the best. Most “tough” stuffed type toys are destroyed quickly. West Paws toys also hold up well. Even with these tough toys, I try to check every day or so for any ripped off areas or places where the dogs are chewing little pieces off.
