A vet has warned dog owners against playing fetch with sticks, saying he has witnessed several dogs die from stick-related injuries. Ben Simpson-Vernon, a veterinary surgeon who qualified from Cambridge Vet School in 2015 and posts on TikTok as Ben The Vet, shared the warning in a video listing 'five things that I would never let my own dog do as a vet'.
Stick injuries can be fatal
Simpson-Vernon said: "Number one, I would never play fetch with sticks. Sadly, I've witnessed several dogs die from stick injuries, which tend to occur when the dog runs onto the stick at speed and impales the back of their throat on it."
He added: "Bits of stick can break off, leading to abscess formation, and the swelling can block their airway. There are plenty of safer items to play fetch with, and having witnessed the aftermath of these instances, I would not take the risk with my own dog."
Other items and habits to avoid
The vet also said he would not let his dog chew on bones or antlers, describing a slab fracture to the upper fourth premolar teeth as a classic dental injury from such items. He explained that exposed pulp can be painful and lead to tooth root abscesses, and that pieces can be swallowed, causing blockages or severe constipation.
He advised against feeding dogs raw meat, calling it a human health risk. "They're not a wolf who lives in the forest," he said. "They're a cockapoo or a dachshund that sleeps on the sofa and lives alongside humans and licks the faces of children and can pass on E. Coli, salmonella, and other pathogens from the food."
Leads and training methods
Simpson-Vernon also said he avoids retractable leads, which can cause severe injuries to human hands if the cord wraps around fingers, and can yank dogs violently if they hit the end of the cord at speed. He recommended a short lead instead.
Finally, he said he would never use a shock collar on his dog, arguing that they can make dogs extremely anxious because the animals often do not understand why they are being shocked. "There are far kinder ways of training a dog that don't involve electrocuting them and turning them into a nervous wreck," he said.
