Can I Give My Dog a Piece of Wood to Chew?

 

A piece of 2 by 4, an old chair leg, or a fallen branch, are NOT good for dogs to chew on! Although dogs are often attracted to chewing wood items – the danger of splinters, or chemicals used in wood products, is very real. If you are wondering – should dogs chew wood? No – normal wood is definitely not a good thing to give your dog as a chew toy. However, there are some very good alternatives. Read our Holidays4Dogs article to find out what they are.

Holidays4Dogs has recently discovered a product which is gaining in popularity on the dog food market. Root tree chews for dogs. Many dogs just love to chew and it can be very relaxing for them, so these tree root chews are ideal.

While writing for Holidays4Dogs and looking after my son’s Golden Retriever at the time, I noticed what looked like the remains of a piece of firewood. This I reported directly to my son who informed me this was a, ‘special wood dog chew’.

I searched online for the product and indeed, these chews are actually tree roots and are perfectly safe for dogs to chew.

I felt a little bit excited at the prospect of a chew toy that didn’t involve animal parts, or dangerous raw hide.

Root chews for dogs are sustainably sourced.

Some of these dog chews are made from the root tubers of the European tree heath. The heath tree is in the same family as heather and gorse. The root is native to Portugal, Spain and Greece.

The wood is very hard-wearing, dense and heat-resistant. Only the tuber of the root is harvested, which means the root will sprout again – therefore making it sustainable.

Other wood chews are made from olive and coffee wood. There is now a good selection you can buy on-line.  It should be noted – these chews will eventually break down, so always make sure you monitor your dog’s chew toy.

These root chews have been on the market for a number of years. However, they are gaining much more attention nowadays as an alternative to other brands of dog chews, many of which contain harsh chemicals. More and more people are looking for natural alternatives in general and these root chews are durable, long-lasting and safe.

Root chews won’t splinter. While the dog can work bits off the wood, they don’t end up as little shards, which can be hazardous. Root chews are also completely untreated and make fantastic natural teeth cleaners.

N.B – this is true of any toy your dog chews or plays with, including root chews.

While perhaps a little more expensive, tree root chews last longer and therefore, are perfect for the determined chewer.

For information on Kong toys – including reviews and recipes – click here.

 

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