My English Springer Spaniel loves chewing sticks and eating the bark!!

by Nikki
(London)

Hi there, I have a wonderful English Springer Spaniel called Penny that was an English Springer Spaniel Rescue.

My question is regarding chewing sticks. I don't let Penny eat sticks as a rule, but now and again she likes to have a good chew on one.

We make sure she has plenty of chews to keep her busy but I'm just wondering what tree bark will do to her tummy?

From Anna@love-springer-spaniels.com

Hi Niki, I know how you feel, the English Springer Spaniel is notorious when it comes to chewing, however it is not good for their health much less just their tummies


Splinters from sticks and bark can get lodged in their throat or even their gums. This in turn can then lead to abscesses.

The very worst thing that can happen is that they inhale the bark in their lungs. This year George had a terrible bronchial infection that we had trouble getting rid of and the vet asked me if he was a stick chewer; I confess he has been known to gnaw on one on the odd occasion and the vet then told me that he may not have a chest infection but he could have inhaled fibers from the stick which can kill them, so its is not worth the risk.

As they love to chew you need to make sure they have access to chew toys and raw hide chews as its their way of stress relief. check out my guide to chewing