puppy help

[Marmot]

Welcome to the world of retrievers...

My little guy is constantly gnawing/eating twigs, leaves, acorns...

I sometimes discourage him from eating foliage. I am not going to be overly concerned unless I notice it is affecting him negatively.

Marmot

[fivebucks]

My 9 week old yellow lab does the same thing. It's got my wife worried but I don't think there is anything to worry about.

[SgtCaesarfishinguy]

My 11 week old chocolate is doing the same thing. I addressed it with my vet and he said that it will just come out from one end or the other, and as long as it is not causing the pup to choke it is not a real serious issue. It is annoying, and if anyone else has a remedy for this please share it with us. I just worry if once I get my lawn fertilized will this have a negative affect towards the pups health???

[professor]

I've got a 7 month old golden retriever pup and she is constantly eating and swallowing twigs, grass and leaves when she's outside. She's fed well with sensible choice twice a day. Has anyone else experienced something like this with their pup? Is it some kind of a condition? Will she grow out of it?

[bobber_down]

That's common among labs. Mine's a year old and he still likes to gnaw on branches or whatever he can get into his mouth. The best way I know to handle it is to puppy-proof your yard as best as possible, and replace whatever your pup's chewing on with a chew toy whenever you can. Other than that, whatever they eat will eventually come out.

[This message has been edited by bobber_down (edited 04-06-2004).]

[Swamp Scooter]

Wood, twigs, cans, and even whole trees are on the diet of my Chessie. She is fed well but loves to chew up the wood. She does not get sick really either. I would avoid treated wood or things that may splinter a lot but I do not think there is much you can do.

[Mr. B]

Guys I have a quick question alittle off the topic but I have a two year old lab, that ever now and then likes to eat her droppings. She is fed twice a day Eukenuba. She is health not seeming to have any ill affects but it is a little disgusting. Luckly she is not a dog that likes to lick every one.

Is there anything I can do?

Any help would be great!

[Fisher Dave]

Our lab started right away with the twigs .. eventually it grew into sticks, small branches .. it evolved into small trees ..

It doesnt bother me any, has never hurt him. If the dog feels like he is having more fun because he is dragging a 40 lb log on the way back to the truck .. so be it, as long as he does his job when that time is there.

[Long Gray Line]

SgtCaesarfishinguy,
Tell Ike that his sister Reva and and brother Jonah say hi. Don't worry about the twig thing. It all comes out in the end. (sorry) We've had some limited success with the pepper/capsacin animal repellent spray. You'll need to 'freshen' it up periodically but the pups will go after better tasting stuff like their chew toys. It'll also help condition them to not chew on Momma's perennials!!

[SgtCaesarfishinguy]

Thanks LGL, Ike is doing great, and he is a great pup and very well loved, take care and thank you again for the opportunity to give him a home!!!

[Snag]

My Golden ate a whole sock the other day. I didn't want to believe it even though I saw it with my own two eyes. He yacked it up the next day, but they will eat and chew on anything.

[RB]

Mr.B

Your vet will have a powder to put on your dog's food that will make it's droppings taste bad.

[Boar]

My Grandpa would tell me if a dog eats grass its gonna rain, actually witnessed that happening several times, more so I thinks dogs eat grass and twigs for a colon cleaning of sorts, my lab dose it, all the dogs I have had from beagles to short hairs have done it, heck I've seen cats do it. It's like us eating a salad. Just a good natural laxative. Boar