Today in Max’s Safety Patrol: sticks look like toys, smell like adventure, and sometimes cause big trouble.
People covered an 8-year-old Brittany Spaniel who survived a severe stick injury during play. The scary part is obvious; the useful part is knowing that quick emergency care can change the ending.
I love fetch. I do not love sharp wooden chaos spears. Please consider safer toys, especially if your dog runs like a furry missile.
For hard-charging dogs, use rubber fetch toys, bumpers, or balls sized to prevent choking. If a dog is punctured, bleeding, gagging, or suddenly painful, go to an emergency vet.
Source: People, published May 15, 2026.
