Olive wood for dogs — natural, splinter-free chew toy

Name: Olive wood
Brand: Vitalipets

In a nutshell

Picking up a branch in the park and giving it to your dog is one of the most common reflexes — and one of the riskiest. Most woods split into sharp shards that can injure the mouth, oesophagus or intestine.

Olive wood is the exception. Its fibrous, very dense, resin-free structure doesn't produce splinters: under chewing it breaks down into soft filaments, similar to rope fibres, that the dog either spits out or swallows harmlessly.

Our sticks come from the annual pruning of Mediterranean olive groves. Every winter, olive trees are pruned to stay productive, and the cut branches are usually shredded or burned. We select a portion of them, strip off the bark, dry them slowly and sand them by hand.

No treatment, no varnish, no oil: the slightly fruity woody taste dogs love so much is the wood's own.

What your dog gets out of it

It doesn't splinter

Unlike branches picked up outdoors, olive wood frays into soft filaments rather than breaking into sharp points.

Good longevity

2 to 4 weeks on average: an excellent middle ground between very hard antler and softer yak cheese.

A brushing action

The fibres scrub the surface of the teeth throughout the chewing session and massage the gums.

Zero calories, zero allergens

No animal protein, no grain, no sugar: the ideal choice for dogs on a diet or prone to intolerances.

From an agricultural by-product

The branches come from annual pruning. No olive tree is felled for our chew toys.

Light and portable

With no smell and no grease, it slips into a bag to keep a dog busy while travelling, visiting friends or at the office.

Available sizes

Available sizes
Size	Length	Dog's weight
S	12-15 cm	up to 10 kg
M	15-20 cm	10 to 15 kg
L	20-25 cm	15 to 20 kg

Natural product: every piece has a slightly different shape and size.

Century-old olive tree with a gnarled trunk in a grove

Where it comes from

Picking up a branch in the park and giving it to your dog is one of the most common reflexes — and one of the riskiest. Most woods split into sharp shards that can injure the mouth, oesophagus or intestine.

In use

Red-coated dog chewing an olive wood stick

Dogs that took to it

Red and white dog on its cushion, chewing an olive wood stick

Black labrador lying down, olive wood stick between its paws

A dog's paws resting on an olive wood stick, outdoors

A closer look

How to use it

Choose a suitable diameter and length: the stick must be wider than your dog's mouth. The chart below gives the three available lengths; above 20 kg, switch to antler.

Let your dog discover the stick at their own pace. Some carry it around for a long time before really starting to chew toy.

First sessions: 10 to 15 minutes, supervised
After that: 20 to 40 minutes a day
Check the state of the stick after every session

The filaments that come loose are normal: they are soft and harmless. Do, however, pull off any long dangling fibres, and if needed smooth uneven ends with fine sandpaper.

Replace the stick when it becomes short enough to swallow, or when it splits along its whole length.

Product specifications

Product specifications
Composition	100% olive wood. Untreated, unvarnished, unoiled.
Origin	Annual pruning of Mediterranean olive groves
Hardness	Medium to high
Typical lifespan	2 to 4 weeks for a medium-sized dog
Sizes available	S, M, L — see the size chart below
Suitable for	Occasional to moderate chewers, dogs on a diet
Chewing behaviour	Frays into soft fibres, no sharp splinters
Contains no	Resin, sap, animal protein, grain, meaningful calories
Storage	24 months and more, at room temperature, dry

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Frequently asked questions about this product

Can olive wood hurt my dog?

That is precisely why we chose this species: its dense, fibrous structure doesn't split into sharp shards, it breaks down into soft filaments. The risk is not comparable to that of a branch picked up outdoors, which can splinter dangerously.

What about the fibres that come loose?

They are normal and harmless: the dog generally spits them out or swallows them without consequence. Simply pull off any long fibres by hand, and replace the stick once it starts splitting along its whole length.

Is it calorific?

No, and that's one of the product's big advantages: wood provides virtually no digestible calories. It's the ideal choice for a dog that needs to watch their weight while keeping the pleasure of chewing.

Can I wet it to revive the taste?

Yes. Run it under hot water for a few seconds: this wakes up the wood's natural aroma and is often enough to renew the interest of a dog that had lost it.

Are olive trees cut down for this product?

No. The branches come from annual pruning, an operation essential to the health and productivity of olive trees. They would otherwise be shredded or burned.

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Olive wood