What About Splinters?
Splinters and wood are a valid concern.
It's probably the biggest discussion point we have about the product. When we say Mumbies coffee wood chews are highly-resistant to splintering, here is what we mean.
A splinter can be considered a sharp fracturing from a larger object. Which of course most woods are known to do. When we refer to splintering, we are talking about the Wikipedia definition of that sharp object penetrating the skin and causing a wound.
Pieces will break off from these chews. They are meant to be destroyed and taken apart. It gives your pup a sense of accomplishment especially if they have no outlet to relieve tension and anxiety.
Think about it. When you're feeling tense or anxious, you can get up. Walk out. And go to the gym — basically remove yourself from the situation. A dog is subject to your command. Mumbies should not be a replacement for activity or an exercise routine with your dog. It should be a supplement to bring more joy into an already healthy life. Otherwise, this will be the only thing they can put their attention into and they will take out all their tension on destroying it.
Now that we know pieces will come off of the chew, we need to understand that these pieces tend to be a lot more dull than a traditional stick you would find in the yard. You can test it by pushing it into you hand. If it's too sharp for your hand, it will be too sharp for the dogs mouth.
If you've ever used a plastic or nylon chew, you know how sharp those can get after chewing and could easily cut your skin open.
You can see how the ends become softer to the touch and there is no concern with it penetrating the skin. Size is an important consideration. If a dog has too small of a chew and can wrap their mouth around it and can crush it, those pieces will be sharper, but still generally safer.
But when you have the right size where they can't crush it and they gnaw on the ends, it continues to soften the wood with their saliva and turns it into more of a pulp. That is why we always say to go up in size if you are unsure.
Also remember that the smaller the chew, the younger the wood. Anyone who lives in an old house would know about the old growth wood and how solid it is. Grab a 2x4 from any hardware store and you will know.
We're certainly not suggesting grabbing any old piece of wood, because that is definitely not safe for dogs. The point is, the aged wood will be larger and harder. And therefore tougher for a dog to get through.
In conclusion, while you should always be concerned and aware of your dog getting splinters, the risk is fairly low with these type of chews. Regularly inspect their mouths to be sure. And when pieces break off, remove them immediately and prevent your dog from swallowing parts of this or any other chew.
