This week’s segment features Sully the 4-year-old Irish setter mix!!! Sully came to us for potentially injuring his mouth after playing with a stick. Upon physical examination it was found that Sully had a large wound in his mouth causing significant pain, inflammation and infection was starting to set in. Most dogs love playing fetch with sticks, but what seems like harmless fun can quickly turn into a painful emergency. Sticks can splinter or become lodged in the mouth, causing deep lacerations to the tongue, gums, soft palate, or throat. These injuries are often more severe than they appear from the outside and can lead to infection, abscess formation, or difficulty eating if left untreated. In this video, we discuss the dangers of stick-related injuries, the signs that your dog may have a mouth injury, and why prompt veterinary care is so important. When it comes to fetch, a rubber toy is almost always a safer choice than a stick. Unfortunately, Sully’s wound required extensive surgical repair by Dr. Field but after some time, he has since recovered fully from his injury!!