It's the most common concern we hear about coffee wood chews, and it's a fair one. Here's what you need to know.
Traditional wood can fracture under pressure and create sharp, dangerous shards. Coffee wood behaves differently. Its dense, tightly interlocked grain gradually frays as dogs chew, producing soft fibers rather than breaking apart like a typical stick.
Because coffee wood is a natural product, small splinters can occasionally occur. If you notice any larger pieces, simply remove them and continue supervising your dog. The loose fibers and small pieces produced through normal chewing are digestible.
Two Quick Rules for Safe Chewing
Choose the right size: If the chew is too small, your dog can apply crushing pressure instead of gnawing. When in doubt, size up so they can safely work the ends of the chew.
Limit chewing sessions: Keep sessions to around 20 minutes. This helps prevent your dog from swallowing too many fibers at once and gives their jaw muscles a break.
The bottom line: pieces will come off, that's how the chew satisfies your dog's natural urge to chew. Choose the right size, supervise chewing, remove any larger splinters if they appear, and your pup is good to go.