Veterinarian Warns of Five Common Mistakes Dog Owners Make

Veterinarian and TikTok creator Dr. Ben Simpson-Vernon, who practices general-practice medicine, outlined five everyday habits he would never use with his own dog. They are: throwing sticks for fetch, giving hard chews such as antlers or bones, feeding raw meat diets, using retractable leashes, and employing shock collars for training. He argues each habit can lead to serious injury or distress for dogs and, in some cases, health risks for people in the household.

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• Sticks: Dogs can impale the back of their throats, and broken fragments may cause airway-blocking abscesses or severe bleeding, sometimes resulting in death.

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• Hard Chews: Antlers, bones, and similar items frequently cause dental fractures; broken crowns expose nerves, creating pain and uneven tartar buildup.

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• Raw Meat: Raw diets may harbor *E. coli*, *Campylobacter*, *Salmonella* and *Listeria* bacteria, posing a transmission risk to humans, especially children or immunocompromised individuals.

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• Retractable Leashes: The extended cord can snag a handler’s hand, causing friction burns, and may yank a dog violently when the leash stops, increasing injury risk for both parties.

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• Shock Collars: Electrical shocks can induce chronic anxiety because dogs often cannot understand the source of the discomfort, leading to a constant state of fear.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against feeding raw pet food or treats to dogs and cats, citing the potential for bacterial contamination. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that raw pet food is more likely than other pet foods to contain disease-causing bacteria.

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In a study of 196 commercially available raw dog and cat food samples, 15 tested positive for *Salmonella* and 32 for *Listeria monocytogenes*.

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“If you have small children or anyone immunosuppressed, my personal advice would be to avoid these sorts of diets,” — Dr. Ben Simpson-Vernon

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