When choosing toys for your dogs, a lot of things should be considered. Some toys, while popular, can be a threat to your dog’s safety and health. Here’s a rundown of toys you should be aware of and some tips on keeping your canine friend safe. Without any more delays, let’s discuss each one of them.
12. Tennis Balls
Nothing beats the tennis ball for a game of fetch. This game is popular among dog and dog parents because of the interaction it gives. However, Tennis balls can get ripped when your dog bites on them and chunks can cause blockages inside your dog’s body. These balls also have an abrasive side which will wear down your dog’s teeth and may cause dental problems over time. The size of the ball can also pose a danger for large dog breeds as they can swallow them whole.
How To Keep Your Dog Safe: Replace any ball that shows signs of wear and tear, or provide them with balls that are made from dog-friendly materials.
11. Rawhide Chews
If you want your dog to be entertained for a long period of time, you might opt for rawhide chews. However, these toys can break over time due to over use. Chunks or shards can get swallowed by your dog, which can cause damage to their organs or block breathing passages.
How To Keep Your Dog Safe: Supervise your dog’s playtime with these toys and throw them away once they break. In addition, choose rawhide that is made from natural ingredients to prevent them from getting poisoned.
10. Stuffed Toys With Squeakers
Squeaky toys interact with your dogs by making sounds when they get bitten or pawed, and they can last your dog for a long time. However, these can be dangerous to your pets if they rip the toy open and swallow the stuffing inside. These materials can cause blockages, and surgery will be required to remove them.
How To Keep Your Dog Safe: Choose toys that have strong stitching and watch your dogs during playtime. In this way, you can replace the broken toy to avoid accidents from happening.
9. Hard Plastic Toys
Plastic toys are great because they can give your pet entertainment for quite some time. However, these toys can create sharp shards and can puncture vital organs inside your dog’s body. Even if they don’t break, these plastic toys can wear down your dog’s teeth, which can cause dental problems in the long run.
How To Keep Your Dog Safe: If you want toys that can last for a long time you can choose the ones that are made of rubber, which is also a durable but safer material. It will also avoid producing shards that can be swallowed by your dog.
8. Rope Toys
If you and your dog like tug-o-war, then the rope toy is the toy for you. However, The fabric from the rope toy can wrap around your dog’s organs or cause lacerations and blockages when swallowed. Additionally, you can break your dog’s teeth or strain their necks when both of you pull too hard.
How To Keep Your Dog Safe: Remove any string that has unraveled and replace the toy if it becomes worn out.
7. Pig Ears And Other Animal Parts
Animal parts like pig ears or cow hooves can also be hazards for your pets. While they are sold as chews for your dog, they can cause blockages in your dog’s body or puncture organs. Additionally, these can come with Salmonella or E. coli, which can make your pet sick and will need to be brought to the nearest vet.
How To Keep Your Dog Safe: Choose treats that are made with softer materials to keep them from breaking into pieces and go to sellers who test for bacterial contamination for their products.
6. Tug Toys With Plastic Handles
Tug toys can give you and your dog some fun whenever playtime is in session. However, they can also be dangerous when your dog chews on the plastic handles and chunks and shards break off. These shards can cause wounds inside your dog’s mouth and throat, and the chunks can block your dog’s passages and organs.
How To Keep Your Dog Safe: Choose toys that can stand your dog’s biting, and replace the toy if pieces break off from the handle.
5. Nylon Bones
Nylon bones like rawhide are advertised as long-lasting treats for your pets. But they also pose a risk if small pieces break off. Nylon splinters can give your dog wounds in the mouth and throat. Additionally, the chunks and shards can cause punctures and blockages inside your dog’s organs and can cause them pain and discomfort.
How To Keep Your Dog Safe: If the toy begins to splinter you must throw it away immediately and replace it with a toy made of a safer material like rubber. In addition, supervise your dog when playing so you can bring them to the vet if they choke on little pieces.
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4. Compressed Raw Hide Bones
Compressed rawhide bones are made from pressed layers of rawhide that create one big bone. These can be a danger as chunks can break off and choke your dog or can cause blockages in the intestines. Additionally, shards can puncture your dog’s throat, mouth, and organs, and you will need to go to the vet to have your pet checked.
How To Keep Your Dog Safe: Always give your dog the bigger bones as they can stand more bites and will prevent pieces from breaking off. However, if pieces do break, throw them away and replace them with a toy made with safer materials.
3. Frisbees Made With Hard Plastic
Playing fetch with your dog using a frisbee can be a fun exercise outdoors. You can play this on the beach, dog park, or even in your own backyard. But these frisbees are made with hard plastic, which can hurt your dog when it catches it and cause damage to its teeth, gums, or face. Furthermore, these frisbees can get cracks when bitten down and can cause small pieces to choke your dog or cause damage internally.
How To Keep Your Dog Safe: Use a frisbee made with a soft and flexible material that won’t break easily. These kinds of frisbees are gentler on your dog’s teeth and gums as well. Like many of the toys in this list replace the frisbee once it shows signs of breaking and wear and tear.
2. Chew Toys With Bells
Chew toys with bells are another toy that interacts with your pet by making sounds. But when these toys break, your dog can swallow the bell inside, which can cause him to choke. Additionally, small pieces that break off can get stuck inside his organs and cause blockages. When this happens, you will need surgery to remove the hazards inside your pet.
How To Keep Your Dog Safe: Monitor your dog during playtime, especially with new toys that have choking parts. Check his toys for signs of wear and tear and replace them as needed.
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1. Balls With Holes On Only One Side
Balls with holes on one side are an interactive toy that can dispense treats for your dog as he plays. This can be a fun challenge to your pet, but these balls with holes can create a vacuum effect and will get your dog’s tongue stuck, which can cause injuries when he tries to pull his tongue out which leads to excess bleeding and death.
How To Keep Your Dog Safe: Choose a toy that has safety features to prevent your dog from getting injuries, and supervise him when he plays with these kinds of toys.