Finding the proper toy for your dog is essential to keeping your companion happy and active. But knowing what to give your furry friend is easier when you know what to avoid. Many items commonly used as dog toys can pose a danger for your pet.
The iconic dog toy – a stick – is unsafe for your companion. Sticks pose countless dangers to your pet, including the possibility of intestinal damage from swallowing broken pieces and eye and mouth injuries from jagged or sharp edges.
Many animal bones and rawhide chews also pose a risk to your pup. Animal bones are hard and brittle and can cause broken teeth, jaw injuries, gastrointestinal obstruction or rupture. Rawhide chews may be safe for some dogs, but carry potentials for choking, digestive problems and salmonella.
Safety also depends on the individual pet. Dogs with a habit of eating and swallowing anything should be watched more carefully, and you should avoid giving them certain toys, such as socks, stuffed animals and tennis balls that would be safe for other dogs. Be careful to choose durable toys and discard them once they become damaged.
The size of your pet and the toy also should be taken into consideration. Small balls pose a choking risk. Avoid toys with buttons, strings or other detachable parts that can become dislodged and swallowed. Squeaky toys and stuffed toys filled with nutshells or polystyrene beads can pose a hazard when damaged or torn.
Items made in China have raised concerns after many have been found to include elevated levels of lead and other toxins along with dangers from shoddy manufacturing and such problems as sewing needles being left in them. Toxins such as lead, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury can seriously damage the nervous system and can enter the body when contaminated toys are chewed or touched or through breathing in contaminated air.
Choosing products made in the USA will help avoid these risks. The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association said its members are triple checking with suppliers to ensure that their products are tested for lead and other toxins. Companies, including PetSmart, randomly test their products for toxins.
Choosing safe toys for your dog can be difficult. We can help. When in doubt, ask. Let us help take the danger out of playtime.