A vet issued a warning to all dog owners against the potential dangers certain toys can bring to their pets.
Vet Alex Crow, who is known as @alex_thevet on social media, says there’s about 7 toys he wouldn’t dream of allowing his dog to play with.
He said: “Here’s the dog toys I’d avoid as a vet! No I’m not trying to be a kill joy, there are just safer alternatives out there!
“Just because it’s sold in a pet store doesn’t mean it’s safe – from tennis balls that wear down teeth to rope toys that can cause gut blockages, some of the most popular toys can actually be dangerous – especially for aggressive chewers.”
To start, he says he would never allow his dog to play with a tennis ball because “the fizz can trap dirt and sand, which then acts like sandpaper on your dog’s teeth”.
Not only does this wears down the enamel on their teeth but tennis balls can be a “big choking hazard” for big dogs.
For an alternative, he says owners should invest in “dog-safe tennis balls with breathing holes in them”.
Next, he says he would stay clear of squeaky toys because “swallowing the squeak can soon end up with them in surgery”, with this being especially true for dogs who like to destroy their toys.
Moving onto rope toys, he warns threads of the toy can cause some serious blockages in your dog’s gut – and you should instead use “rubber tug toys that won’t shred into threads”.
He added: “Number four is antlers or hard bones. They might be natural but they’re not always safe. While chewing on them can break off plaque, it can also just break your dog’s teeth lead to pain, tooth root abscesses and expensive dental procedures.”
While they’re not a ‘traditional toy’, he says you should stop your dog from playing with plastic water bottles because the shards can cause internal damage once they splinter.
Naming an obvious one all owners should know, he says allowing your dog to chew on any toy with a battery inside is a recipe for disaster.
“If they get to the battery it’s toxic, corrosive and an emergency,” he added.
Finally, he says he would allow his dog to play with any toy filled with plastic beads because they can all cause internal damage to your pet if swallowed.
Offering advice, he urged owners to remain mindful when buying their dog’s a new toy and to opt for the ‘correct size and materials’ above anything else.
Commenting on his post, one user said: “My dog died eating a tennis ball, I didn’t give her them because she chews them up, but somewhere she got hold of one, I suspect a dog walk, I found out through an autopsy and the vets found it, so my current dog doesn’t have tennis balls.”
Another user added: “My dog has a toy twice the size of him and he absolutely loves it.”
A third user said: “So no tennis balls, no squeaks, no ropeys and no antlers. Basically my dog’s whole life. Great!”