Tennis balls seem like the perfect toy for your dog; not only are they inexpensive, but they are also an easy way to bond with your dog. But according to a veterinarian, this common playtime favourite could pose serious dangers far beyond the risk of choking.
The pet expert, named @JadeTheVetNurse, took to TikTok to warn against tennis balls. Beginning her video, she warned: “Tennis balls are terrible for your dog’s teeth. And as a UK-registered veterinary nurse, I would never recommend anyone giving a tennis ball to their dog for them to play with.”
Why are tennis balls bad for your dog?
Jade continued: “So, tennis balls are covered in this fuzzy felt material that is really abrasive. It basically acts like sandpaper to wear your dog’s teeth down.
“Not only that, but when you throw the ball and it goes rolling through mud and dirt, grit and sand, all of that extra coarse material gets caught up in the fibres that basically makes the tennis ball even more coarse and causes even more damage to your dog’s teeth.”
Jade further shared: “I have literally seen dogs’ teeth worn flat to the gum with tennis balls, and it’s this sort of obsessive behaviour of chasing them and tearing them up, so I would never recommend that anyone ever gives their dogs tennis balls.
“I would recommend a safer alternative, something a bit more durable. Again, this is super easy for your dog to break and rip up, which then also becomes a choking hazard and causes blockages in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract. So, find a safer alternative, always play with your dog supervised, and never give your dog a tennis ball.”
Experts at Sierra Veterinary explained that the process that damages your teeth is called blunting. Over time, this type of wear can actually carve tennis ball–shaped grooves into the surface of your dog’s teeth.
The damage is permanent, often painful, and can make chewing difficult. It also weakens the teeth, leaving them more vulnerable to cracking or breaking.
How to play safely according to Sierra Veterinary
- Only use the ball for fetch, and don’t leave it lying around for your dog to gnaw on all day.
- Never allow your dog to play without your supervision.
- Discard any ball that begins to show signs of wear and tear.