Every dog owner wants to keep their furry friend happy with fun toys, but not all playthings are created equal. Some popular dog toys hide serious dangers that could send your pup to the emergency vet.
Understanding which toys pose risks could save your dog from choking, intestinal blockages, or toxic exposure.
1. Tennis Balls With Loose Fuzz
Tennis balls might seem like the perfect fetch toy, but they hide a surprising danger. The fuzzy exterior can wear down your dog’s teeth over time, causing painful dental problems.
Worse yet, determined chewers can tear off and swallow pieces of the fuzzy covering. These fragments can cause intestinal blockages requiring emergency surgery. Always supervise tennis ball play and replace worn balls immediately.
2. Rawhide Chews
Rawhide treats rank among the most common causes of choking in dogs. When chewed, these treats become soft, gummy strips that dogs can swallow whole, creating an immediate choking hazard.
Even if successfully swallowed, rawhide can swell in the stomach and cause dangerous blockages. Many rawhides also contain harmful chemicals from processing. Consider safer alternatives like bully sticks or specialized dental chews instead.
3. Rope Toys With Fraying Ends
Rope toys provide great tug-of-war fun but become dangerous once they start fraying. Dogs can easily swallow the loose strings, which may wrap around intestines or bunch up to cause blockages.
These string obstructions, called linear foreign bodies, often require complex surgery to remove. Watch for signs of ingestion like vomiting, decreased appetite, or straining to defecate. Replace rope toys at the first sign of damage.
4. Plastic Squeaker Toys
The enticing squeak that drives dogs wild comes from a small plastic mechanism that can become a deadly choking hazard. Once your dog tears through the outer fabric, they’ll often try to remove the noisemaker.
If swallowed, these small plastic pieces can cause intestinal blockages or tears. Some squeakers are small enough to lodge in a dog’s throat. Always discard squeaky toys once they’ve been compromised.
5. Stuffed Toys With Button Eyes
Cuddly plush toys often come decorated with hard plastic eyes, noses, or buttons that curious pups can chew off and swallow. These small parts create immediate choking risks, especially for enthusiastic chewers.
Even if these decorations make it to the stomach, they can cause painful blockages requiring surgery. Before giving your dog a stuffed toy, remove any small parts or choose toys specifically designed for canine safety.
6. Cheap Rubber Toys
Low-quality rubber toys often contain toxic chemicals like BPA, phthalates, or lead that leach into your dog’s mouth during chewing. These substances have been linked to hormone disruption, cancer, and other serious health issues.
Inexpensive rubber also tends to break apart easily, creating sharp fragments that can damage the digestive tract. Invest in high-quality, non-toxic rubber toys from reputable manufacturers that specifically state they’re free from harmful chemicals.
7. Antlers And Hard Bones
Natural antlers and hard bones might seem like wholesome chew options, but they’re actually tooth-breakers waiting to happen. Veterinary dentists regularly treat dogs with cracked teeth from these overly hard items.
Broken teeth expose sensitive nerves and can lead to painful abscesses if left untreated. Dental work on dogs often requires anesthesia and can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Choose chew toys with some give instead.
8. Small Balls And Toy Parts
Tiny balls and small toy components pose extreme choking risks, especially for medium and large breeds who might swallow them whole. A ball that’s too small can lodge perfectly in a dog’s throat, blocking the airway completely.
The general rule: any toy should be larger than your dog’s throat. For reference, if a toy fits entirely in your closed fist, it’s likely too small for a medium or large dog. Choose appropriately sized toys for your specific breed.
9. Toys With Ribbon Or String
Decorative ribbons and strings on dog toys create entanglement risks for curious pups. Dogs can easily get limbs caught in loose strings, cutting off circulation or causing panic and injury during attempts to escape.
If swallowed, strings can cause dangerous linear foreign body obstructions that may require emergency surgery. Remove all ribbons, strings, and similar decorations from toys before giving them to your four-legged friend.
10. Toys With Batteries
Electronic toys with batteries might entertain your dog with movements or sounds, but they pose serious risks if your pup manages to break inside. Battery acid can cause severe chemical burns to the mouth, esophagus, and digestive tract.
Swallowed batteries themselves can cause obstructions or even electrical damage to internal tissues. Always supervise play with electronic toys and immediately discard any that show signs of damage.
11. Water Toys With Mold Growth
Rubber ducks and other water toys with small holes can trap moisture inside, creating perfect conditions for toxic mold and bacteria growth. When dogs chew these toys, they release and ingest these harmful substances.
Signs of mold toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and even seizures in severe cases. Regularly inspect water toys for black spots or musty smells, and replace them frequently. Better yet, choose solid toys without holes.
12. Painted Or Coated Toys
Brightly colored toys might catch your eye at the pet store, but the paints and coatings used can contain toxic chemicals. Particularly concerning are imported toys that may contain lead paint or other harmful substances not regulated in their country of origin.
These toxins accumulate in your dog’s system over time, potentially causing serious health issues. Look for toys made with food-grade dyes or natural colorings from reputable manufacturers with strong safety records.
13. Toys With Stuffing
The fluffy white stuffing inside many plush toys becomes an intestinal blockage risk once your dog tears through the outer fabric. Some dogs will consume large amounts of stuffing before owners notice the toy has been compromised.
This material can’t be digested and often clumps together in the digestive tract, requiring surgical removal. Consider stuffing-free toys or closely monitor plush toy play, removing them at the first sign of damage.