Toys Not Recommended For Dogs

Just as with humans, dogs need entertainment. Sometimes they don't an object to get this entertainment, because playing on their own or with someone is enough. Yet, toys will always enrich playtime and make the experience more fun and stimulating.

There are many benefits that a simple toy can bring to our dogs. For example, it helps their mental and physical development, but we must know well what types of toys for dogs are the most appropriate in each case.

Next, we will tell you in detail which toys and objects are not really suitable for our faithful companions.

It may seem silly but many times we forget that toys that our dog use should always be marked specifically for dogs or cats. What can happen, for example, if our faithful friend plays with a toy meant for children?

In this case it will depend entirely on the type of toys for children. Say your dog gets a hold of small lego pieces, it is quite likely - especially for a puppy - that whilst playing and jumping around they can choke on a piece. Or, there are many other toys that can be suitable for different ages of children that can be dangerous for our dog, such as board games, experiment kits, and puzzles.

In this sense you should treat your dog like a baby, since most toys that are suitable for babies may be for our dog. With this said, it is always better to choose a toy specified for dogs. Remember to teach any children of the house which items are suitable for dogs and which are not.

In this case it's the exact same. If the plush or doll is not specific for dogs, we risk that a bought stuffed toy, whether for children or not, may carry components which are dangerous to our dog's health.

The contents of stuffed animals is an important thing to keep in mind, because if for example it contains pellets of porexpan, it is deemed dangerous. In addition, if the accessories that the doll has (like its eyes), are not sewn with thread but are glued plastic, your dog may swallow them unwittingly. Whenever we suspect that our faithful dog has swallowed something that should not we should go to the emergency vet as soon as possible.

At first this type of toy is beneficial because it strengthens our dog and entertains them while allowing them to play with fellow dogs. It can also clean their teeth in the same way as we floss. However we must monitor this toy because the strands of the rope can end up unraveling and our dog could swallow them easily.

In principle what usually happens in these cases is that we see the residue of the rope in their stool and this is not a cause for concern. But these strings can become knotted and cause dogs difficulty when doing the toilet. This can happen with any kind of strands. not just from rope toys.

In more serious cases there may be a problem such as retention in the intestines and this can cause vomiting and malaise in our pet. We must go to the veterinarian to diagnose the presence of a foreign body in the digestive tract and remove it - or help it be expelled naturally. Therefore, we must be attentive to the state of dog toys and if we see that they begin to have the broken strings, remove it and replace it with a new one.

Another very typical toy for dogs is the frisbee. In itself the frisbee is a good toy because it helps use up a lot of their energy easily. But you have to be careful with which material the frisbee is made of. The ideal material is rubber, as hard plastic or similar materials easily damage the mouth and teeth of dogs.

The movement involved in catching the frisbee includes an abrupt bite and blow to the mouth. Therefore if the material is too hard, it will end up hurting them. This toy is good for when we play with them, but it is not the most suitable for when they are alone at home.

It is very typical to use tennis balls, or for small dogs, a golf ball. This really is a big mistake, because these balls are made with fiberglass. If our dog does not play much with them, it is okay to occasionally play with some. However if they are very fond of chewing this ball, it is likely that before they hit old age they are left without parts of their teeth. We must realise that fiberglass acts as sandpaper and is rapidly wearing the teeth. There have been cases where dogs have filed down their teeth so much, almost to the level of their gums.

In this case we should change the type of ball and avoid using those that contain these fibers. If not, we risk that in a few years our dog has serious mouth and dental problems and we will have to incorporate soft diets and intense oral hygiene maintenance.

It is vital to take into account the size of our dog. Depending on this will be determine the type of toy. If our dog is of medium or large size, it is very dangerous if we give them small balls - when they try catch them in the air they can easily choke.

If this occurs, try to get it out of the mouth as quickly as possible. If you see in a few seconds that you cannot retrieve it, immediately call the vet. They will be able to tell us what other maneuvers may be appropriate depending on the situation. If they are not choking but simply have swallowed it, go to the veterinarian to confirm the presence of a foreign body in the digestive tract and proceed to its extraction.

For these reasons it is really important that the size of the ball or toy that we offer our faithful companion is always the same as their mouth, or bigger.

Stones are another clear example of an object that dogs often use as toys or even us, if we have forgotten a ball and are on a walk. We often forget that they can swallow the stones by playing with them. Having said this, even when playing with a large stone, they can chew it so excessively that they end up damaging their gums or breaking a tooth. We must watch when we take them on a walk in nature and always carry a suitable toy.

Although it is often the favorite toy of our dog, when a toy is broken or too worn we must remove it. If not, we risk that they swallow some part accidentally.

All dogs, but especially puppies and those of a nervous nature, end up destroying their toys, blankets, beds, etc. It is very important that we are attentive to this as they can easily swallow a piece which will lead to an emergency visit at the vet.

When it comes to very small pieces of the toy or if they have ingested little, we will most likely find the remains in their next stool. But, as mentioned previously, they could have a jam in their intestines which makes the situation much more complicated and worrisome. So, as soon as we see missing pieces of the toy or are scattered on the ground, it is best to remove it and offer a new one to our dog.

Much to our dismay, on many occasions, dogs prefer to use things from home instead of bought toys. In addition to irritating us, they can destroy our clothes, furniture, decorative objects, sofas, etc,. This is a danger to the health of our pet. Besides the fact they may swallow some of the remains of the object, some of these things may contain a toxic product and our dog could get poisoned. Likewise, if your dog likes to rummage through trash, the dangers are the same.

What should we do about this behavior? Obviously, try to correct it from the beginning to be more likely to succeed. We must make our dog understand what they can play with and what they cannot. For this training and socialization, positive reinforcement is always recommended.

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