Content
- The Importance of Toys for Dogs
- Toys not suitable for dogs
- dolls and plush
- Pull toys made of rope
- Frisbees or flying saucers
- tennis or golf balls
- Toys too small for our dog
- Very worn or broken toys
- house objects
If you are lucky enough to share your life with a furry and want to offer him the best, you need to be fully informed about many aspects of his needs. For example, we love to play with our dogs, but are we aware of the things we can give them to play with? Just as there are toys that are ideal according to each puppy's personality and age, there are many others that are dangerous for them, although they may seem harmless at first.
Therefore, in this PeritoAnimal article we show you a list of toys not recommended for dogs. In this way we help you to avoid possible accidents and scares, something that your faithful companion will thank you for.
The Importance of Toys for Dogs
It's the same with dogs as with humans, we need entertainment. Sometimes they don't need an object for this entertainment, as playing with each other or someone else is enough. However, toys always enrich the game and make it more fun.
There are many benefits that a simple toy gives our dog, for example, helps a good mental and physical development, but we must be well informed about what kinds of toys for dogs are the most suitable in each case.
Then we show you which toys and objects are sometimes used that are not really suitable for our four-legged friends.
Toys not suitable for dogs
It may seem silly but many times we don't think about it, the toys you use with your dog must be marked specifically for dogs or cats. What can happen, for example, if the dog plays with a children's toy?
In this case it will completely depend on the type of children's toys that the dog has access to, but if for example there are pieces like in Lego games, it is quite likely that playing and jumping, the dog could swallow a piece. On the other hand, there are many toys that can be suitable for different ages of children that can be dangerous for the dog, such as board games, experiment kits, puzzles.
In this sense, you should treat your dog like a baby, as most toys that are suitable for babies can also be suitable for our dog, although it is still not the best option, as it is always preferable to choose toys suitable for puppies. For all these reasons, if our small child lives with our dog, it will be a good way to help him understand the importance of tidying up at home.
dolls and plush
In this case, the exact same thing happens, if the doll is not suitable for dogs, we run the risk that this doll, bought at a toy store, despite being for children or not, has components that are dangerous to our dog's health.
The interior of the plush dolls is something important to take into account, as if, for example, it is filled with Styrofoam balls, this toy is dangerous for the dog. In addition, the accessories that the doll may have, such as the eyes, if they are not sewn with thread and securely fastened, it is very likely that our dog will end up pulling them while playing and it is possible that he swallows them unintentionally. Whenever you suspect that your puppy has swallowed something he shouldn't, he should go to the emergency room as soon as possible.
Pull toys made of rope
In principle this type of toys is beneficial, as it strengthens our puppy a lot, entertaining him and being able to share the toy with other puppies, besides helping to clean the puppy's teeth. However, they are part of the toys not recommended for puppies and we must be careful as the rope fibers eventually wear out or come apart and the dog easily swallows some.
In principle, what usually happens in these cases is that we see the residue of the rope in the feces and so far nothing happens, but it can also happen that they get stuck and make the dog have difficulty in defecating, something that can happen with other types of threads and not just with the strings of toys.
In more serious cases, a problem can occur, such as retention in the intestines and that our dog starts a clinical picture of vomiting and general malaise. We should go to the veterinarian to diagnose the presence of a foreign body in the digestive tract and extract it or help to expel it naturally. Therefore, we must pay attention to the state of our dog's toy and if we notice that it starts to have deteriorated strings we must replace it with a new toy.
Frisbees or flying saucers
Another very typical toy for dogs is the frisbee or flying saucer. The Frisbee itself is a good toy, as it not only amuses the dog a lot, it helps it to spend a lot of energy easily, but it has to be careful with the material the flying saucer is made of. The ideal material is rubber, as hard plastic or similar materials can easily hurt a dog's mouth and teeth.
We have to think that the movement that the dog has to make to catch the disc in the air implies a bite with a "knock" in the mouth and therefore if the material is too hard it will end up hurting the dog. This toy is good for when we play with it, but it's not the best for when they're alone.
tennis or golf balls
It is very typical to use tennis balls, or if the dog is smaller a golf ball. This is actually a big mistake and these toys are not recommended for dogs, as we stop to see the composition of these balls we realize that they are made with fiberglass. If the dog doesn't play with these balls much, he can play with one from time to time, but if it's his favorite toy, it's likely that before he gets old he'll run out of teeth. It should be remembered that fiberglass acts like sandpaper and wears down teeth quickly. Cases have already been reported in which puppies lost their teeth or were practically up to their gums.
In this case we must change the type of ball and avoid using those that contain these fibers, otherwise we risk that in a few years our dog will have serious problems in the mouth and it will be difficult for him to feed, having to switch to soft diets, which requires a more exhaustive oral diet.
Toys too small for our dog
It's fundamental take into account the size of our dog, since depending on that it will be better one or another type of toy. If the dog is a medium or large size, it is very dangerous to give him small balls that he may accidentally swallow.
In a case like this we should try to remove it quickly from the mouth if we cannot do it in a few seconds should call the veterinarian immediately, it can indicate which other maneuvers may be more suitable for this situation. If you have already picked it up and simply swallowed it, you should go to the veterinarian to confirm the presence of a foreign body in the digestive tract and proceed with its extraction.
For these reasons it is really important that the size of the ball or toy is always the same size as your mouth or bigger.
Stones are another clear example of an object that dogs often use as a toy or us when we forget to bring one. But without realizing it, they can swallow the stones when they play with them. Also, even though they play with a big rock it is still a problem as they can hurt their gums or break a tooth. We must watch when we walk the dog somewhere with stones, especially if the dog has this habit and likes to play with stones. Always take a toy with you, this way the dog diverts attention from the stones.
Very worn or broken toys
Although it's our dog's favorite toy, when a toy is too broken it should be played in the trash to avoid the risk of accidentally swallowing any part.
All puppies, but especially puppies and those of a nervous nature, end up destroying their toys, blankets, beds, etc. It is very important to be aware of this, as it can easily happen, as in the case of overly worn wind-up toys, our little friend can swallow a piece and it can end up turning into an urgent visit to the veterinarian.
When it comes to very small pieces or a small amount of what you ingested, it is more likely that you will find the remains in your next stool, but it can also happen that there is a blockage in the intestines and the situation becomes more complicated. Therefore, when you see that pieces of the toy are missing or are lying on the floor, it is best to throw the toy away and offer him a new one.
house objects
There are often dogs that prefer to use things from home to play, regardless of the toys we offer them. This, in addition to irritating us, since they destroy clothes, furniture, decorative objects, etc., poses a danger to our dog's health. In addition to being able to swallow some piece of the remains of the object that they have destroyed, it may happen that any of these things contain some Toxic product and the dog ends up getting intoxicated. It is also very common that the dog likes to go through the garbage and the dangers in this case are the same.
What should we do about this behavior? Of course, try to correct this behavior from the beginning to be more likely to succeed. We must get the dog to understand what things he can play with and what he can't play with. For this training and socialization, the positive reinforcement instead of punishment.
