All of us who have dogs know that when they are puppies they are a little bit of a kaffir and that they have to play with everything that seems in their way, this is why it is so important not to get carried away by their face, their expression and not deceive ourselves with "for once nothing happens", because this harmless action can lead to a serious situation. The same goes for adult dogs. The fact of playing with sticks, stones, or plastic things puts your health at risk, so today we are going to point out dangerous toys for dogs.
Along the lines that make up this text, we are going to indicate the main prohibited objects and toys for dogs that we use daily or have been using. What's more, the vast majority are sold regularly in specialized pet stores, supermarkets and cheap stores such as "los chinos".
And frankly, just because something is for sale doesn't mean it's good, recommendable, or useful. If we want our dog to have a good life, it's best to avoid these kinds of objects and toys.
First we are going to name the prohibited toys for dogs and then we will make small mentions of everyday objects that also pose a risk to their health.
These toys are not suitable for dogs.
When we know the main prohibited toys for dogs, we will not see specialized animal stores in the same way. Nor should we be obsessed, we only inform, in addition, there are many alternatives that are everything that is not on these lists and that by common sense is not a risk for the dog.
String and string toys
Yes, we know, it's rare to find a place without these kinds of dog toys. Well, at first glance, it seems harmless, but that string can get stuck in their throat and cause choking and vomiting , or it can get into their stomach and cause severe pain, or even reach their intestines and require emergency surgery to clear a blockage.
We recommend discarding it when it has loose threads or cutting those threads, but sooner or later we will see threads in their poop and that is when we regret it, so it is better not to offer these toys to our dogs.
tennis and golf balls
Yes, tennis balls are not a good option and much less golf balls because they are hard. We know that dogs tend to bite everything that enters their mouths, so if a golf ball enters, they can break teeth or annoy their jaws.
In the case of tennis balls, believe it or not, they are made with fiberglass , which causes severe wear on your teeth. It's best to opt for alternatives like durable rubber balls, or at least make absolutely sure they are tennis-style balls made without harmful materials.
small size toys
It doesn't matter if our dog is a dog that barely reaches 30 centimeters from the ground, we have to adapt the toys to their needs and that implies weight and size. Nothing smaller than your mouth, and never ever anything smaller than the hollow of your throat.
If we don't follow these guidelines, we're putting their health at risk and increasing the chances of suffocation and choking. Not to mention that the toy could end up in their intestines and cause a blockage, potentially leading to death.
Frisbees and hard plastic toys
How many times have we seen ads, movies, series, training videos, etc. where a dog appeared playing with a frisbee? Thousands. Well, it is also part of the list of prohibited toys for dogs, unless it is made of silicone.
The problem lies with the materials. Anything made of hard plastic with paint and stickers poses a risk to our dog. Therefore, we must avoid toys made of hard plastic with paint that may or may not be toxic or that wears off easily.
By biting down on something hard, there is a risk of losing teeth and causing infections and severe oral pain in our dog. That is why resistant silicone is better.
Plush and foam padding
Another great myth. Stuffed animals and dolls are not a good idea for dogs, as there is usually plastic inside, a hard piece of plastic or a rope toy, other than foam. All wrong… ALL WRONG.
And if it doesn't have that inside, it's most likely a plush toy or doll not intended for dogs, so it's still completely wrong. We can't choose toys that aren't suitable for dogs ; it's a very serious mistake, just as we shouldn't feed them food that isn't meant for them.
Objects that a dog should not play with
In the daily life of a family with a dog, there are dozens of opportunities to play with the dog, and in the vast majority of those opportunities we use the wrong objects, together with the fact that our dog's toys are surely on the previous list.
- Old, worn objects and toys, which may be very dirty. The dog's mouth is his hands and all that infection ends up inside his body.
- Cushions, clothes and slippers. We are inviting you to take what you want because it is a toy. You have to set limits.
- Broken objects and toys of a child or another animal in the house. It may contain loose parts, be made from a non-optimal material for the dog, cause allergies, chew it and cause acute diarrhea, etc.
- No glass, no metal, no pointy, no cables, no key rings, no springs, no decorations, no belts, etc.
- No branches or sticks. Another great myth. The sticks can have splinters and get stuck on your roof of the mouth, between your teeth, in your throat, stomach, etc.
- No rubbish, no toxic material such as "softy", no spray or cream cans, no cans, plastic lids, etc.
- Nothing to play with your feeder or drinker.
- Do not give another animal to play with him in a violent way.