Dog Toys

We all like to give our dogs treats and toys. After all, they too enjoy fun and games and deserve to have something to call their own. Unfortunately, dog toys can get costly if your dog likes to destroy them. Big dogs are especially hard to keep equipped with toys. Perhaps you decide to just let them go on until the toy is virtually gone. But you must keep in mind that not all toys are designed to be destroyed safely to this point. Many can become dangerous after a while.

Toys such as stuffed animals and plastic toys can become dangerous when the parts begin to fall off. Just because you see the pieces left in the floor around the house doesn’t mean that the dog is not eating them. Just one small piece is all it takes to cause the dog to choke. The stuffing can be toxic and can lead to intestinal blockage if too much of it is consumed. The chemicals used to treat the stuffing to be flame retardant is also very toxic. Think of your dog as a small child. Would you trust your 2 year old to not eat something that could hurt them? If you wouldn’t let your child play with a potentially dangerous toy, don’t let your dog do it.
Toys that have the little squeakers inside are an especially dangerous problem. The dog will do anything to get at the little noisemaker. The device is not safe for the dog to chew on. It can easily break apart into sharp plastic fragments that can lead to at best a hefty vet bill and at worst a dead pet.

One way to avoid this is to buy quality toys that either can’t be destroyed in this way or that are designed to not break down into hazardous pieces. It’s better to give your dog one good, high quality toy that several cheaper ones. Your dog will be just as happy.
All toys, no matter how good or bad, are better if they come along with your attention. That is really what the dog is looking for. A simple rawhide bone will quickly be your dog’s favorite if you make it a point to play with him with it a few minutes each day. Make it a habit to give it a few tosses every time you return home from work.

In summary, it’s best to get rid of damaged dog toys before they become a hazard. Purchasing high quality, safe toys will allow you to avoid this problem altogether. If you let your dog play with these dangerous items, make sure that you carefully supervise the animal. Once the get the toy open and are exposed to the hazards, take it away from them. The dog may be temporarily disappointed, but will quickly get over it and will stay safe. There’s no toy that’s so great that it’s worth risking your dog’s life and health.