2023-07-10
Puppies need to play, and they really enjoy toys. However, hardchew dogtoys risk fracturing teeth while soft toys risk ingestion and gastrointestinal obstruction, so which toys are safe for them to play with?
Your area of concern is safety, but the answer depends on what your dog likes to play with and which type of veterinarian you’re asking because there is no across-the-board consensus. Just as individual dogs prefer different types and textures, different veterinarians prefer the type that doesn't cause damage seen most commonly in their practice.
Puppies like to chew, especially when they are teething, around age 3-7 months, a bit longer for small breeds. Many toys are available for help with teething. Chewing helps relieve teething pain, which lasts for months, plus it keeps them busy and happy whether you are involved or not. Chewing also helps avoid boredom and can relieve some apprehension.
Interacting during play time with your puppy is one of the easiest ways to establish a bond with your puppy, but let common sense dictate what you let them play with.
Better Toys
Generally speaking, these types of toys are considered to be safe for puppies:
▶ Toys made from hard nylon.
▶ Balls and chewingtoys made of hard rubber.
▶ Vinyl or plastic chew toys for light chewers unless part is bitten off, but not hard chewers
▶ Food puzzle toys can be used at 6-8 weeks of age
Tips to Remember
Toys made for the small mouths of an 8-to-10-week-old puppy may cause a 6-to-9-month-old to choke. Keep the size of the toy appropriate for your puppy’s size.
Toys to Avoid
Toys that are generally not safe – and much of this depends on your puppy’s personal preferences – include:
▶ The hardest of hard toys (the “softer” hard toys are acceptable)
▶ Rawhide or pressed chews (choking or surgery to remove it from their stomach)
▶ Long thin strips of anything from yarn to ribbon (linear foreign object)
▶ Toys stuffed with foam (foam can be swallowed)
▶ Antlers, pig’s ears, dried cow hooves (those can splinter)
▶ Toys with small or sharp metal parts such as eyes, pins, springs, or batteries.
▶ No cooked bones, EVER, throughout the dog’s lifetime. These are not toys, but should be mentioned.
