Tips to Ensure You Choose Safe Chew Toys for Your Dog
Jan 24, 2022
Having chew toys is something many dogs enjoy. In fact, they are a necessity for many dogs, especially puppies who need to gnaw on items to help their adult teeth come through.
However, the puppy stage isn’t the only time that chew toys are beneficial. They provide comfort, fight boredom, and give adult dogs a way to alleviate stress. Also, when dogs sit down with a chew toy, they get a jaw and mental workout.
While chew toys are great, finding safe ones is a must. Some tips that will help you with this can be found here.
Selecting the Right Chew Toys for Your Dog
With more than a few options in the dog toy aisle, selecting the safest toy can be a bit overwhelming.
While this is true, there are a few factors you can consider to help ensure you choose the right chew toy for your dog.
Some of the elements that make quality, safe chew toys include:
- Made using a safe material (avoid toxic chemicals)
- Easy to clean
- Big enough your dog can’t swallow them
- Flexible
- No small strings, buttons, or parts the dog could swallow
- Durable
- No sharp edges
- No deterioration as time passes
You can find all types of rubber chew toys that are safe and fun for your pup. Just be sure you do your research to ensure the toy or toys are actually safe for your dog.
Signs of a Dangerous Chew Toy
Some pet parents aren’t aware that certain chew toys are dangerous. Some of the elements that make chew toys potentially dangerous include:
- Toxic preservatives
- Glue
- Food coloring
- Bleach
You must always look closely at the toy’s label before buying it. It’s also a good idea to search for regular toys labeled as safe for kids under three that don’t contain any dangerous components or materials.
While squeakers may seem fun, they can also be dangerous. Toys with squeakers in the center may encourage your dog to find and destroy it. If you do purchase squeaky toys, be sure to supervise your pup when they have them.
Another potentially dangerous type of toy is hard chew toys. There are many options available for sale today. The danger is that your put may fracture a tooth. If you purchase soft chew toys, just make sure they are machine washable.
Choosing Safe Chew Toys for Your Dog
As you can see, there are more than a few things to know and consider when choosing chew toys for your dog. Be sure to keep the recommendations here in mind, which will help ensure you get something your dog will like that is also safe for them.
While this may seem like a difficult task, it does not have to be. The tips and information above provide a good starting point to help you find the toys best for your dog. You can also check with your vet, who may have recommendations.