Toys Not Recommended for Dogs

One of the most rewarding parts of living with a dog is watching them have fun playing, whether with us or with a toy. Even so, besides the fun, the truth is some toys can be highly dangerous for dogs, and plenty of owners aren't aware of it.

Because of this, today at SoyUnPerro, we want you to recognise toys not recommended for dogs and save yourselves scares and even accidents that could endanger your best furry friend's life. Shall we start?

Are Toys Important for Dogs?

Although dogs can also entertain themselves without toys, these can greatly enrich play, breaking the routine and adding an extra ingredient of imagination and innovation. What's more, they help strengthen the dog-human bond.

Toys are hugely healthy for dogs, since play is an essential aspect of dogs' mental and physical development. They develop their intelligence, prevent boredom and anxiety, keep them active and agile, and even help them maintain a clean mouth.

Why Does It Matter to Choose Toys Specific to Dogs?

To have a good time with their pets, plenty of owners use anything as a toy, from old cuddly toys, tennis balls, toys not made for dogs and so on. Even so, choosing your dog's toy is a serious matter. Not everything works!

Some "toys" can be highly harmful to dogs' wellbeing. Just as you need to buy toys specific to and suitable for children's ages, the same goes for dogs. We need to make sure we offer toys made for dogs and suitable for their age and breed.

Toys specific to dogs need to be sturdy and long-lasting, so that, however much the dog tries to destroy them with their jaws, they keep their original shape, with no materials breaking off that could poison or choke the dog.

Although sturdiness should be the basic quality of any dog toy, we need to pay close attention to the information given on the label.

• Make sure the product is suitable for your pet — a cat toy isn't the same as a dog toy.
• Pay attention to the recommended age. A puppy toy could be dangerous for adults.
• Check the materials. Avoid materials that are too hard, which could damage your dog's jaw and hurt them. Don't opt for overly fragile materials either, since you'll only end up with them swallowing pieces once they break them.

Likewise, avoid painted materials, since, once bitten, that paint will end up in the dog's stomach, posing a toxicity problem.

• Make sure the toy is bigger than your dog's mouth, so you avoid them swallowing it.
• Find out whether the toy needs your supervision, or whether the dog can play with it alone.

Toys Not Recommended and Dangerous Ones

Below, we offer a specific, detailed list of items that shouldn't be used as toys for dogs. If for whatever reason your dog swallows or chokes on any of these toys, you should see the vet immediately.

Sticks and Stones

Often, owners forget to bring the dog's toys when going to the park and opt to entertain them with sticks and stones instead. This is a mistake. Stones damage dogs' teeth and gums when they try to catch them in mid-air. They can even break their teeth.

Sticks also wear down teeth and shed splinters dogs can swallow, causing intestinal problems, just as could happen if the dog also decided to swallow a stone. Better to remember to bring their toys instead.

Dolls and Cuddly Toys

As we've already explained, what's suitable for children may not be for dogs. We need to tell apart toys for our kids from those meant for pets, and keep things organised at home.

Cuddly toys' stuffing, often made of polystyrene beads, is toxic for dogs. Likewise, dolls' fragile accessories or parts, or the easily removable eyes on cuddly toys, can cause poisoning or choking in our dog.

Tennis and Golf Balls

Although it's a very typical choice, tennis and golf balls are harmful to our dog. Their make-up includes glass fibres, a material that wears down their teeth, like sandpaper.

If our dog only plays with these balls occasionally, there won't be a problem, but if they do it regularly, they'll have dental problems over the years. Choose other balls suitable for dogs instead!

Rope Toys

This type of tug toy tends to be highly beneficial for dogs, since besides entertaining them, they help clean their teeth. Even so, we need to be careful with strands that come loose from the ropes, which our dog could swallow.

Usually, after swallowing them, the dog passes them in their stool, but it can also happen that they get stuck and your dog struggles to defecate. This is a problem that needs attending to by the vet, just as when the dog swallows any other foreign object.

Just as happens with rope toys, which wear down with use, we need to throw away every dog toy that's broken or worn out, since these will also be dangerous.

Toys That Are Too Small

Remember to bear your dog's size in mind when buying them a toy. If you have a medium or large dog and give them a small toy, even if it meets the rest of the requirements for a suitable dog toy, you're putting their health at risk.

Not only can they choke and struggle for air, your dog can also swallow a ball or toy entirely if it's small for them. In both cases, you should see the vet urgently.

That's why it matters to always offer toys the same size or bigger than your dog's mouth. The same goes for toys' small accessories. Be very careful with buttons, bells and other accessories.

Household Objects

Besides being bad for us, since they ruin our furniture and household items, our dog playing with household objects, clothing or even rubbish is also dangerous for them.

As happens in most cases, the dog can be poisoned by swallowing a toxic component, choke, or get something sharp stuck in them. What's more, other serious consequences can happen, such as the possibility of electrocution from playing with cables and sockets.

If you don't want to suffer terrible consequences, you need to train your furry friend and correct this behaviour with positive reinforcement from puppyhood.

Rawhide Bones

Rawhide bones are also very useful for your dog's oral hygiene. Even so, if your dog is very anxious, they can also choke on large pieces.

What's more, these products' make-up softens, thickens and increases in size once it comes into contact with your friend's gastric juices. This way, your dog's stomach swells up and can lead to a digestive blockage.

If your dog loves these "toys", choose good-quality rawhide bones that aren't excessively white or scented, since these carry the most chemical elements.

Painted Toys

Remember toys coated with artificial paints are harmful to your dog. Avoid buying balls and toys with very bright colours, since these tend to contain lead or other toxic materials. Choose single-colour toys with no extra paint instead.

Laser Pointer

Although it may seem hugely fun and amusing to watch the dog chase the laser, the reality is the dog suffers frustration and anxiety from never being able to achieve their goal: catching the light.

This way, when we play with the laser pointer with our dog, we put the dog's mental and emotional health at risk. What's more, let's not forget the damage it could cause to your dog's retina if you accidentally point it at their eyes.

Frisbees or Flying Discs

The problem with these toys comes from the material they're made of. Since they're usually very hard, they can damage dogs' teeth.

That's why frisbees or flying discs aren't the best option to leave dogs with when they're alone at home. On the other hand, they're an ideal toy for training them and having a great time when we play with them.