How to choose the best chew toy for your dog

 
 
 
choose a chew toy

The right chew toy can give your dog endless hours of entertainment and mental stimulation all while cleaning their teeth. The wrong chew toy can crack their teeth, obstruct their gut or even pose a choking hazard.

 

 

Make sure you match your dog with the right chew toy by following these toy guidelines:

  • Go big. A toy should never be so small as to easily fit entirely in your dog’s mouth, as this makes it more likely to be a choking danger.
  • Choose no frills. Your dog’s toy should have no ribbons, eyes or other removable parts that can be easily swallowed or inhaled. 
  • Follow the fingernail rule. Toys should be soft enough that you can indent them with a fingernail. Long toys should have a little give, so that you can bend them between your hands. Toys that are too hard (including bones, cow hooves, pig ears, hard rawhides and large ice cubes) can chip and even fracture your dog’s teeth as they chew.
  • Know your dog. Every dog has a different drive to destroy their toys, with some dogs tearing even rubber toys apart in a matter of minutes. As fun as this may be for them, swallowed chunks of toys can get lodged in the stomach, requiring surgery for removal. Choose toys you know can withstand your dog’s bite force.
  • Avoid abrasive surfaces. A tennis ball may be okay for a little chewing now and then, but obsessive chewing of the scratchy, sandpaper-like surface can wear teeth down over time. 
  • Remember: out with the old. If stuffing is showing, rope is frayed or rubber is broken, it’s time to retire that toy to prevent broken bits from being swallowed. 
  • Always supervise. Be ready to take away a toy if your dog is chewing off chunks or biting down hard enough to stress their teeth.

 

Shop veterinarian-approved dental chews that will keep your pet busy while cleaning their teeth. >>