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Tennis balls are the quintessential modern dog toy. My dog can sniff them out of roadside ditches, and nothing gives her as much joy as chasing after them in a wide-open field. However, tennis balls are a special toy in our household, reserved for supervised playtime.
This is because, while they are undeniably one of the most beloved dog toys out there, tennis balls can pose health risks for dogs.
My dog loves chomping on tennis balls until they pop. Dogs with powerful jaws like hers can easily break tennis balls in their mouths. This can lead to serious choking hazards. Sometimes, one-half of the tennis ball can get lodged in the back of their throats, blocking the airway. If this seems far-fetched, you may have heard that Oprah Winfrey’s Golden Retriever, Gracie, choked to death on a plastic ball.
The ball itself is not the only choking risk. Some dogs enjoy shredding the yellow-green fuzz that surrounds the tennis ball. Eating this fuzz can lead to choking hazards and intestinal blockages that could require surgery.
Choking hazards aside, tennis balls pose another risk: dental wear and tear.
That green fuzz might seem soft, but tennis balls are designed to withstand tennis courts and rackets. Dr. Thomas Chamberlain, a board-certified veterinary dental specialist, warns that the fuzz is actually quite abrasive, and accumulated dirt and sand increases the abrasive quality of the ball. As your dog chomps on a tennis ball, the fuzz acts like sandpaper, gradually wearing down her teeth in a process called “blunting.” This can eventually lead to dental problems such as exposed tooth pulp and difficulty chewing.
Should dogs play with tennis balls?
Although there’s no denying the upsides to playing with tennis balls (price, easy to find, etc.), they come with many risks you may not have thought of. The team at Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery — or Wellpets, as their site is named — has put together some helpful reminders about the silent dangers of tennis balls.
Tennis Balls Can Cause Dental Damage
Even if your dog doesn’t try to eat his tennis ball, it may still cause him harm.
The outer covering of a tennis ball is quite abrasive, so abrasive that it can wear down a dog’s teeth – sometimes severely. After years of this kind of wear and tear, it may become possible to see tennis-ball-shaped grooves on the inside surface of a dog’s canines that correspond with the way he carries the ball in his mouth.
This kind of damage can cause considerable pain and make it difficult for your dog to eat. It may even make your dog’s teeth more susceptible to breakage.
FAQ
Are Wilson tennis balls toxic to dogs?
What balls are safe for dogs?
Is there a difference between dog tennis balls and regular tennis balls?
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- WestPaw Designs Zooflex Jive (small, medium, & large sizes)
- ChuckIt Kick Fetch Max Glow Ball (small & large)
- ChuckIt Kick Fetch (small & large)
- ChuckIt Indoor Ball.
- ChuckIt Ultra Ball (Various sizes)