What Should You Do If Your Dog Ate a Nylabone?
As the name suggests, Nylabones are usually made of nylon, which is a synthetic material made through a chemical process that involves coal, air, and water.
Other Nylabones can be also made from plastic or rubber, which of course doesn’t make them any safer to eat for your pet.
Their main purpose is to help dogs overcome issues like anxiety, channel their destructive behavior, and of course, to help them keep their teeth in good health.
Because of this, it’s common to give Nylabones not only to adult dogs but to puppies as well, especially during their teething period.
If your dog or your puppy ate a Nylabone you need to bring them to the nearest clinic for a check-up.
Big pieces of Nylabone can hardly pass through their gastrointestinal apparatus and therefore are hard to expel through the stools.
How Do I Know if a Toy Is Dangerous for My Dog to Eat?
Nylabone also make edible chews that look quite similar but can be digested and are made of food material, and therefore, do not present a danger if swallowed. Other toys can look similar – such as rawhide chews and animal bones – so it is important to work out what type of toy your dog has eaten. Read the information on the toy packaging before you give your dog or puppy a toy to ensure it is safe for them and you know of any risks.
Any plastic – or fabric-based toy will be non-edible and not able to be digested. This makes it potentially dangerous if swallowed. It is important that if you think this has happened you contact a veterinarian, even if your dog is not showing any signs of illness, as this could develop into a life-threatening condition.
Can I leave my dog alone with a Nylabone?
Generally, the advice is that you should never leave your dog unsupervised when chewing something that could be dangerous. You also need to think about what your dog is likely to do with the toy – will they throw it around and retrieve it, or are they more likely to repetitively chew on the toy?
Different dogs play in different ways and the behavior your dog shows with the toy can determine its ‘breaking point’ as the more stress they put on a toy, the more quickly it is likely to become unsuitable. Supervision when playing with toys is always recommended. The edible chews may be more appropriate for leaving your dog alone with or consider stuffing a rubber toy.