Can Chewing A Lot On Toys Be Harmful To A Dog’s Teeth?
Sorry, if this is a silly question, but I’ve become concerned! My youngest lab is OBSESSED with tennis balls. I mean, both our dogs love toys, but little Ranger chews on tennis balls most of the day (he doesn’t tear them apart, he just holds them in his mouth and chews and chews!). Could this lead to any dental issues? Should I limit his chewing time or no?
It’s actually good for their teeth. It strengthens them.
If anything you might avoid some dental issues.
Tennis balls grind away on your dogs teeth because of the material on them. Invest in some kong toys, nylabones, and maybe some cow bones fresh from the butcher. He would LOVE that.
Usually chewing on toys is good for a dogs teeth. Chewing on tennis balls should not cause any problems to your dogs teeth. Make sure he does not swallow any of the felt or rubber though. It isn’t good for dogs to eat their toys. Since your dog isn’t eating his toys he should be fine.
My eldest Lab is the same, she would continually carry her tennis ball and chew on it most of the day, she didn’t destroy it just gently chew it. Her canine teeth over time have lost their tips, and are now just flat on the ends, l’m not sure if this is due to the tennis balls, but after swapping the balls for the soft bouncy type they haven’t got any worse.
Tennis balls can be very abrasive on a dog’s teeth. It will wear away at the enamel of the teeth and possibly cause problems in the future. If you were to look at them up close, they’d look just like steel wool. I’d suggest getting rid of the tennis balls.
There are rubber balls the same look and size of tennis balls in pet stores, that’s what I have for my Labs.http://www.petsmart.com/product/zoom/ind…
Use KONG brand tennis balls. Other tennis balls are abrasive and I have seen where dogs teeth have worn down from chewing/playing with them for many years.