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Your dog’s toys are an important part of their life. They can spend hours upon hours playing with certain toys. But what happens when the toy breaks and you notice your dog is eating their toy… Are dog toys safe to eat?
Are Dog Toys Safe To Eat:
Dog toys are not safe to eat. When a dog swallows pieces of a toy it can be a choking hazard, they could be consuming toxic materials or it could disrupt their digestive tract. If one of your dog’s toys starts to break apart it’s important to take it away.
In this post we dive into the steps you should take if your dog eats their toy, why dogs eat their toys in the first place, which toys are safe to eat and much much more.
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
Should I Be Worried If My Dog Ate Some of Their Toy?
Eating toy pieces or swallowing whole toys can definitely be a choking hazard. Swallowing certain toys could disrupt their digestive system, or introduce harmful substances to their body.
Small pieces may pass through their digestive system without causing any major damage.
Dogs have eaten pieces of toys before without any issues. The problem is you don’t want it to become a habit as this increases the odds that one time they do eat their toy it does cause them harm.
Whenever a dog starts chewing off and eating parts of their toy they’re at risk of choking.
Follow these steps to take care of your dog if you caught them eating their toy:
Step 1:
Take the toy away and check their mouth for toy pieces.
Step 2:
Inspect the toy to see how much of the toy is missing to get an idea of how much your dog ate (if you weren’t able to get it all out of their mouth from step 1).
Step 3:
Throw the toy in the garbage. Once it’s been weakened it’s only going to break apart more.
Step 4:
If they ate a small piece from the toy they’re likely going to be okay. If you’re concerned it’s never a bad idea to take them to the vet. Better to be safe than sorry.
OR
If they ate a lot of the toy immediately take them to the vet to see what they advise.
Dogs have passed away from eating toys so this shouldn’t be taken lightly. These steps should be done as quickly as possible after seeing your dog is eating their toy.
Why Does My Dog Eat Their Toys?
Dogs have an innate desire to eat different things. It’s quite natural dog behavior.
They explore the world through their mouth and nose and are extremely curious.
Also, dogs tear up their toys instinctively because it feels right to them.
Since they’re the descendants of wolves, whenever they get something in their mouth they feel compelled to rip it apart and eat it.
They’re unaware of the dangers that come with swallowing the toy. They’re eating it because it feels natural to eat after tearing something apart.
Dogs can eat toys due to boredom, lack of stimulation or anxiety. They find the action fulfilling and a way to distract them from their environment.
What Toys Are Safe for Dogs to Eat?
No toys that you purchase from the pet store are safe for dogs to eat. So, ensure they never swallow bits and pieces of soft toys, puzzles, or fuzzy toys.
However, ‘toys’ like edible chew toys, dental sticks, and animal bones are the safest for dogs to eat. These ‘toys’ don’t contain any plastics, wax, wool, or other toy materials that can harm your pet.
They’re designed to be consumed. Any toy that wasn’t designed to be consumed should absolutely not be eaten by your dog.
It’s never a bad idea to keep an eye on your dog as they play with their toys.
How Do I Know If a Toy Is Safe And Unable For My Dog To Eat?
Choose slightly bigger toys as your pup won’t be able to swallow them whole. Also, remove parts that your bestie can eat, such as ribbons, eyes, and strings.
When buying toys, check the labels to see if they are dog-proof. Such dog toys don’t have dangerous fillings such as nutshells or polyester bids which are indigestible.
Get toys that are made from hard rubber as they are not easily destructible. Your pup won’t be able to bite off small pieces and eat them.
Other safe toys are the distraction toys which contain broken-up treats. AS your dog plays with the toys, they get to take some goodies out and enjoy. Some include the busy box or feeder dog toys. These toys are quite helpful for dogs who eat their food too fast.
Are Toys Made in China Safe for My Dog?
Unfortunately, dog toys made in China aren’t the safest for your dog.
These toys are hazardous because of the materials the manufacturers use. Tests done on them reveal large quantities of harmful substances like lead, phthalates, and BPA.
Your best option is to only bring home toys made in the USA by trustworthy manufacturers.
Best Dog Toys So Durable They Can’t Be Eaten
Benebone Real Bacon Wishbone
Features
• Tough Chew Toy
• Made in America
• Easy To Pick Up & Chew
• Real Bacon Flavor
Description
The Benebone Real Bacon toy is designed in the shape of a wishbone and has a natural bacon flavor.
It’s durable and made using quality material that’s safe for your furry friend. It’s great for dogs that are super chewers. You won’t have to worry about replacing the toy very often as it’s designed to hold up to tough chewers.
It’s made in the USA, and the manufacturer is always available to chat if you have any issues.
Goughnuts
Features
- Virtually Indestructible Chew Toy
- Made with Natural Rubber
- Guaranteed For Life
- Comes In Many Shapes & Sizes
Description
Goughnut dog toys are some of the best around. They’re made with 100% natural rubber and designed to be as indestructible as a dog toy can be.
This means there’s a much smaller chance that bits of the toy will break off and become a choking hazard for your doggo.
What’s also great about Goughnuts toys is that they come with a life-time guarantee. If your dog is able to chew through the outer layer of the toy, they’ll replace the toy.
How To Stop a Dog From Eating Their Toys
A super aggressive chewer and destroyer can be a cause for concern for any dog mom or dad.
Such a dog can’t stop eating their toys no matter how often you try to caution them. Not to worry though, there are a few things you can do to stop your dog from eating their toys.
The first thing you want to do is find out the cause.
Head to the vet and rule out any medical issues causing your dog to excessively chew and eat their toys. A puppy eating toys is quite common as they’re young, but for an elderly dog, this can be an indicator of a health concern.
Once you rule out any health concerns, the next step is to take some preventive action.
Check which type of toys your dog loves to break apart and eat. If you notice there’s a particular type of toy they’re choosing to destroy, work on allowing access to the toy only for a short time.
If it’s any and all toys your best bet is to take their toys away when you’re not around.
This makes sure your pup won’t destroy and consume any of their toys when you aren’t at home. Always be present as they play with their favorite toys so you can stop them when they start to tear the toy apart.
Final Thoughts
If you ever notice missing pieces from their toys, monitor your dog and take them to the vet if you see any signs of an issue. Also, it’s not a bad idea to learn how to do Heimlich Maneuver for dogs in case of choking emergencies.
Hard rubber toys are by far the best for your pup and growing dogs to satisfy their innate need to chew aggressively. Always be on the lookout if your dog eats small pieces or swallows a large portion of the toy. Visit a vet and also get rid of the broken toys.
Other posts you might find interesting:
Why Are Dog Toys So Expensive? (Simply Explained!)
Are Dog Toys From Dollar Stores Safe? (The Truth…)
Dog Toys Safe For Babies? (What You Need To Know!)