Safe and Healthy Dog Toys

New toys for our pets are always on our holiday shopping list, and we all want to keep our pets healthy and safe. But we have to do it because no one else will.

There are no official bodies in the UK, EU or USA to regulate ingredients in our pet products or which require disclosure of the manufacturing process. Most commercial toys and chews contain dyes, formaldehyde, bleach, and other toxic ingredients. Many toys are labeled “not suitable for children”. If we wouldn’t give it to a child, why give it to our dog?

Let’s help keep our pets safe with the following in mind:

• Search “non-toxic dog toys” online and check the product details.
• Avoid rawhides, animal ears and skin which are all bleached and chemically soaked. Instead, choose natural antlers, hooves, horns or nylon and nylon-bamboo materials.
• Instead of chemically laden soft pet toys, buy children’s dolls and teddies from a charity shop. They are safe for toddlers, so safer for dogs too.
• Buy human grade tennis balls which are safe for children, not pet shop balls which contain dyes and preservatives.
• Please buy balls which are too big for your dog to close his mouth on. If you can’t see it in his closed mouth, he can easily choke during play.
• Remember to occasionally throw all toys into a doggy laundry.

Loving our companion pets is one of the greatest joys we have. By making these slight changes we can extend their health and make those short lives that much longer.

Happy shopping!

Susan Kazara * Animal Health Consultant * MHAO / STAR