Are your companions toys toxic?
Oh, do our furry friends love to play! And now, Spring is here! What four-legged friend doesn’t want to get out in the warmer weather and have some fun with their favorite toys?
But what if some of those toys can harm Zeldie?
I mean, I have a friend who had a favorite tug-of-war toy that he and Zeldie played with all the time…until Zeldie started pooping out thread! “What’s with THIS?” he thought.
Hey, we live in a time where almost anything is available. Feature: We have diet dog food. Life is so good right now, that our DOGS can get too fat!
The same holds true with pet toys. The fact is, there are a TON of pet toys out there…an amazing variety. But which ones might be TOXIC for Zeldie? As they used to say in the 1940’s, “Let’s have a look-see.”
As we all know, play is an important part in our furry friend’s life. But safety is important, too. So let’s look at a few things to consider that will help us to guarantee that Zeldie gets both.
The first thing to consider is construction. Is the toy tough enough to survive what Zeldie will do with it? Or will it break down and get caught in her throat? Or will she eat pieces of it, possibly causing digestive tract issues? Or might it crack and cut her nose, paws, or mouth? And what might the material do to her teeth?
With these things is mind, it’s always good to know what her toys are made of, and what she does with them. In general, nylon and heavy-duty rubber toys are recommended. But our precious animal companions are individuals, so it’s always a good idea to observe their habits and take it from there.
That said, we’ll want to avoid small attachments, like buttons, ribbons, strings, or tags. These small—or potentially loose—parts can be dangerous for Zeldie, because they can be easily be broken off and eaten, causing choking and/or maybe intestinal blockages.
So….any plush toys you bring home should be embroidered with no loose parts. And cut those stinking tags off, even if years of threatening mattress labels have put the fear of the law in you!
A toy’s size matters, too. Too small? Well, that can be a choking hazard, especially for smaller dogs. Too heavy? Well, that can cause damage to Zeldie’s teeth and/or gums.
A good practice to follow is to make sure any new toy is small enough for Zeldie to carry in her mouth with no problem….but also big enough that she can’t swallow it accidentally.
Have I given you enough to think about? Of course. “But wait—there’s more!” What about specific TYPES of toys? To wit:
Rope: These tend to fray after a while. Once that happens, individual strands can cause choking or digestive system obstructions. (And maybe Zeldie pooping string.) They can also be a haven for bacteria. Not good!
In short, rope toys are fine at first. But keep an eye on their condition. If they start deteriorating, out they should go!
“Squeaky” toys: These depend on Zeldie’s nature. If she’s not overly aggressive, they’re generally fine. But if she stops at nothing to destroy her “prey,” you’ll want to avoid these, because—in her belief that she’s taking out an enemy—she may very well swallow things that she shouldn’t…like the squeaker. Ugh!
Chew toys: You know Zeldie loves to chew. Why else do you hide your slippers from her? And chew toys generally provide a safe and healthy outlet for this…if the size and firmness works for her jaws and teeth. Too hard? It can crack her choppers. Too soft? She might break off pieces….and then we’re risking suffocation or an injured mouth thanks to sharp edges.
There’s more, but you get the idea.
As always, common sense comes into play. We should know our furry friends. We should take into consideration their size. And we should keep an eye on the condition of their playthings.
Of course, if something DOES happen to Zeldie thanks to a…well, TOXIC toy, that’s why we’re here. Make that call: (845) 292-6711. We’ll do everything possible to make sure that Zeldie survives her toxic toy experience.
That said, let’s all get out and play. And let’s make sure Zeldie’s toys are safe and fun for her…we don’t want her pooping string.
She deserves no less.