How to Pick the Safest Pet Toys

Unfortunately, all pet toys aren't created equally. Some are perfectly safe, but others pose choking hazards and other safety risks for your beloved pets. At Forsyth Veterinary Hospital, we treat a variety of toy-related injuries. We want to help you pick out the best toys for your dog or cat.

Start by sticking to a few simple rules when you shop. These Winston-Salem pet safety tips could spare your pet from unnecessary pain and suffering. 

Stay Away from Small Parts and Unsafe Stuffing

Safe dog and cat toys come in one solid piece, without any moving or detachable parts that can be ingested. They should also be difficult to destroy, even if the filling is child-safe. Ribbons, buttons, fake eyes, bells, and other parts can be chewed off and swallowed, so remove any of these parts from your Winston-Salem pet toys. And stay away from soft toys that are easy to rip up or stuffed with beads or shells, rather than child-safe stuffing.

If It Squeaks, Supervise

Squeaky toys are fun in theory, but some dogs will make it their mission to destroy the squeaker. This is usually a small, plastic object that is easy to swallow but difficult to pass. If you want to treat your dog to a squeaky toy, make sure you're prepared to supervise closely. It's important to take the toy away as soon as the squeaky center is revealed.  

Choose Rubber Winston-Salem Pet Toys Over Rawhide

Chew toys keep dogs occupied and help their teeth stay strong, but rawhide can actually be very dangerous, so we recommend hard rubber chew toys instead. Sharp rawhide parts can injure your pets internally, while small pieces can obstruct their digestive system. Only give rawhide toys if you'll be supervising closely, but consider upgrading to rubber, which lasts longer and is safer.

Sometimes, pets swallow pieces of toys or entire toys without their owners noticing. If your pet shows symptoms of an obstruction, such as loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea, don't hesitate to contact our Winston-Salem veterinary hospital.