As originally published by Dr. Dan Hebert in Duxbury Neighbors Magazine, 2024
Folks are always asking us what chew toys we recommend for their dogs. While we are obviously very forward with our opinions on these, I’ve realized that many people will still give their dogs chew toys that have been historically common despite not being on our list. The issue is that many of these items are actually pretty bad for your dog but people have no idea. So, despite always trying to keep things positive in these articles, I decided it was time to tell you about many of the items we hate:
Antlers: Most people feel that these are good since they are natural. The truth is they are the WORST for teeth. Little micro-ripples that travel down the length of antlers as part of the growth process make vibrations as the teeth scrape across them. This will crack the sides off of back teeth (a “slab fracture”) and expose the pulp cavity. The back teeth are very hard to extract and disease of the roots of these teeth can affect the eyes. So, damage to them should be avoided at all costs. There is still some debate about whether moose antlers may be safer as they lack those ripples, but they are still pretty hard and most veterinary dentists give them a hard pass.
Tennis balls: while these are nice a squishy, they can still seriously damage the teeth. The felt on tennis balls will pick of microscopic bits of sand the effectively turn the balls into fine-grit sand paper. There are no issues with this such as broken teeth, but over time, it will wear the teeth down and lead to serious problems.
Marrow bones: While wild dogs do chew on bones, the bones are fresh and have not gone through the sterilization prep that hardens the bones significantly. This can not only damage the teeth, but slow digestion leading to intestinal obstructions or perforation. While fresh marrow bones are not as hard, the raw fat in the marrow can lead to food poisoning or other major gastrointestinal issues.
Poultry bones: As these are more brittle and easily crunched, some people will use these instead of the harder marrow bones. The problem with this is size. After only a bite or two, these bones are easily swallowed and many times they are. So instead of small, chewed up chunks of bone, larger shards are entering the intestinal tract where they can puncture the delicate tissue.
Cow hooves: Like antlers, these seem like they should be OK but have many of the same problems. The first is the presence of the same growth ridges as antlers that can fracture the teeth. Hooves can also splinter, and the small shards can get lodged in the gums leading to root infections.
Nylon bones: While many think these are safer than regular bones since they don’t splinter, they are still hard enough to crack teeth and damage gums.
Sticks: while tooth damage is not as common with wood, the chunks and splinters of wood can get lodged in the palate and gums. Many times, these lodged pieces will require anesthesia to dislodge on top of post-removal care. Wood is also not digestible but this will not stop dogs from swallowing in. While smaller pieces may pass, larger pieces (or a LOT of smaller ones) can lead to intestinal blockage. Sharper pieces can perforate the intestines leading to VERY costly surgery and ICU care for serious infections.