Do Tennis Balls Wear Down Dogs’ Teeth?

May 3, 2012 at 6:34 am

I recently heard a warning about not allowing dogs to chew tennis balls because the “fuzz” will sand down or wear down a dog’s teeth. I’ve done some probing and asked around, and it appears to be true. Puppies in particular are vulnerable to having their teeth worn down if they chew tennis balls. The synthetic fibers in tennis balls can act as sandpaper, wearing down dogs’ teeth in the back, where owners are unlikely to see the damage. But, a dog has to really chew a lot to start wearing down his or her teeth. It would have to be pretty obsessive.

Tennis balls can also cause bowel obstructions if your dog chews them apart. Signs of bowel obstruction are vomiting, especially after eating, diarrhea, and weakness.

Another tennis ball danger for dogs over 80 pounds is choke. Large dogs with large throats can sometimes aspirate the ball, getting it lodged in their throat. A tennis ball is 2.5? wide, so if you have a large or giant breed dog, get a ball that’s bigger than that, or play fetch with another type of toy.

If your dog just fetches and carries a tennis ball around, it’s probably not going to harm him or her, but if there’s focused chewing (like my Lab did), it’s best to find other things to satisfy your dog’s natural desire to chew.

Here are some inexpensive alternatives:

A tennis ball inside an athletic knee sock, tied in a knot at the top of the tennis ball. This gives the dog the same size and chewiness of a tennis ball, without the fibers.A raw bone. Bones are a natural part of a dog’s diet, and as long as they are not cooked, they are safe and even desirable to feed. Our Irish Setter eats a chicken wing or two at every meal and has never had a problem. Make friends with a local butcher and get some natural bones your dog will love. Many dogs want to make “progress” on what they’re chewing, which is why they bite pieces off or shred toys. Bones will satisfy both their need to chew and their need to chew “through” something.A marrow bone. Once the dog chews through the marrow in the middle, you can fill it with peanut butter, spray cheese, or anything you like. it provides a chew that will keep your dog busy. And its dishwasher safe.A racquetball. It has the same feel and similar size, but without the fuzz.

Whatever you decide, be sure your dog has something to chew on. Dog have a natural desire to chew, which should be satisfied with approved toys or treats supplied by you. Otherwise, you could come home to find your kitchen cabinets chewed, or you could start to notice aggressive, frustrated behavior from your dog.

Entry filed under: In the News, Free Tips & Ideas from Dog Owners. Tags: bad for dogs, grind down, sandpaper, teeth, tennis ball, wear.

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KONG Air Dog Squeakair Tennis Balls Dog Toy, Medium, Yellow, 3/pack

Please note: Product packaging as shipped, may not match image on website due to packaging updates.
Interactive Tennis Fetch Toy
Your dog will love you for it™
Non abrasive - gentle on teeth and gums
nonabrasive, nontoxic, meets US and European child toy safety standards (ASTM-F963 and En-71)

Price: $5.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

Rancho Bellue: Wet dogs, tennis balls and a splash of Maker’s Mark

December 11, 2010

My friend Megan is what she calls “creatively underemployed.” She has advanced degrees in architectural historic preservation and once ran a state’s historic trust. These days, though, she’s just … happy. She  has a wonderful husband and works as part-time professional dog-hiker for a SF Bay Area outfit called Smilin Dogs.  I’m not going to say too much about that, because she’s going to write about her work here in the upcoming months. I will say, though, that what she has learned about dogs in her many days of hiking with a pack off-leash is really quite incredible.

I’ve known Megan for many years; my brother has known her much longer. She has always been one of my favorite people to be with: She’s always articulate, relaxed and amusing. Plus, she has good taste in liquor, as you’ll see in the clip. Her family was one of Sacramento County’s first to establish a farm, and she owns the two acres that’s left, with a grand old farmhouse, pasture and swimming pool. Behind the property is a high school that took a huge chunk of the land, and the rest is now houses on suburban streets named for her family. Despite the development, inside the gates of her property is still feels country; it’s a wonderful place to spend an afternoon and bring the dogs along.

Yesterday, she invited me and the dogs over for an afternoon of just hanging out. Here’s a taste of what it was like:

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