Be careful of dog toys!

tsukitsunetsukitsune
edited August 2008 in General
Dog toys are a fact of life, but some are just unthoughtful and dangerous.

Which toys do you NOT recommend?

Please see this link about the red pimple ball marketed by Four Paws that caused unbelievable damage to a lab-mix's tongue: http://thechaistory.blogspot.com/
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Comments

  • KaddyKaddy
    edited November -1
    Ouch!!! That poor dog :o( , and GRRR @ Four Paws for their responses.
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    That is horrible to watch!

    I work for my Vet (for the last 12 years), and having helped extract from the paws, ears, noses, mouths and digestive tracts of dogs the following list of items somebody somewhere thought would make a suitable toy, I do not recommend:

    Rawhide rectangles
    Pigs ears
    The squeakers inside plush toys
    Google eyes
    Lego trees
    Rocks
    Golfballs
    Tiny bouncy balls (Zanies)
    Bells
    Sewing needles and yarn
    Fish-hooks
    Cat toys
    Porkchop bones
    Pantyhose
    String and dental floss
    Pill vials
    Seeds
    Beads
    Grass
    Glue
    Hairballs
    Plastic bags
    Cheap-o squeaky toys

    Also, I think anything where a limb or head can get caught is off limits:

    (Toy) tires bigger then neck circumference
    String
    Doll clothes (yuck-who wants to dress their shiba up anyway?)
    Chains

    Lazer lights (cause OCD and nerosis but they sure are fun!)

    Poor Beebe :(, all she has are expensive nylabones and kongs, how boring.
  • ljowen123ljowen123
    edited November -1
    You guys know that the parent company that I work for owns Nylabone...well, they also own Four Paws. I've contacted my people at Four Paws to find out what's going on in the case of Chai - I do know a voluntary recall has happened, but I don't know anything beyond that, at the moment. As soon as I find out more, I'll let you know.
  • JessicaRabbitJessicaRabbit
    edited November -1
    Beebe could commiserate with my pack except they also get the Planet Dog toys. Those are tough as all get out and have nothing bad in them
  • SangmortSangmort
    edited November -1
    Every thing on Lindsay's list lhaha

    When I was going to buy my pup in preparation all I bought were the nylabones [ the new extreme type ones they have ] & suitable kongs ;p Oh & rope toys lol~
  • brandon_wbrandon_w
    edited November -1
    Planet Dog made an awesome donation to our picnic, their toys are great.

    Nemo doesn't play with toys much unless they are filled with food. He does get supervised time with stuffed toys, but he's an old man now and doesn't even get that into them.
  • HeidiHeidi
    edited November -1
    I think most of the toys available at the petstore are crap (depending on which store you go to). They are overpriced, don't last, and some are a hazard because they are so easy to rip into little bits. I stick with brands with good reputations like Busy Buddy and Kong or anything that gets a good review from someone I trust. There's a locally owned petstore that I really like because they sell good food and toy brands and don't sell any animals, but other than that, I'm disappointed with pet products and petstores in general.
  • MommyofNikoMommyofNiko
    edited November -1
    Ditto-All we have are kongs, empty marrow bones and nylabones. The only stuffed toys my dogs get are ones given to them, Niko is supervised while she kills and then they are thrown away.
    This took less than 2 minutes, though she is very meticulous on pulling out the stuffing.
    Photobucket
  • LeonbergerLeonberger
    edited November -1
    That story is scary! 8-|
    Around here all toys are either cotton rope or stuff to stuff with food.Ah, there's a Nylabone too. Kuma seems to like the food stuffed ones best as he can really deliver a pounding to them so he gets the food.
  • ljowen123ljowen123
    edited November -1
    Apparently, Four Paws has recalled the product and legal is working on a settlement with the dog owner...Unfortunately, I don't have much more that I can say on that matter at this time.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    Don't they test these toys before mass distribution?
  • ljowen123ljowen123
    edited November -1
    From what I understand - they do. Animals are watched carefully anytime there is testing, but an unattended dog, as we all know, can get into a lot of things we'd rather them not get into.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    True, and I'm not trying to be combative with you so much the company tester folks, but this toy turned into a vacuum! This dog lost its tongue! Its so tragic, you'd think in testing the toy, they'd find the issue, even in the slightest, and at another small air hole or something.
    But these things cost money, which I'm sure no body wants.

    A short time ago, John and I decided to really cut back on dog toys, even the christmas presents we get from people of crap toys get brought back (target hates us :). Toys intended for dogs get the shaft a lot of the time in testing - like all those toys made in China found to have unbelievable levels of lead from the paint/dye used. Its a scary, scary thing. Its scarier when children's toys are tested and found to have similar toxic levels.
    So we've cut back on their toys a great deal, I've even started sewing the safe ones back up, but as they are getting a bit older, especially Hachi - she hardly has any interest in toys except the bad cuz or fleece ball, which is great. But even the bad cuz, they chew the legs off so we have to watch them like a hawk.

    Do shibas tend to lose interest in toys with age?
  • TeamLaikaTeamLaika
    edited November -1
    Personally I steer clear of Nylabones. Most are in fact too hard and if you have a powerful chewer, nylabones are often implicated in 4th premolar slab fractures. Ouch! Most veterinary dentists will tell you that unless you want to whack your shin with the toy, it is probably too hard.

    There has been a similar tongue entrapment case with Premier's Chuckle or Waggle toy. Now they are manufactured with a small air hole near the base of each hollow portion to prevent the formation of a vacuum if a dog does manage to jam his tongue in there.

    Mine don't really go for hard toys at all unless it is edible (cow nose, bully stick and the like). They do enjoy eviscerating under supervision. Toys will be around sometimes for months...and all of a sudden, somebody decides it's time to DIE.
  • ljowen123ljowen123
    edited November -1
    Jen - I understand completely - btw, I own no products by Four Paws. I agree on the testing and recalls - too little too late in many cases.

    Jazz is not a fan of most toys - she'll show a little bit of interest and then she's done. Fletch will spend hours entertaining himself with toys.
  • LeonbergerLeonberger
    edited November -1
    While I was holding the Nylabone for power chewers, I noticed it was very hard(I felt tempted to bite it myself, but the store was kind of full) so I chose one of the flexible ones. It will get destroyed faster, but Kuma's teeth won't :-)
  • heem_infiniteheem_infinite
    edited August 2008
    can someone recommend some safe chew toy brands for me. I'm picking up my shiba in a little over two weeks and was planning on going to buy him some toys before then. i know kongs are pretty reliable but are there any others? i've been hearing too many horror stories. here is an updated pic of Kiyoshi. As you can see he'll be in need of chew toys.
  • brandon_wbrandon_w
    edited November -1
    Planet dog has nice puppy toys:

    http://www.planetdog.com/category.aspx?categoryID=5&startpage=0

    I know Kong also makes puppy versions of most of their products that are softer for the puppy teeth.
  • ljowen123ljowen123
    edited November -1
    I'm a fan of thick rope toys, they last for a while and do great for playing tug.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    fleece tugs are durable and safe:
    http://rescuemetugz.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=FleeceTugBallChewDogToys&Sub=5&isThumbs=Yes&Thumbs=200
  • LeonbergerLeonberger
    edited November -1
    I second LJ, I really like rope toys. They can resist loads of abuse, you can just wash them when they get yucky, and they're good for tug. Plus, they clean their teeth.
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    Beebe's favorite toys are food scented or food stuffed.
    Kongs, nylabones, sterilized bones with goodies inside, Buster cube, Goodie ball, and Busy Buddy.

    I think she is allergic to beef bully sticks, but low and behold, I found some organic grass fed bison bully sticks now, so I might try those:
    http://k9rawdiet.com/product.php?productid=147

    The most awsome chewing thing I just found last month, Himalayan Dog Chew-way better than greenies and I think safer too:
    http://www.himalayandogchew.com
    It is very hard aged yak cheese that saliva softens during chewing and little pieces are then crumbled off. This stuff is hard and durable! Large endpieces are completely digested. The girl loves it though and it doesn't reek like bullies, smells like mild smoked cheese.
  • JessicaRabbitJessicaRabbit
    edited November -1
    Yak cheese huh? I am super intrigued...
  • sunyatasunyata
    edited November -1
    Lindsay - Yak cheese? And you are sure it does not start to smell after a while? About how long do they last before Beebe demolishes it? Any idea if they are okay for a young puppy - older than 12 weeks? (sorry to throw out all of these questions at you!)

    I am very intrigued, and think I may give these a try for Bella. She is a very active chewer (but luckily, only on things she knows she is allowed to chew on), and demolishes the durable Nylabones in less than a day, which is why we never really give them to her anymore. We do give her sterlized marrow bones, but I know they can not be too terribly tasty.
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    Beebe shiba is knawing on a Himalayan chew as I type. I get her the large size, about 6-7 inches long, a square 2 inches around for 9$ (expensive). She used to eat the foot long bully sticks in 30 minutes (7$), a large geenie (3$) in 1 minute tops, and is close to destroying her wolf size nylabone so I would say she is an average to determined chewer. She has been working on this yak chew for over 2 days. She can only chew off tiny pieces that have been softened by her saliva. It is hard as a nylabone otherwise and impossible to bite in half. She nibbles it off 1 rice sized piece at a time until it gets down to the end piece (the size of a an eraser). You can throw that away but it is totally digestable and has swallowed this piece before (I had a heart attack the 1 time I found it missing and thought- great, time for the Vet again), but she digested the entire thing no problem. If your dog is a gulper, be careful. Puppies chew on anything but be careful not to let them gulp! It has a very mild smell, like a very mild faint smoked cheese when she is working on it and nearly no odor when Beebe's jaws are just too tired to chew it. It sounds like she is chewing on wood when she chews it but it is softer than her teeth, so no fear of damage. When she is too tired to chew it, she will hide it under her bed to save for later. Just yak/cow milk, salt and lime juice (I guess the Sherpas of Nepal eat it as a protein snack). As with all treats, be careful and monitor. Enjoy!
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    is it at all flexible to prevent tooth chipping?
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    No, not flexible, it's hard, but softer than a nylabone. If nylabones don't hurt your dogs teeth...Saliva softens the edge they are chewing on and little bitty pieces the size of rice flake off, the dog is basically whittling it down.
  • sunyatasunyata
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the info Lindsay. I think I will go ahead and order one. I found them on the following website on sale:

    http://www.bestbullysticks.com/

    They are a fairly local company (in Richmond, VA), or at least to me, anyways.
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    Tell me how your kids like them. Show some pics!
  • KaddyKaddy
    edited November -1
    Thanks Lindsay!
    I found them at a raw store really close to me - looks like the only have one size, so I'll go check it out... but might wait til Keiko is a little bigger.
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