Updated September 3, 2023
How do you buy toys and chews for your dog that keep them happy and safe? Whether toys are on your new puppy checklist or you just need to keep your dog amused, every dog owner needs to know what’s good.
We vets see what happens when things go wrong. Here’s our guide to what not to let your dog chew and what chew toys we recommend for dogs.
What Dogs Should Never Chew
Sticks
Splinters get lodged in the mouth and throat. Throwing a stick is even more dangerous when dogs either run onto it or attempt to catch it.
Small, Brittle, Cooked or Smoked Bones
Most people know that cooked or cured bone becomes brittle and breaks into sharp splinters. Dog owners need to also know the dangers of feeding undersize raw bones (we recommend no smaller than your dog’s head) or bones able to be broken into fragments. Read all about bone safety here
Antlers
I have seen antlers keep teeth as clean as raw bones do, but I have also seen nasty tooth fractures. They are just too hard.
Rawhide
.Hide chews seem fun at first and look good, but very quickly they get gooey and soft. At this point, many dogs will get the rawhide stuck in the oesophagus or stomach. Then there’s the problem of not knowing how they are made and preserved. The picture gives some people’s opinion.
Tennis Balls
- Tennis balls are abrasive and permanently wear down dogs’ teeth
- They break up into pieces which block the intestine
- Their cover can be stripped off and swallowed
- They choke large breeds
All this is a problem because your dog can find tennis balls everywhere. Cheap balls (like the ‘energy burner’ above) are even worse, as they break up such that we’ve had to remove the pieces surgically. We’ve written a whole page on tennis ball problems in dogs here.
What Else Causes Obstructions?
Of course, dogs can chew up and swallow anything, especially when puppies. In the past 20 years I’ve surgically removed all of the following from dogs.
- cheap dog toys, parts of rubber balls
- rocks and fruit stones
- bedding and blankets
- underwear and sanitary products
- corn cobs, satay sticks
- children’s toys and plastic ware
- and of course, the items mentioned earlier.
And it’s a matter of time until I have to remove a Lick mat. Dog chew toys need to be tailored to:
- The size of the dog. Small toys & balls are a choking or obstruction hazard if given to big dogs.
- Their chewing style. Powerful and destructive dogs may demolish even the toughest toy or bone.
- Whether you leave them unsupervised. Some dogs can’t be left unsupervised with chewable objects at all. Others can be once you know they have a predictable and safe chewing style. Regardless, it’s necessary to always supervise a dog with a new toy.
What Chew Toys Do Vets Recommend?
Although we almost never see problems with these chew toys there is no such thing as a truly indestructible or safe toy and even the safest toys need to be checked for signs of weakness as they age. You’ll find most vets and dog trainers recommend products from the following list of innovative manufacturers.
Kong
Kong make a range of great products but the original Kong is still their classic. It can be filled with food paste (see a Kong stuffing recipe) and when used as a throw toy it bounces in a delightfully unpredictable way. In the picture at the beginning are the standard red Kong, plus a blue veterinary exclusive that is tougher and contains barium (so it shows up on Xray and is easier to find if swallowed). The also make the black Kong Extreme for serious chewers and a softer Puppy Kong.
Starmark
Another leader in dog behaviour products. We use their Bob-a-lot treat dispenser in Susanne’s wonderful puppy school classes. The Fantastic Foam Ball (shown earlier) is an excellent tennis ball substitute in two sizes though the small one is only suitable for little dogs. They also have excellent silicone rubber balls and chews which can be used as treat dispensers.
Nylabone
Nylon bone substitutes have been available for as long as I can remember. The nylon tends to fray instead of breaking so we have never seen pieces of Nylabone broken off or swallowed.
Aussie Dog Products
I have to admit I was unaware of Aussie Dog Products until they received an outpouring of love from our most experienced Facebook community members. They have two very suitable products: the Enduro ball which is extremely tough, and the very popular Staffie Ball, which takes the ball idea in a completely different direction. The Home Alone is a treat dispensing toy.
Rogz
Rogz make lower-priced but still good quality dog toys which are widely available in vets and pet stores. Their rope toy is one of the better ones available.
Do you know other trustworthy toys? Please leave us a comment with your recommendations.
Thanks to Gillian, Gemma, Michelle, Sarah, Jenny, Claire, Kelly, Gabby, Emma, Sandy, Aaron, Stephen and Brooke for your helpful comments.
Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.
My bulldog (with an undershot jaw) had a very distressing incident with a Kong Classic toy where his top teeth and bottom teeth got stuck in the top and bottom hole of the toy and it was stuck fast in his mouth. Thankfully I was there to help him. I would never recommend a Kong toy for breeds with an undershot jaw.
We had a kong into which you can stuff a treat. it was one of those tapering ones, like three small michelin men tummies tapering from larger to smaller. well, our new std poodle pup (18 weeks)started to successfully demolish it with his needle teeth, and proceeded to poo out bits of it for two days.
Hi Caroline – this goes to show that there is no such thing as a truly safe toy. I have seen this, too, even with Kongs, which are probably more durable than most.
Would it be ok to give my 7 month miniature Schnauzer smallesh brisket bones. She seems to handle them but I have heard Schnauzer’s are prone to pancreatic problems
Hi Helena. Personally I wouldn’t worry about the risk of pancreatitis until it happens. Most Miniature Schnauzers don’t get it, and I wouldn’t make it a big part of the decision on whether or not to feed bones. Perhaps of more importance is to consider bone feeding safety tips which you can find here.
How would you rate Bully sticks? Are they safe for my Chihuahua?
Thanks for the question. Bully sticks seem to be reasonably safe in that we have not seen any problems either with parts getting stuck or gastrointestinal upset.