Alice White
Many owners of their beloved pets prefer a tennis ball as a toy. Indeed – comfortable in size, bouncy, quite firm, and at the same time elastic, and the animal likes it. Only none of them even think about the fact that a tennis ball can be dangerous for a dog. Why?
This is not for dogs!
Tennis balls are not suitable for playing with dogs. This sports equipment was originally created exclusively for playing tennis – the ideal tool for athletes. Therefore, this item has not been tested for animal health safety.
Manufacturers of tennis balls choose the materials for their products that are suitable for the main purpose of this item. They are not obliged to take care that rubber and paint are non-toxic and that the fleece does not irritate the mucous membrane, etc.
Therefore, a tennis ball for a dog is not a toy! It can cause serious injury.
Tooth trauma
A tennis ball is made very durable because it must be constantly hit by a tennis racket and bounce off the ground. Therefore, its surface is specially designed for this, not canine teeth.
The top of the tennis ball is covered with felt, which consists of coarse nylon fibers impregnated with paint and other chemicals. This texture is very popular with dogs. Therefore, they happily bite it, chew it, and even try to nibble it off.
It is clear that such entertainment is not at all good for the health of the animal. Pet teeth are especially affected. This nylon coating, although soft, can be compared to emery. When a dog chews a tennis ball frequently and catches it with his teeth, the fibers are very abrasive on the tooth enamel. Eventually, this leads to tooth damage and pain.
Harmful materials
In the production of tennis balls, materials are used that are harmful to animal health. After all, it is not at all supposed that the dog will chew on the ball and some of the fibers of the coating or even pieces of rubber can get into its stomach.
Even if the animal does not bite off pieces from the ball, it still takes it in its mouth, carries it along, licks it. The dog’s saliva and mucous membranes are then constantly exposed to toxic substances that are part of the paint, fibers, and rubber. Accordingly, the poisoning occurs slowly, day after day, almost imperceptibly.
However, then do not be surprised that the pet will have problems with digestion, irritation of the mucous membranes. Diseases caused by poisonous paint will occur.
Mechanical damage
During the game, the dog will happily bite the ball. Some animals are very fond of chewing balls, and not just carrying them in their mouths and catching them. A nibbled piece of a tennis ball can cause constipation or even intestinal obstruction. An operation to remove such a foreign object will be required.
Small pieces, fibers, and tennis ball crumbs will accumulate in your stomach for years, interfering with digestion.
A larger piece can get stuck in the esophagus – there is a danger of suffocation. It is especially dangerous when a large dog takes one or even several balls into its mouth entirely. We are moved by looking at such a picture, however, it is dangerous for the life of the animal! In a fit of emotion, the animal can bite through the ball, squeezing it. The air will come out of the ball, and it will mechanically move deep into the mouth, up to the softest palate. Then the dog will definitely make a movement with its jaws, trying to free itself from the ball. However, air will instantly fill the ball through the bitten hole, and it will return to its original shape. Thus, the ball will get stuck and complete blockage of the respiratory system will occur.
It’s good if the owner is there in a similar situation! After all, the account in the struggle for life will go for seconds! Besides, it will be very difficult to extract it …
Which ball is suitable for a dog
Better to give up a tennis ball for your dog. Today, in any pet store you can find a large selection of special balls that will not harm your pet’s health. They are made of special safe rubber and treated with paints that are harmless to animals.
Even if it happens that the dog chews off a piece of such a ball, it will safely pass through the digestive tract with food and come out with excrement. In this case, it will not cause any harm to the mucous membrane.
Well, the possibilities for a variety of games with such balls are simply unlimited. For example, there are special glowing balls so you can play with them on an evening walk. Balls that stick well to the surface of the water. It will be interesting for a dog to play in the summer heat with such a wonderful toy in a shallow pond, pool, or just in a basin.
You can find a squeaky ball that makes funny sounds when the dog bites it. There are special balls that have excellent characteristics for throwing over long distances. For such balls, you can also purchase a special catapult, which will be launched automatically. There are balls on the ropes – it’s so great to play “constrictions” with them.
And, by the way, there is also a ball on sale that looks very similar to a tennis one. If your pet loves tennis balls so much, then you can easily pick up a replacement for them.
However, do not forget that ball games should only take place under your supervision. Do not leave the ball in a place where your dog can easily reach it when alone.
If your pet is very fond of chewing balls, then it is better to buy him a special chewing toy. They may not necessarily be spherical, like balls, but fulfill their main function – to be safe and satisfy the dog’s needs for “biting”.
In such a situation, you can replace a toy with a bone made of tendons – then the pet will get a lot of pleasure from chewing because it will also feel a pleasant taste for it.
Be attentive, take care of your cute pets, may they always be cheerful and healthy!
