Dr Katrina Warren: This is why you should never let your dog play with tennis balls

TV vet Dr Katrina Warren said there is one toy pet owners should not let their dogs play with.

The vet said tennis balls are a hidden danger as they can damage dogs’ teeth and even pose a choking risk.

Dr. Katrina said 9honey The ‘abrasive material’ that tennis balls are coated in could result in a big vet bill for pet owners.

‘In fact, they can damage your dog’s teeth if he constantly plays with them or chews on tennis balls. “They’re not the best type of dog toy or ball,” he said.

“Dogs can also chew the felt of a tennis ball and that in itself can become a choking hazard or block the intestine, and we’ve all seen tennis balls when they’re split in half and that’s also a choking hazard. suffocation”.

Instead, Dr. Katrina recommended giving dogs rubber balls large enough so they don’t choke.

Many dogs come to veterinary clinics with “tennis ball teeth,” which is what happens when the toy files down the teeth sometimes to the point where the root canal is exposed.

This happens when dogs chew on toys regularly, as the material covering them becomes like sandpaper when wet.

According Dog daycare and grooming In Adelaide, a dog’s tooth enamel can also be compromised and prone to deterioration from chewing on tennis balls.

Sand and grit that sticks to tennis balls can increase the risk of tooth damage, while ingesting the yellow fluff can cause throat or digestive irritation.