Tennis balls, pig ears, and meaty bones are all standard items one would expect to find in a dog’s mouth. Yet a vet is now lifting the lid on why these popular puppy chew toys could be causing serious harm to your beloved pooch.

The next time you’re about to throw a bright yellow tennis ball away and have your dog chasing after it, consider this heartbreaking warning from Texas-based animal expert Hunter Finn, who explained exactly why these toys should never be. used to entertain puppies.

Hunter, who regularly shares pet care tips on his popular TikTok accountdetailed the hidden dangers of tennis balls in two now-viral videos – the first of which I saw the vet make a list of things “pet owners should never do” including giving your dogs cooked bones, pig’s ears, and…the popular tennis ball.

Hunter explained in a brief on-screen caption that “over time, the felt (on a tennis ball) is abrasive and will badly wear down your dog’s teeth,” advising puppy lovers to opt for one instead. safer rubber ball.

A vet has issued a stark warning about giving your dog a tennis ball to play with, revealing it can cause serious and costly damage inside the pup’s mouth.

His warning immediately sparked a storm of questions from his followers, who demanded to know more about the injuries tennis balls can cause their dogs.

Eager to spread the word everywhere, Hunter shared a second follow-up video, in which he shared footage of a dog’s deformed teeth – while noting that this type of injury can cost pet owners a fortune in bills veterinarians.

“Stop giving your dog tennis balls,” he began the clip. “Right now you’re probably thinking, ‘Dr Finn, how can (a tennis ball) harm my dog?

“Well, when you play fetch with your dog and throw this thing, it gets caught in saliva and dirt and sand, and (it) just turns into sandpaper.”

The rough surface of the tennis ball will then begin to seriously damage the inside of a dog’s mouth as it “spins” inside, Hunter continued.

“As this ball spins around in your dog’s mouth while he’s playing with it, and you catch it, and it’s thrown and picked up a few times…your dog’s will start to look like this,” he continued, sharing the horrific image.

While admitting that teeth ‘don’t always have to be pulled out’ when in this state, he urged his followers to opt for a safer toy like a rubber ball or ‘a smoother ball’ that doesn’t pick up. not dirt. or sand.

And it’s not just tennis balls that need to be thrown away, Hunter insists.

Cooked bones and pig’s ears are also prohibited products as far as he is concerned.

According to the doctor, cooked bones “are a great way to spend thousands of dollars on tooth extractions when they wear down or fracture teeth,” while pig ears are “a great way to give your dog diarrhea and salmonella”.

“As that ball goes around in your dog’s mouth…your dog’s will start to look like this,” he continued.

Many TikTok users were shocked by the tennis ball, while others admitted to knowing about it based on personal experience.

One user commented, “I quit immediately a few years ago after my dentist told me the same thing. »

TikTokers were also very shocked that pig ears are actually unhealthy for pets.

One TikToker commented, “Wow, my family always gives my dog pig ears as a birthday or Christmas present. I always thought they were good for him.

Finn currently has a loyal fanbase of over 2 million followers and over 50 million likes on his videos dedicated to giving advice on the best way to care for your pets.

He is the owner of Pet Veterinary Hospital in McKinney Texas, specializing in services such as primary care, preventative treatment, surgery, emergency care, and dental services.

He continues to regularly post videos answering common pet care questions, primarily dogs.

One of his most viewed tiktok videos tips on running a successful pet store, earning over 15 million views in 2023.