Think Twice About Letting Your Dog Play With Tennis Balls. Here's Why

When picturing dogs with their absolute favorite toys, many people may immediately think of tennis balls. Dog owners like these toys, too, because they're inexpensive, you can buy them in packs, and they travel far when you throw them. It's common to see them in commercials and other advertisements for pet products as well, contributing to the belief that they're safe for dogs. While it's true that some dogs can play with them without any issues, others aren't so lucky. Tennis balls can pose a choking hazard to animals, so you should think twice before letting your dog play with one.

Tennis balls can become lodged in a dog's throat, which is particularly true for large dogs that have bigger mouths. (Here's what to do if your dog has something stuck in its throat.) Even if the dog manages to break the ball with its teeth, the rubber chunks and felt could still pose a threat. Small dogs might also choke if the ball is a miniature version. Veterinarians have had to extract tennis and other balls from dogs' throats time and time again, saving their lives. Unfortunately, though, some dogs never make it to the vet and end up choking to death.

With these dangers in mind, the obvious fool-proof way to prevent any tennis-ball choking incidents is to never let your dog play with this toy in the first place. That said, your canine companion can still enjoy their fetch games with safer toys.

If your dog lives for chasing objects as they're launched through the air and retrieving them, they have plenty of options that don't involve a tennis ball — or any ball, for that matter. Even Kong ball toys, despite being thought of as safer than other balls, can pose a choking risk for dogs. One ball alternative that you can use for fetch is a disc toy, such as the Chuckit! Zipflight Flying Disc Dog Toy or the Kong Flyer. You could also just stick with a standard rope toy like the SZEE Dog Rope Toy, giving your dog the opportunity to fetch and play tug-of-war with you.

Regardless of which fetch toy you choose, always keep an eye on your pup during play, and avoid allowing them to access two toys simultaneously. Some dogs may attempt to fit two toys in their mouth at the same time, which could be just as dangerous as a tennis ball.

Wondering at what point you should throw your dog's favorite toy away? Look for signs of shredding. If the toy starts falling apart, throw it away or store it in a place your dog can't access. There are plenty of inexpensive dog toy options out there, many of which can be your dog's new favorite, so there's no reason to keep a toy in play that's falling apart.