Eddie's Blog
About Eddie: I'm a dog on a mission. With your help, I'm going to change legislation in the U.S. to make sure chemicals are safe before they're put on the market. Read more or contact Eddie.
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Stuff to Play With: Part 1
Ever since I found out about all the toxic chemicals we pets are exposed to and founded Pets for the Environment, my buddies have had all kinds of questions for me. You've asked a lot of questions, too, and I keep getting one question over and over: what is it safe for me to play with?
Now of course, the answer to that question depends largely on your species. I know a lot more about dog toys than cat toys, so here’s something for my pup pals while I do some research into catnip.
1. Sticks
Sticks are the ultimate versatile dog toy. Forgot to bring your ball to the dog park? Grab a stick! Feeling the need to gnaw? A stick's just the thing. And just wait until your human tries to take it away from you. It makes for a great game of tug-o-war.
Keep in mind that some plants are poisonous to pets. You wouldn’t want to use oleander, or sticks from any of the other trees on this list. Common sense will tell you to avoid any particularly splintered sticks. Also, any wood that's been used to build things (especially outside things like decks and swing-sets) has probably been treated with gross chemicals, so don't chew on that.
2. Rope
Rope is the ultimate tug-o-war toy. Just tie a knot in either end and you're in for hours of dog-human bonding! But not all rope is created equal. Make sure to get one made of natural fiber, like cotton or hemp. Not only will the knots stay in better, but you're skipping out on all the plastic in synthetic rope. Most commercial rope dog toys will do the trick, but look for ones that haven't been bleached or dyed.
3. Natural rubber
Natural rubber has a lot of things going for it. It's chewy, but tough enough that you can't just chew it apart (that takes some time. Trust me, I've tried). It's also got some bounce to it, which can be fun. Natural rubber toys come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so there's something for everyone. Once a rubber toy starts to crack or tear apart, you should fetch it and deliver it to the trash.
4. Stuffed toys
Now this is a tough one. I've got a pal, Koda, whose been trying to give up stuffies for a while now. You might say he's got a bit of a problem. The thing about most stuffed toys (the ones meant for dogs and the ones donated by humans) is that they're made of synthetic material, and stuffed with another kind of synthetic material. Plus, there's no telling what chemicals it's been treated with. Trust me, you don't want to be breathing that stuff in.
Instead of the usual run-of-the-mill stuffed toys, aim for the good stuff. Some companies are making stuffed toys especially for dogs with thick, durable hemp canvas and all-natural, unbleached filling. If you manage to un-stuff your stuffed toy, bring it to a human and ask them to re-stuff it and sew it back together. And whatever you do, don't eat the plastic squeaker! I'm told it's bad for the tummy.
6. Rawhide
They say dogs have an instinct to chew, especially when they’re puppies. Like I said, I myself prefer a nice Italian leather shoe (or maybe a fuzzy slipper, if I’m in the mood for junk food). But that doesn’t usually go over so well with humans, who are apparently very attached to the things they wear on their feet.
Rawhide, if used properly, can be a perfect toy for chewing. It’s tricky, though. As pieces of rawhide soften and come off, they pose a choking hazard and, if swallowed, can create gastrointestinal blockages. That’s why your human should take pieces away as they break off. Rawhide is made from cow hide, so it has some protein, but it isn’t highly digestible, so think of it as a toy rather than a treat.
Photo by maistora.
Great list!
I love those hemp stuffed toys! They look wonderful!
Argo is one of those dogs that can't have rawhide. We learned that the hard way and give him dried sweet potato chews instead now. He's crazy about them!
Sticks are not always completely safe. If a dog is chewing on a stick and small pieces break off, a piece of the stick can become lodged in the throat of a dog, particularly, a small dog.
i don't think rawhide should be on the safe list. natural bones (the organic ones of course) are much better. some rawhide can contain formadahyde esp if it is made outside the US. not to mention it is made of cowhide- and we all know how most cows are treated! not so good. the natural bones last much longer PLUS if your parents like to spoil you they can stuff them with something yummy (canned pumpkin, wet food, peanut butter) and freeze it for extended fun!!
Years ago my vet recommended not giving rawhide chews - she would never give them to her own pets for the reasons listed above. This is a policy that I have followed, better safe than sorry. BTW, my dogs love the Sweet Potato chews, too - both the bigger ones and the “fries” - a totally natural treat we all feel good about!
http://www.daneangelnetwork.org/rawhide.htm
here is a link discussing some more bad stuff about rawhide. YUCK.
Just a comment that after careful research and in speaking with a holistic vet, we discovered that porkhide is a digestible alternative to rawhide. We almost lost our dog a few years back because of the rawhide build up in her stomach. Rawhide does not digest. Hope this helps! (P.S. Your dog should still be supervised when chewing any type of chewy treat).
I agree that rawhide should not be on the list as dogs can choke on it. And I have heard of dogs choking on the strings they pull off of rope toys. I found plastic balls at the pet store that are made in the U.S, and can be recycled when no longer being used.
I've been buying soup bones at my local grocery store; according to Dr. Michael Fox, it's a wonderful (and Inexpensive) way to clean dog's teeth. Boil them for a few minutes to kill off any bacteria- and make sure you find sizes to fit your particular dog.
After my last vet check, all three of my dogs got a perfect dental bill of health! Before the soup bones, their teeth were bad enough to warrant expensive vet cleaning, to the tune of hundreds of dollars! I tried the bones instead, and still can't believe the results.
I've also heard the same caveats about rawhide...
This is about real bones, e.g. beef (not any kind of poultry of course!). I'm a 6 year old dachshund in extremely good shape. My people are very careful about anything to do with me but the only time I've been sick is when they gave me a treat of some cooked beef bones - small ones. I liked them so much I chewed them up too quickly, swallowed them and a while later didn't feel so good. Turns out they wouldn't digest and a few miserable hours later up they all came in quite large pieces. My people don't give me real bones any more or rawhide in case the same thing happens. I have an old nylabone though which I quite like to chew, and will get them to buy me the sweet potato chews to try.
PS love your column dear Eddie
What about cats???
You have missed quite a few really important points. I have reprinted your article with some additions on our Alternative Health News page. You can view it here: http://www.abundantlifeessentials.com/news/pettoys.htm.
Most rawhide is made out of pork which is indigestible and generally full of toxins. Rawhide can also contain chlorine, arsenic and chromium in dangerous amounts. So make sure the rawhide is natural and organic, preferably. If you cant get that don't feed your pup any rawhide.
Baby toys are a better alternative as they have less chemicals, however all plastic should be avoided due to estrogen disruption and chemicals.
There are so many hints, feeding hints, essential oils and pets, home health care, nosodes vaccine alternatives and much more on our pet place page.
As one of only a few Veterinary Nutritionists and also an MD, I have alot of insights into pet health that you wont find other places.
You might also want to try tendons, which my humans bought at our local pet store. They are made in the USA and my humans got me a circle shaped one, which has kept me busy for over 2 months! I'm an oversized Pekingese but I have the tiny mouth of my parents, so the tendon ring has really kept me out of trouble!
What about the "nylabone" as a chew for dogs?
Is it safe?
What do you think about the nylabone chew toy for dogs?
Thanks for all of your comments!
I know there are a lot of different opinions about rawhide. I did my research before I wrote about it, and you'll notice that I did mention that it poses a choking hazard. It's important to remember, if you choose to give your dog rawhide chews, that they're meant to be toys, not treats. They're for chewing on, not eating, which is why pet parents have to take the rawhide away when it starts to break down.
Someone else mentioned that it's a good idea to seek out rawhide that was made in the USA. Technically there are no more requirements for rawhide manufacture here than there are in China, but I agree that products made here (as well as organic products when possible) are a good plan.
As for Nylabone, my verdict is still out. The company says that little shards of the material break off and are swallowed, but that it's normal and they pass through a pup's digestive system without causing any problems. I'm skeptical that it's as simple as that, especially knowing what I do about all the chemicals found in pets.
It is never a good thing is your dog is chewing on chemical rubber (petroleum). The only Nylabone I would suggest is the Nylabone edible, but this brings us full circle as they usually contain rawhide. Best to drop them altogether and go with natural rubber.
dear eddie,
I love toys - any toys - all toys - but seriously...
I am only writing to tell you how handsome mom and I think you look (okay, my sister daisy duke thinks you are handsome too) - mom loves those bearded faces - unfortunately I don't have one but she loves me anyway (tee hee)
keep up your good work on the food and toys - mom wants me healthy and safe so I can be with her a loooonnnnng time.
I thought most rawhide was treated with formeldahyde. Is that good for me? My mom took them away from me cuz I'd throw up the stuff I ate from it. She used to get me nylabones cuz I couldn't destroy them at all, the really really hard ones. I know she misses me too. I went to the rainbow bridge a year ago yesterday. I miss her too!
That's interesting about stuffed toys. I'm thinking my cat knew something I didn't because he will ONLY play with people-plushies. He completely ignores cat ones. He's even taught his little sister to do the same!
I agree that in many ways sticks are one of the best toys for dogs. Luckily my dog is really good about shaking the bits of wood and bark out of her mouth when she chews them. However, dogs can be impaled in the mouth, eye, or chest if they catch a stick at a bad angle. This can happen if a stick becomes wedged in the ground after you have thrown it and the dog runs into the point of the stick. Just do a search for stick injuries in dogs and you will find lots of examples of dogs injured in this way. If I throw a stick, I always try to throw it so it spins horizontally rather than end over end to avoid it landing point up. I also never throw a stick so that my dog would try to catch it in the air. Recently, I found a better solution... a dog toy in the shape of a stick made of natural rubber. My dog loves it. I got it from Ruffdawg, but I think other companies make toys like this as well.
My mouth is way too small for most doggie balls, and I found a raquetball several years ago and it is my FAVORITE! Even my Siberian Husky brother cannot destroy them (unless it has been lost behind the refrigerator for months :) )
My mommy is now worried that they may not be very good for my health. And I'm getting worried because I eat, sleep, and play with my raquetball! Google has not been very helpful, does anyone know what they are made of and if they are safe for me?
Natural bones are not recommended by most vets, as they can spliter, injuring dogs. Not sure if there is a good alternative out there.
I have never heard of the dried sweet potato chews. would you please let me know where to purchase them. Thank you
Google 'dried sweet potato chews' and you'll see they're available in some pet stores, and even find a few recipes too. I got a sample recently from some maker and it was very hard (I tried tasting it myself), but my dog liked it - while it lasted!
My mom gives both my sister and I big knuckles. They clean our teeth really well and they taste good! But we can only have them when her or my dad is home. I like to brake them and have too pieces but mom usually takes the bone part away cause I like to eat the bone chunks and they don't digest. I think it's really the knuckle part that cleans my teeth anyway and when it gets too small, they take that away also so I don't swallow it.
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