With the Wimbledon Tennis Championships being imminent, perhaps a few words about tennis balls in relation to our dogs, may be appropriate.
I’m sure many of us use a tennis ball as a retrieve toy for our dogs. I am equally sure that we must be aware of a slight risk of choking if the dog should swallow a tennis ball, and the action we should take if this should happen, however unlikely.
However, a potential problem with a tennis ball which may not be as well known is the problems that allowing the dog to chew the ball may cause.
Allowing a dog to chew a tennis ball could lead to dental wear and tear. That green fuzz on the surface of the ball might seem soft, but tennis balls are designed to withstand tennis courts and rackets, so the fuzz is actually quite abrasive. Accumulated dirt and grit on the surface of the ball increases the abrasive quality. As the dog chews on a tennis ball, the fuzz acts like sandpaper, gradually wearing down the teeth in a process called “blunting.” This can eventually lead to dental problems such as exposed tooth pulp and difficulty chewing.
Additionally, it is claimed that the glue that forms the seams of the ball is made from a substance that when mixed with the dogs saliva can adversely affect the enamel on the dogs teeth.
It is not being suggested that we desist from playing with tennis balls with our dogs, but it is suggested that we use the tennis ball as a retrieve toy and not something for the dog to lay down and chew.
Just one more thing for us to be aware of….Bob.
This blog was written by Bob Haynes Delta One Canines
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