Foreign-body ingestion from toys, chews, and other products is one of the most common and expensive emergency surgeries. Choosing durable, size-appropriate items, supervising play, and retiring damaged toys prevent many of these crises.
High-Risk Situations
– Soft rubber, thin plastic, or foam toys that can be shredded and
swallowed
– Rawhide, antlers, or hard nylon chews that fragment or cause tooth
fractures
– Toys significantly smaller than the dog’s mouth
– Leaving dogs unsupervised with new or high-value items
– Decorative collars, clothing, or accessories that can be chewed
off
Safer Practices
1. Select toys rated for the dog’s size and chewing strength.
2. Inspect toys regularly and discard anything with missing pieces or
sharp edges.
3. Rotate toys to maintain interest while limiting continuous access
to high-risk items.
4. Prefer supervised sessions with potentially destructive
chewers.
5. When in doubt, choose simpler, sturdier options (e.g., solid
rubber toys designed for power chewers).
Action step: Go through your dog’s current toys
today. Remove any that are damaged, too small, or easily shredded.
Replace them with a few durable, appropriately sized options and commit
to regular inspection.