Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- A toy that's safe for fetch may not be safe for chewing, and vice versa. Always consider how your dog will actually use a toy before giving it to them.
- If you wouldn't chew on it yourself because you're worried it would break your teeth, don't give it to your dog. Hardness is the number one toy safety concern our vets flag.
- Size matters as much as material. A toy that's perfectly safe for a large dog can be a choking hazard for a small one.
Walk into any pet store and the toy aisle is overwhelming. Rubber toys, tennis balls, rope toys, bones, chews, squeakers. They all look harmless enough, and most of them are marketed as safe and fun for dogs. But our vets see the consequences of the wrong toy regularly, from cracked teeth to choking hazards to intestinal obstructions, and a lot of it is preventable with a little guidance on what to look for.
The framework our vets use is simple: fetch or not fetch. Meaning, is this toy appropriate for the intended use, and is it safe for your specific dog? Here's how to think through it.
The fetch vs. chew distinction
This is the most important concept in dog toy safety and the one most owners overlook. A toy designed for one purpose isn't automatically safe for another, and the way your dog interacts with a toy determines the risk it carries.
Tennis balls are a perfect example. They're great for fetch. They're bouncy, easy to throw, easy for a dog to carry, and most dogs love them. But as a chew toy, they're a problem. The fuzzy outer material of a tennis ball acts almost like sandpaper against a dog's teeth over time, wearing down the enamel with sustained chewing. The fibers can also separate and be inhaled or swallowed, causing irritation or obstruction. Tennis balls are fetch. They are not chew toys, and the distinction matters.
The bite test: the most useful toy safety tool you have
Our vets recommend a simple test before giving any toy to your dog: press your thumbnail firmly into the material. If it doesn't give at all, it's too hard for your dog to chew safely.
The reasoning behind this is straightforward. A toy that doesn't yield under pressure can crack or fracture a dog's teeth, particularly the large carnassial teeth at the back of the mouth. Slab fractures, where a significant piece of tooth breaks away, are painful, expensive to treat, and entirely preventable. If the material doesn't give under your thumbnail, it won't give under your dog's bite either.
The same logic applies to the well-known rule of thumb: if you wouldn't chew on it because you're worried it would break your teeth, don't give it to your dog. It sounds simple, but it's a reliable filter that eliminates most of the problematic toys on the market.
Hard bones and marrow toys: proceed with caution
Bone marrow toys and hard chew bones are among the most popular products in the pet toy category, and they're also among the ones our vets are most cautious about recommending.
The appeal is understandable. Dogs love them, they keep dogs occupied for extended periods, and they feel like a natural, wholesome option. The problem is hardness. Many of these products, particularly the denser marrow bones and nylon chew toys, simply don't give enough to be safe for sustained chewing. They fail the bite test decisively, and the consequence is tooth fractures in dogs that chew aggressively.
Some bone-style toys are softer and more flexible and pass the bite test reasonably well. Others are far too rigid. The variability within this category is significant, which is why our vets recommend testing each specific product rather than assuming all bones or bone-style toys are equivalent.
Size is non-negotiable
Whatever toy you're considering, size matters as much as material. A toy that is perfectly appropriate for a large breed dog can be a serious choking hazard for a small dog, and a toy sized for a small dog can be inhaled whole by a large one.
The general rule is that a toy should be large enough that your dog cannot fit the entire thing in their mouth at once. For dogs that are aggressive chewers, err on the side of larger rather than smaller. And as toys wear down and become smaller through use, retire them before they reach a size that could be swallowed.
Supervision is always part of the equation
No toy is completely risk-free without supervision, and our vets are consistent on this point: any toy given to a dog for chewing should be used under direct supervision. This doesn't mean you have to stare at your dog for the entire duration, but it means being present and checking in regularly, particularly with a new toy your dog hasn't used before.
Toys degrade over time. A rubber toy that was appropriately durable when new may develop cracks, tears, or pieces that can be pulled off after extended use. Regular inspection and replacing toys that are showing significant wear is a straightforward habit that prevents most toy-related incidents.
If you're not sure whether a specific toy is appropriate for your dog, bring it to your next appointment and your vet can assess it in person. Sometimes feeling the material and understanding your dog's specific chewing style and bite strength makes all the difference in determining whether something is safe. All Access and Essential members can also reach the Modern Animal care team through virtual care to ask about specific toys between visits. Book a visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the thumbnail test. Press your thumbnail firmly into the toy material. If it doesn't give at all, the toy is too hard for safe chewing. You can also apply the general rule our vets recommend: if you wouldn't chew on it yourself because you're worried it would break your teeth, don't give it to your dog. Hardness is the leading cause of tooth fractures in dogs from toy-related injuries.
Tennis balls are safe for fetch but not for chewing. The outer fuzz acts like sandpaper on tooth enamel during sustained chewing, and the fibers can separate and be inhaled or swallowed. If your dog loves to carry a tennis ball around without aggressive chewing, the risk is lower. If your dog is a dedicated chewer who works on the ball rather than just retrieving it, a different toy is a safer choice.
Durable rubber toys that pass the thumbnail test, meaning they have some give when you press into them firmly, are among the safest options for most dogs. Look for toys specifically designed for chewing rather than fetch, sized appropriately for your dog, and from reputable manufacturers who design products with safety in mind. Supervise your dog with any chew toy and replace it when it shows significant wear.
It depends on the specific product. Many hard bone marrow toys are too rigid to be safe for sustained chewing and can cause tooth fractures. Our vets recommend applying the bite test to any bone-style toy before giving it to your dog. If it doesn't give at all under firm pressure, it's too hard. Softer, more flexible bone-style toys that pass the bite test are a safer option for dogs that love to chew.
Choose a toy large enough that your dog cannot fit the entire thing in their mouth at once. For aggressive chewers, err on the larger side. As toys wear down through use, retire them before they reach a size that could be swallowed. When in doubt, go bigger rather than smaller, particularly for large or powerful chewers. Book a visit.