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Your Pet’s Favorite Fetch Toy Might Harm Them. Try This Vet-Approved Ball Instead
Apr
The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.
Dogs and tennis balls seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly. Even my cat plays with one. Yet according to veterinarians, tennis balls can pose real harm to your pet.
“Excessive chewing on the felt [of tennis balls] can lead to wearing of the tooth enamel and eventually lead to dental disease,” explained Dr. Carly Fox, a senior veterinarian at New York City’s Schwarzman Animal Medical Center.
Plus, according to Stockton, California’s Sierra Veterinary Hospital, “When your dog is chewing happily on a tennis ball[,] there is no way of knowing what kinds of chemicals they are ingesting.” Since tennis balls are designed for near-throwaway use in sports, “There are undoubtedly toxic chemicals used from the rubber ball, to the fuzzy coating, to the glue that holds it all together,” the veterinary hospital’s site emphasized.
If your pet is wedded to their tennis ball, there are safer options you can switch to, Fox said. She recommended the Chuckit ultra ball in particular for its “excellent bounce” that’s “easy on your dog’s teeth.”
Pet parents are obsessed with the Chuckit ball, a bestseller with over 100,000 5-star ratings that reviewers praise for its durability against strong jaws and ever-engaging bounce. One person even penned a poem to the Chuckit after calling it “the most important thing in my dog’s life.”
“A day without it? Unthinkable fate! / He’d search and whine, he’d sit and wait,” waxed the reviewer-cum-poet.
“They are the first thing [my dog] gets when he gets up, and he takes one to bed at the end of the day,” wrote another of the Chuckit balls.
The Chuckit ultra ball can also be used with the Chuckit launcher, itself a bestseller. The long-handled thrower functions as an extension of your arm to propel balls farther and faster during fetch. It “has completely changed our playtime routine,” wrote a reviewer named Lainey. “With a simple flick of my wrist, I sent the ball soaring across the field.”
Whether you stay with tennis balls or switch to a safer alternative, just be sure to use the right size ball. “No larger breed dog should be playing with a ball made for a small- or toy-sized breed. This leads to accidental ingestion and the need for medical intervention,” Fox stressed.
Grab a two-pack of medium Chuckit ultra balls at Amazon or Chewy and a Chuckit launcher at Amazon. Or, read on for more tennis ball substitutes recommended by Fox.
Amazon and Chewy
A chew-friendly swap that’s ideal for dogs with breathing issues
The Chuckit air fresh ball “is a great alternative for a tennis ball,” said Fox. “There are holes to allow easy gripping and air flow.”
Plus, this choice is “excellent for brachycephalic dogs who can breathe through the ball when carrying it,” she added.
Reviewers concur, giving the substitute 12,000 5-star ratings. “I used to buy tiny tennis balls, but my dog would rip off the fuzz and end up throwing it up,” wrote one reviewer. “These have been a great alternative! They’re durable, easy to clean and my dog loves chasing them.”
Chewy
A toy whose design provides a safer way to enjoy tennis balls
Fox also suggested the Kong Wubba toy. “This toy has reinforced nylon that covers a tennis ball … [so] your dog gets the satisfaction and feel of the tennis ball with a lower risk of ingestion and no felt,” she wrote.
“The tails make it fun to throw and chase,” added Fox.
Numerous reviewers call the Kong Wubba their dogs’ favorite toy, especially among enthusiastic chewers.
“I have a Blue Heeler with jaws of steel and an obsession with violently annihilating any toy he can get his mouth on,” wrote a reviewer named Jess. “This octopus toy has been the most long lasting and seemingly most fun toy that I’ve found for him yet.”
Chewy
A frisbee designed for tugging and tossing with your pet
“Frisbees are excellent fetch toys,” said Fox, and “due to the shape [they] have a decreased risk of accidental ingestion.
Fox recommended the 9-inch Nerf tug frisbee in particular, which is made with tough, lightweight nylon.
“Our dog is nutty for this. Unlike hard plastic discs that bounce off her teeth, this one is easy for her to catch and retrieve,” wrote a reviewer named Dave.
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