Written by Melissa Reuter-Wagoner, RVTMany of our canine companions would agree that a tennis ball is one of themost exciting toys they own. The sight of a tennis ball usually leads to joyful tailwagging and a game of fetch. Unfortunately, this toy can also lead to excessivewearing of a dog’s teeth. The fibers that cover a tennis ball are surprisingly abrasiveand meant to withstand the hard surface of a tennis court. This abrasiveness canactually wear through the enamel and dentin of teeth, shortening the crown andsometimes exposing the internal root canal system. However, playing fetch withyour dog is a fantastic way to give them exercise and keep them fit.
A tip to keep your dog’s teeth from being damaged is to use a ball other thana tennis ball. There are medium weight rubber balls sold at pet supply stores thatcan serve just as well for a game of fetch, but do not have a fibrous covering. Rubberballs do not sand down tooth enamel because their surface is much more slippery.You should also keep in mind that smaller balls and pieces of chewed up balls(including tennis balls) are commonly removed from dogs surgically. Be sure thatthe balls you use are too large to be swallowed by your largest dog, and too tough tobe chewed into pieces by your strongest dog.
For dogs that just love their tennis ball, a good compromise is to only usethe ball for fetching and not allow free access to it. This means put the ball away inbetween games and don’t allow your dog to gnaw on it. This will help to minimizedamage to their teeth. In between games, offer your dog a safe rubber chew toy tokeep them entertained!
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