Is your dog’s toy box safe?
February 4, 2009 by Chloe Findlay-Harder
Filed under Pets
Does your dog like to chew on soft vinyl dog toys? You might want to think twice about letting them do that!
Check out this article from The Holistic Option – it’s definitely eye-opening:
“Dog toys, they come in all colors, sized and textures, they squeak, they squish, they bounce, you can stuff them with treats or let your dog tear the stuffing out of them. Your dogs chew on them, shake them, suck on them, and love tearing them to pieces (literally).
Sounds like fun right? However, did you know there is really no totally SAFE dog toy? Some toys if ingested even in small amounts can cause cancer and liver damage! Vinyl and plastic dog toys contain a chemical compound that has been under investigation by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) due to possible cancer risks to humans.
The chemical in question is DINP (di-isononyl phthalate), used to make hard PVC plastic soft and pliable. In 1998 Health Canada issued an advisory warning about the dangers of mouthing soft plastic toys by small children, and some countries, such as Sweden, Germany, and Italy, have already phased out DINP for use in children’s toys. But, for some reason no one is talking about the effects DINP may have on our dog’s health.”
There are lots of safe toy options out there – but you’ve got to do your research! What do my dogs chew on? I give my precious pooches Nylabones, Kongs, firm squeaky balls and as special occasion treats, soft fabric toys under supervision.
Remember that any toy can be a choking hazard – so buy the right size for your dog and keep an eye on your dog while they play.
