Choosing a Proper Dog Chew

     Dog chews are a necessity for your pet. They help your dog meet their instinctive need to chew, can be great occupiers, and can also improve mental health. A dog with nothing to do will often get bored and get into trouble (perhaps in the form of digging or destructive behavior). In order to prevent boredom, provide your dog with the appropriate toys.

Here are a few guidelines:

     1.)  Avoid dog chews and dog bones that are indigestible (check the labels). Beef rawhides, for example, are a no-go! Rawhide swells once it hits the stomach and causes “gummy tummy”. If a large chunk of rawhide is ingested and your pet is unable to pass it, a vet will have to surgically remove it. Not fun, not cheap.

     2.)  Never offer your dog a chew that is smaller then their mouth, it could present a choking hazard.

     3.)  Never leave your dog unattended with dog chews. If they choke, no one is around, and if the chews are eaten too quickly, they may become impacted.

     4.) “Dog proof” everything you offer your pet.  Be sure to remove parts that could be chewed off and swallowed, for example, ribbons, strings or plastic eyes.

Appropriate Chews and Treat Dispensing toys:

• ACTIVE TOYS: Hard rubber toys - good for chewing and carrying around. Both Nylabone and Kong make toys that serve this purpose. Be sure to dispose of a chew when it is small enough to become a choking hazard.

• OCCUPIER TOYS: Rubber Kong toys or “Busy Buddy” (Premier) type toys - come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but all have a hollow section that can be filled with treats, biscuits or even some peanut butter (stick to the stir-in type with only peanuts and salt listed as the ingredients). Your pet has to work for the food/treats which are dispensed in small amounts; these toys may keep them busy for extended periods of time.

• COMFORT TOYS: Soft stuffed toys – serve several purposes, but aren't appropriate for all dogs (especially not aggressive chewers). Some dogs do well with a stuffed toy that is small enough to carry around.  However, note that if you offer many “fluffy” items for your dog to chew on, they might be inclined to search out other fluffy things to chew on, for example: Pillows, towels, dirty laundry, etc. There can also be a choking hazard if the dog ingests the stuffing.

Remember:  Occupier toys should not replace human/pet interaction. Interactive play not only enhances the bond between you and your pet, but it can help to socialize your dog and expel pent-up energy; a tired dog is a good dog! Interaction also reduces stress due to confinement, isolation, and boredom. For young, high-energy, and untrained dogs, this play can help them learn appropriate and inappropriate behavior, such as jumping or nipping.

Helpful Tips:

• Get the most out of toys by rotating them weekly and making only a few toys available at a time. By doing so, old toys seem “new” again. However, if your dog has a favorite, you may want to leave it out all the time.

• Discard toys that are starting to fall apart or break into pieces.

Toxic Foods

Items to avoid	Reasons to avoid
Alcoholic beverages	Can cause intoxication, coma, and death.
Avocado	The leaves, seeds, fruit, and bark contain persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Baby Food	Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts.
Baking Soda, Baking Powder	Can cause an electrolyte imbalance which may lead to muscle spasm or even congestive heart failure.
Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources	Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.
Broccoli	Toxic in large quantities.
Cat food	Generally too high in protein and fats.
Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine	Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea and be toxic to the heart and nervous systems.
Citrus oil extracts	Can cause vomiting.
Fat trimmings	Can cause pancreatitis.
Fish (raw, canned or cooked)	If fed exclusively or in high amounts can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death.
Grapes, raisins and currants	Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys. There have been no problems associated with grape seed extract.
Hops	Unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death.
Human vitamin supplements containing iron	Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.
Macadamia nuts	Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.
Marijuana	Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate.
Milk and other dairy products	Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets.
Moldy or spoiled food, garbage	Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs.
Mushrooms	Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.
Nutmeg	Can cause tremors, seizures, and central nervous system damage.
Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder)	Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions.
Persimmons	Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis.
Pits from fruits and most seeds	Contain Cyanogenic Glycosides resulting in cyanide poisoning (the fruit itself is OK).  Pits can also cause obstruction of the digestive tract.
Potatoes (green parts)	Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.
Raw eggs	Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.
Raw fish	Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.
Raw meat	May contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Rhubarb leaves	Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.
Salt	If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances.
String	Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a "string foreign body."
Sugary foods	Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.
Table scraps (in large amounts)	Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed.
Tobacco	Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death.
Tomatoes (green parts)	Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.
Yeast dough	Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.
Xylitol (artificial sweetener)	Can cause very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can result in vomiting, weakness and collapse. In high doses can cause liver failure.

     There may be other foods that your dog can not consume; so always ask your vet when you are unsure about anything concerning your pets.

     If your pet shows any signs of illness, including loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in water consumption or changes in urination, please consult your veterinarian or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.