Dr Katrina Warren: This is why you should never let your dog play with tennis balls

TV veterinarian Dr Katrina Warren said there is one toy pet owners should not let their dogs play with.

The animal doctor said tennis balls are a hidden danger as they can damage dogs’ teeth and even pose a choking risk. 

Dr Katrina told 9Honey the ‘abrasive material’ tennis balls are coated with could land pet owners with a big vet bill. 

‘They can actually damage your dog’s teeth if they play with them consistently or chew on tennis balls. They’re not the best type of toy or ball for dogs,’ she said.

‘Dogs can also chew on the felt on a tennis ball and that in itself can become a choking hazard or block the intestine, and we’ve all seen tennis balls when they’re broken in half and that is also a choking hazard.’

Instead, Dr Katrina said to give dogs rubber balls big enough that your dog won’t choke. 

Many dogs present to vet clinics with ‘tennis ball teeth’ which is what happens when the toy files away the teeth sometimes to the point where the root canal is exposed.

This happens when dogs regularly chew on the toys as the material they are covered in becomes like sandpaper when it gets wet. 

According to Dog House Daycare and Grooming in Adelaide, a dog’s tooth enamel can also become compromised and prone to decay from chewing on tennis balls.

Sand and grit that sticks to tennis balls can increase the risk of tooth damage while ingesting the yellow fuzz can cause throat or digestive irritation.