A vet has issued a warning over four toys that could be "dangerous" for your dogs.
The River Road Veterinary Clinic says these toys could cause serious injury, including teeth and tongue damage and, in some cases, could leave them needing surgery. The first item to watch out for are marrow bones, which are often given to pets that like to chew on things.
However, the clinic warned owners of the risk of pancreatitis that dogs can suffer after eating marrow from the bone. They said: "Unfortunately, marrow bones do not come without risk.
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"The fatty marrow found in the centre of the bones can cause pancreatitis in sensitive dogs so it is best to scoop most of the centre out before giving it to your pet."
There is also a risk of splintering if the bone is cooked, which can ultimately lead to surgery. Owners are advised to give their pets raw marrow bones only, reports The Mirror.
Another popular toy that can cause problems for dogs are rubber balls, which can lead to tissue damage. In some instances, balls with holes have become suctioned onto a dog’s tongue, leading to blocked blood flow. The vet clinic has recommended balls with no holes or multiple holes, to avoid this from happening.
Similar to marrow bones are rawhide bones, which can easily cause damage to dogs due to potential splintering. The clinic said: "They are often swallowed and they absorb water and swell within the stomach, growing in size and rendering them unable to pass through the intestines.
"Foreign body surgery to remove the large chunk of rawhide is then the only way to solve the problem." The clinic suggested rawhide chews as an alternative, which dissolve in your dogs stomach, allowing them to still enjoy the flavour.
The final toys the vets have warned about are ones that are small. Small, stuffed toys can be dangerous for dogs because they are easy to tear apart and swallow.
The clinic advised: " Another common culprit are pieces of larger toys that have been torn apart and are then eaten. Swallowing these things can result in an intestinal blockage that requires emergency surgery to correct."
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