Question:
I play catch with my dog with a tennis ball. A friend came over and told me that tennis balls could be dangerous for my dog. She says that inside the ball is a smaller hard rubber ball and if my dog bites through it it could release a poisonous gas that could seriously harm him or even death Has anyone heard of this?

Answer:
Hmm, haven't heard about gas inside, but I have heard of dogs eating the fuzz from the outside and being sick. If you're supervising your dog with the ball, then you'll know if he tries to eat the fuzz. Maybe someone else will have heard of this.

Answer:
Hi kit! I haven't heard of that, but I do know that tennis balls are not good for your dogs teeth. The felt on the outside of the ball, acts like a nail file rubbing against your dogs teeth, causing them to file down. He'll have lots of tooth problems when he's older if that happens. I would suggest a good solid rubber ball or a kong.

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OMG I didn't know that ??
my nephew, Chase (Akita dog), lives to pop tennis balls!!
I hope someone can let us know more about this !

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Oh, thanks heeler's! Didn't know that one! Makes sense doesn't it...it's very abrasive to the touch..learn something every day.

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Yep. I've heard this from numerous trainer friends too. They say that playing with them once in a while is fine, but if the dog has a habit of chewing on them, it's not good. My friends 19 year old border collie/heeler cross, used to chew on tennis balls before he found out how bad they were, and now her front canines are like little nubbins! You can see the root of the tooth. Just be sure to supervise all play with tennis balls, and make sure the dog is only fetching them and bringing them back right away if you must use one. Don't let them chew! Try using a rubber ball all the time though, as that will eliminate any chance of problems.

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Thanks for the info! Radar eats the fuss off the balls all the time, he hasn't gotten sick from that. But I never thought of the fuzz wearing down his teeth! I guess I should take those balls away since he is getting in his adult teeth now! As for the kong, he won't play with it at all, even when I put treats inside it, he has no interest.

Answer:
If he likes to fetch, just replace the tennis ball with a rubber one then. My dogs don't like kongs much either, but they love to play fetch! Try your hand at frisbee with him too. My youngest heeler cross LOVES frisbee, and it's easier on his teeth.

Answer:
I've not heard about the tennis balls containing poisonous gas, but I do know that there can be health issues related to chewing on them.

Aside from what others here have said, about the fuzz being unhealthy and abrasive to the teeth, there's a more serious issue. Should the dog chew a slit in the ball and be able to stick the tongue in, it may get stuck and cause great pain to the dog. I've seen documents/shows where the dog's tongue is so badly caught in the ball that it begins to slice the tongue off. If the dog panics, the ball may do worse damage.

Only allow your dog to play with the ball when supervised, and only if playing fetch. Ideally, play fetch with a frisbee or a flying squirrel disk.

Tennis balls are hollow and do not contain a core. Golf balls, softballs and baseballs are "core" balls.

I hope this helps.

Answer:
Originally Posted by Trinitie
Should the dog chew a slit in the ball and be able to stick the tongue in, it may get stuck and cause great pain to the dog. I've seen documents/shows where the dog's tongue is so badly caught in the ball that it begins to slice the tongue off. If the dog panics, the ball may do worse damage.
.

YAOOOWZA!

That gotta hurt, I never thought of that...Thanks for the info Trinitie...

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Road hockey balls are super tough, they don't bounce as well but are great for fetch.

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The gas thing is an old wives tail. I used to hear that all the time as a kid.

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Buddy got this great ball for his birthday it glows in the dark and it is just a rubber ball. Since we live in the great white north and by the time you get home from work it is dark this ball is great I leave it under a light during the day and then it is ready for Buddy and the park. It is called Buddys Glow Ball yes that is why my friend bought it for him because it had his name on it but it turned out to be a great present since you can actually find it at night

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