Dog toys
Make sure you give your dog a safe environment by eliminating any ribbons, strings, children’s toys, or even lingerie, as well as any other items that could be eaten by your beloved four-legged pal.
Generally, toys made for dogs could be ingested, can be toxic, or have coatings that aren’t healthy to for them to be in contact with. Therefore, a few wise choices in terms of dog toys would be:
• Robust plush toys: these should be made from stuffing materials that are resistant to more energetic play. However, they are not suitable for aggressive chewers. Look for plush toys that are sturdy and washable. Plush toys should not be made from plastic, reprocessed materials, or vinyl.
• Active toys: these are definitely worth a woof or two for agile, active dogs. These come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes and can be chewed and carried by your dog. Active dog toys often have a ‘bone’ shape and/or knotted ends. Even though tennis balls are fun for your furry pal to play with, they are not very resistant to chewing. Even worse, once chewed, they present a choking hazard so it’s best to avoid these.
• Environmentally friendly toys: there are many producers in the U.S. that make such toys. These are usually made from tough and flexible materials that use a certain percentage of post-industrial waste. Look for a producer that is FDA approved, with toys that are free of toxins.
Cat toys
Cats are known for being able to play by themselves with improvised toys like pens, newspaper, or paper balls. Being athletic and playful by nature, cats love playing and it actually helps their minds to develop.
However, many times the toys they find around the house can be toxic or choking hazards. When choosing or making a cat toy, keep in mind that strings, ribbons, or rubber bands can be deadly if swallowed by a cat.
Some fishing-pole cat toys, even though our feline ‘children’ love them, should only be used under supervision. Also, be very weary of toys with feathers, plastic eyes, or ornaments, which could be swallowed.
Here are a few safe toys your cat can have a great time with:
• Food motivators: these may come as plastic eggs with some kibble inside. When the cat rolls the egg, food comes out from the toy’s small holes. This type of toy is especially recommended for overweight cats or those who eat too quickly.
• DIY toys: these can be improvised from objects found around the house and are usually the most loved by cats. They could be items like round plastic shower curtain rings, empty toilet paper tubes, cardboard boxes, or ping-pong balls.
• Scratchers: while a lot of fun for cats, scratchers are also a necessity for owners who want to keep their furniture intact. Choose a simple one that has a round design with a lounger. Adding a toy ball will make perfect it for your purry pal who can even sleep in it. Choose one made of strong material that produces a minimal amount of debris.
How can pet insurance help with ingesting toys
In the unfortunate event of your pet ingesting a toy, you have to be prepared. This happens more often than you may think. The best thing that you can do in this type of situation is to have your pet insured with a plan that covers treatment for ingesting objects.
Two such pet insurance companies whose websites clearly state that foreign object ingestion is covered are Embrace Pet Insurance and Trupanion.
How much does foreign object ingestion treatment cost in the U.S.?
A good example of such treatment is for ingestion of items like socks or underwear. Even though it might seem funny at first, such ingestion can be deadly if not treated.
The smile on the owner’s face will likely quickly fade when seeing the vet bill for treating this condition: $2,400. However, with pet insurance, most of this bill is reimbursed or even paid directly to the vet.
Irina P.
Richard C.
