Warning! Be Careful Of Certain Dog Toys!
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
August 20, 2008 10:35pm CST
I just became aware of this story about a dog named Chai, whose owners had bought him a toy, known as the Pimple Ball with Bell (Item #20227-001, UPC Code 0 4566320227 9) manufactured by Four Paws Inc.
Here we are, if you're a parent careful about what toys you might be buying your children, especially in lieu of the recent recalls of so many toys that had lead paint, which is toxic. But I bet none of us who have pets of ANY kind think of safety factors with toys for our pets until a disaster occurs....and one did with this dog, named Chai.
The dog was playing with this "Pimple Ball", he was chewing on it and a hole formed in the ball. The dog's tongue got sucked into the hole and a vacuum effect was created...the dog's tongue couldn't be loosened by their owner. They had to take the dog to the vet where the ball was removed, however the dog's tongue continued to swell so much that the poor dog couldn't even keep it in his mouth...The vet had to amputate the tongue and the dog had to have a feeding tube inserted into his neck...for a long time Chai couldn't eat via his mouth. Now he's able to, but his owner has to feed him via a syringe tube
The entire story is here with a video of Chai after his surgery
http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com/
There is a link on that blog that shows how another dog suffered the same injury from this toy.
Here's another link about this story
http://gimpydogblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/dangerous-toy-alert.html
Supposedly a recall of this toy was made by Four Paws....BUT......the question is, are there other toys for pets with other potential dangers? If you're a pet owner, are you conscientious of the safety factors involved? Do you make sure you buy toys that can't harm your pet? Doesn't this pi$$ you off that now we have to be aware of what toys we get for our pets??
9 people like this
25 responses
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
21 Aug 08
thank you so much py! coco has that very toy! i've always watched my dogs with toys until i figure they are safe but didnt know about this. i usually make sure its not something shes going to chew open or small enough to swallow as ive heard of dogs getting small balls lodged in their throat. also, i watch cause some dogs try to chew the squeker out of the toy. so if she starts chewing one open i take it and toss it.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Heavens! I'd throw that ball out then if I were you....just to be on the safe side.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I'm like a mother hen to my two kitties. Even cat toys might not be so safe...one time a friend of mine gave me one of those Christmas stocking things filled with cat toys..most I threw out, like the flimsy plastic ones that has a bell in it...figured my cats could chew hard on the plastic break it and swallow on the broken piece..not to mention the bell..my friend meant well, but most people don't think of potential dangers
3 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
21 Aug 08
oh of course after reading this already done. shes my baby now and i was one of those moms that followed them around with arms ready when they started walking! lol.
4 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Yes it does Pye. I've had dogs all of my life and will continue to have dogs for the rest of my life but to know there's danger like this out there for our beloved pooches ticks me off! I'm always checking out the toy before buying it to be sure it's not too small or too big or if it has anything loose on it that could hurt my dogs because I want them to be happy but safe and happy. Now I have to worry about the hidden dangers. Lovely. Just lovely.
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I know if it isn't one thing to concern oneself about it's another...now we have to be on our guard about pet toys...sheesh
2 people like this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I only buy toys made from fabric and made for small babies.
I consider those toys only one safe for my pets. They are very durable and safe to chew on. I search for such toys on garage sales or in resale shops.
I never pay more that 25C per toy.
In my opinion most toys found in pet shops are not safe for dogs or cats.
Some can last only one day or two and are possibly dangerous.
I question all toys as I would buy it for small baby.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
LOL--I sometimes make my own toys for my kitties...I buy baby sized socks, fill them with catnip, sew it up a bit and viola...instant toy...LOL
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
22 Aug 08
If your toys look similar to one from this page, you can sell them....
http://www.metro-dog.com/index.cfm?page=shopping/shop&Category_ID=27&ChildCategory_ID=37
http://www.metro-dog.com/index.cfm?page=shopping/shop&Category_ID=27&ChildCategory_ID=371 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Aug 08
Nowhere close...my homemade toys are very simple....yikes the prices of those toys are a lot!
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I would suggest not to buy any toys for them like that.
Next door neighbor used tennis balls that he used playing tennis. My son used to buy hid Rocwieler (sp) a basket ball every few months for she would bite it but she would play with it that way too throwing it up and catching it.
Those would be the only toys I would buy fr a pet.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I sometimes make my own toys for my two kitties...real easy too...I get baby-sized socks and stuff them with catnip and sew them up ....they love them...LOL
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Hi pye,
thanks for the news as well as the link.
it is very sad that the dog have to suffer coz of that.
our dogs dont like toys except the socks that came off my husband LOL
i am happy that he dont like those as it saves us a little.
i will be forwarding the link you have out here for my friend coz she's been buying a lot of toys for her dog.
the last time we went visit her the dog have so many toys laying around and i find it interesting as her dog dont show much interest on it before.
i hope she learn from it as she likes to just buy of what she thinks is cute.
btw, we always try to make sure that our dog is well taken cared of we dont even give him a treat that could choke him despite what the box says. i saw him got sick one time with those dried skin and since then we dont give him that coz it is just traumatic for me and our dog.
anyway, appreciate your post.
good night!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
21 Aug 08
My two kitties aren't big on toys either...but I only get soft ones, like material made catnip mouse toys made of fabric...no chance of harm there. I'm glad you're going to pass this kind of news to your friends, the one in particular with the dog with all the toys.
3 people like this
@Xdrowninghavocx (3117)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Wow. That's messed up. I've heard of child toys being recalled, but I haven't heard anything about a dog's toy. We get our dogs a lot of toys to play with so this is alarming. I'll make sure that we check labels online to see where they come from or the history of the company and so forth. Thanks for the heads up.
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I just looked at the Four Paws website...NUTS..they still have this particular toy listed when I thought they had recalled it.
2 people like this
@seabeauty (1480)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Thanks for the info pye. We just got a yorkshire terrier last week and I will make sure we don't buy from these people.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Well it wouldn't be just toys from this one company..one has to be careful with a lot of toys for pets from any company
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
21 Aug 08
It is always something, it seems. We have to beware of so many things thse days for ourselves and our pets. They have had alot of food recalls for humans and pets also. I only by my dog, plush toys and ropes. It just isn't safe with anything these days. It is sickening.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I've always been careful of the toys I give my two cats..if they have those small bells on them I take them off.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Oh how terrible! Often some of the pet toys I get my two cats have those small jingle type bells but I always cut them off--that's another potential danger...I bet a lot don't think a pet could swallow them
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
21 Aug 08
A friend of mine gave me a whole bunch of cat toys once and a lot were toys that were made of plastic with bells in them...threw them out instinctively you might say as I recognized the potential dangers...one the cats could chew hard on the plastic part and the broken piece could choke them and same with the bell...
3 people like this
@yogeshdhusa (2236)
• India
21 Aug 08
Hi pyewacket, thanks a lot for this information.. But i never gave a toy to my dog.. it because He likes to play with football and a wooden stick.. they are nutural and dog enjoy when the master playes with him. I agree with you that if if think about the safty of childrens then why not the dogs safty.. toys which are not safe for dogs should be banned from the market.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Yes there should be some kind of regulations about safety factors for pet toys just as they do with children's toys....besides, many of us who do have pets often do think of our pets as our children..right?
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Aww that poor dog. When our pit bull was a pup we got him a squeaky toy to play with. Yeah, wrong idea. If you have a large breed dog, do not give them anything with a squeaker thing inside/ a bell. Thor ripped open the toy and swallowed the squeaky thing. We had to take him to the vet, and get a medicine to make him spit up the squeaky thing. The vet said that if he were to digest it, it could tear up his digestive track. So he spit up the squeaky thing, and has never had anything with a squeaky thing/ bell in it ever again. I think that the company should be held responsible for this dogs injuries since they are really severe, and the owner should get compensation for the vet bills. It is a shame that we have to track the toys that we give our pets. They should consider all the potential dangers that the toy may have before they sell it.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Goodness good thing you took your dog to the vet right away..Yes that owner should be compensated for the vet bills. Four Paws is a rather well known pet company--either that or the owner should just plain sue.
2 people like this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I feel so sorry for Chai. Its true. Some toys should have warnings on them. However, as the pet's owner, it should be our responsibility to watch our pets and make sure that nothing like this happens. I always watch my dog when he's doing anything. He's my baby! I dont know what I would do if anything happened to him like that. I know I would be so upset at myself for not keeping a better eye on him. Thanks for the heads up. It makes you think. dl
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I don't think the owners of Chai were being neglectful, but I guess they plain didn't think anything like this would happen to him...accidents of any kind can happen so fast
@spikelives (430)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I will be more aware what i give my babes thank you so much
3 people like this
@josephperera (2906)
• Sri Lanka
21 Aug 08
This reminds me of something that happened to me about 40 years ago. I was biting a plastic bead, about 1 centimetre wide and when the bit bead was expanding it got stuk in the side of my mouth as the flesh got sucked into the bead. It is the same thing that happend to Chai the dog. I was shouting and crying throug fear, but my father was patient and applied pressure on to it with his thumb and index finger and reversed the action to remove it.
I don't think the manufacturer can be blamed. Anything is dangerous. You can give a motor as a gift to your teenage child, but it can also be dangerous. Some kids play with polythene bags inspite of the warning given in them. So whatever we use can be dangerous if not used properly.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I still think though that safety precautions are needed and test the durability of pet toys to make sure they can withstand the pressure of a pet biting down on it...When I get toys for my two cats and they have those small jingle bells on them I cut them off.
@BarBaraPrz (47332)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
21 Aug 08
It's one of those things you'd just never think would happen. Was there no way they could bring down the swelling, maybe drain it? I'm passing the info on to my cousin, whose dog loves to play with toys.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I have no idea....maybe the dog's tongue swelled up so fast nothing could be done--I would think some kind of ice pack would do at least for a human, but not for a pet.
1 person likes this
@wolfewatcher (191)
• Canada
21 Aug 08
i think there should be recalls on animal toys just like there is for kids toys. when we buy toys for our cat we don't buy stuff like balls with bells or stuff on it. not only cause its not safe for the cat but its not safe for the kids. every kid i know that has a pet with toys the kids plays with it too. so not only is stuff like that dog toy unsafe for dogs its also unsafe for our kids.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Some of the toys I get for my cats have those small bells on them,..I wind up cutting them off...also some cat toys also have feathers on them...a pet (or child) could swallow them as well, they would get stuck and choke on them
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
21 Aug 08
Hi pye,
That is most intersesting subject to bring up as there are so many pet owners here in Mylot who will read your discussion and now will chech their pets toys, luckily my two cats don't really play much with their toys which mostly hanging on a piece of string, and they rather chase a ball of paper. I think its disgusting to make toys like because dogs always sinks their teeth into balls so I hope all pets owners will have a good look at the toys. Thanks pye.
Bright Blessings
Tamara
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
They should regulate and have safety factors for pet toys just as they do with children's toys don't you think?
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
It really is amazing the potential dangers there are in pet toys. Small objects that could be swallowed...like those dumb jingle bells on some....
@insulin (2479)
• Philippines
21 Aug 08
Hey buddy..Thanks for the info and I really appreciate it because I am a owner of 9 little doggies and I really love them but I really don't buy dog toys for them.:-)Most of my doggies love ice cream and that is the thing i usually buy.Well I am pissed off too because when I read your discussion,it really break my heart about chai.it so sad to see that the doggy is suffering..Huhuhu.:-(
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Too bad the owners of Chai don't sue the company...I would if it were my dog
