Pet Toy Warnings
By catdla1
@catdla1 (6005)
United States
November 17, 2009 12:27pm CST
Many people enjoy extending the holiday spirit to include our beloved pets. I know that I do, to me they are very much members of my family. I ran across an article this morning about the lead content in pet toys. It's something that many of us don't think about when selecting colorful toys to give our pets. Did you know that while children's toys have to pass safety tests, pet toys don't? Some of the toys tested for the article contain more than 4 times what is allowed in toys for children. It's awful to think that we could be giving our pets toys that could make them sick. It's even worse to think about household with pets and very young children. When mom and dad aren't looking, you know that lots of children get their little hands on Fido's toys, after all they look as much fun as their own toys, right? Here is the full INFORMATION ONLY article for anyone interested:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/21633929/detail.html
Does anyone have links to sites that offer toys that are both safe in the materials that they are made from and don't have small pieces (or attachments) that can pose choking hazards?
For anyone with toy-sized pets (I have 2 chihuahuas) here's a toy source that many haven't thought of. McDonalds and other fast food restaurants frequently offer small stuffed animals and other toys that make excellent pet toys. They seem to hold together extremely well, and small pieces are either well attached or easy to remove. My dog Tukay's favorite toy is 12 years old...and not a rip on it despite daily playing and many trips through the washing machine. Just a thought...
3 people like this
6 responses
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
17 Nov 09
We have two chihuahua's here. You don't really think of the dangers of toys for dogs, though we really should. Like you've said if it's not for the sake of the pet, it's also for the sake of children! Children find dog toys just as entertaining as their own, and in fact children are interested in things that aren't even toys!
I'll read through that article.
2 people like this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
17 Nov 09
You should check out the Lil Kinz toys mentioned about. Some of them are very inexpensive, and look perfect for small dogs like ours.
The threat of commercially available pets toys is unsettling. So many children are checked each year and found to have lean poisoning. Parents of such children are thorough in their search for the cause, looking for loose paint, etc. I'll bet that very few think of their pet's toys.
2 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
2 Dec 09
lead in pet toys is just not something you think about. I am glad I now know though!
@saizo6 (2199)
• United States
18 Nov 09
Oh, thank you for the useful information. I had no idea this was the case. I was planning on getting some new toys for my dogs but it looks like I will be thinking twice now. At least I saw this before going out and getting them. I'm going to stick with the doggy treats now. And you're right about those McDonalds toys. My dog still has his mini horse plushie and it's still in good condition after all these months.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
18 Nov 09
Yup--was aware of the dangers of not only pet toys that may have high levels of lead but other toys that can cause severe problems, like this one brand of a ball that can somehow get stuck on a pet's tongue and the poor pet's tongue would have to be amputated and I have written articles about them over at AC.
There are so many pet toys that can pose other dangers....like small jingle type bells that could come off and be swallowed by a pet...I always cut them off. Or for cats I've seen toys with feathers and would think that would pose a danger to with accidental swallowing.
Here is one safe pet toys website...I'm sure there are others
http://www.dogtoys.com/dogearthday.html
2 people like this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
18 Nov 09
Thanks Pye! That is an excellent website and I've bookmarked it for future reference. Do you ever wonder if most commercially available pet toys are actually designed by people who have never owned pets? I actually changed verinarians because the own we had been using sold a lot of toys with questionable small pieces, bells and just in general looked dangerous. You would think that products sold at places like that would be better thought out than what they had. When I asked about it, I was told that they sold them because people asked for them. I doubt that. They sold them for profit, which apparently was more important to them than the pets they were in business to care for.
1 person likes this
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
18 Nov 09
Good morning...and thank you for sharing, catla1! Having a JRT as my little furry friend, I have to be extremely cautious..with toys...and secondly, with HOUSE PLANTS, as there is no end to his curiosity...! I know there is a list of House plants, too...and one of them, timely..the Poinsetta! And quite a list of others, too! Lot's of great information in this discussion! Cheers!
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
18 Nov 09
Good morning to you too, pergammano! JRT are terrific dogs as well, and lots of fun. If they have one trait in common with chihuahuas is the unsatiable curiosity and long memories. The word NO only means to 'wait until mom isn't looking', right?
Thanks for bringing up the dangers of houseplants! This time of year people don't realize that the poinsettia that decorates can also harm. I gave up on live, indoor plants. With 2 cats, and 2 chihuahuas the frustration of finding lovely pots of stumps in the morning got a little old (and expensive) after a while. Cheers back at you!
1 person likes this
@rg0205 (2636)
• Hong Kong
18 Nov 09
Thanks for the info on this. It's scary, really. We do buy toys for our dogs but we no longer give them plastic stuff. We usually buy stuffed toys; ones made with cloth and cotton because we think it's safer and most of them don't pose as choking hazards.
2 people like this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
18 Nov 09
You are quite welcome! It sounds like you make your dog's welfare and safety a prime consideration in selecting toys. My dogs prefer stuffed toys too, although I don't always get cotton. I like to throw the toys into the washing machine once a week or so, and anything that's looking worn or ripped is thrown out. It's so much easier to replace a toy than a beloved pet. Thanks so much for responding!
1 person likes this
@sleepylittlerose (1648)
• United States
17 Nov 09
Thanks for the information on the lead in pet toys. I typically avoid giving my dog anything that is painted or coated as she will continue to pick at things until she gets little pieces off.
One of the best toys I have found for my little dog is a Lil Kinz made by Webkinz. She drags that thing everywhere and it has held up the best of any toy she has ever had. We have had the current one for almost 12 months now but it is so dirty that it may have to go to the trash and start over.
Also I have found that fleece toys made by cutting sewing fleece into 1 inch strips and braiding them together tightly make great tug toys. They hold up and are good for cleaning their teeth.
2 people like this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
17 Nov 09
Those Lil Kinz toys are adorable! Some of them look very similar to what has been offered by the fast food restaurants. I looked them up at Amazon and was pleasantly surprized at how affordable they are. I forsee a bunch of them in my pets stockings this year! 
I also like your idea of the braided fleece. Even little dogs love to play tug of war. The budda-type toys are good for bigger dogs, but are too apt to pull out tiny teeth with their lack of 'give'. Since fleece has a knit base, there would be just enough give to it. Thanks so much for your excellent ideas! 
I also like your idea of the braided fleece. Even little dogs love to play tug of war. The budda-type toys are good for bigger dogs, but are too apt to pull out tiny teeth with their lack of 'give'. Since fleece has a knit base, there would be just enough give to it. Thanks so much for your excellent ideas! 1 person likes this
