Is It Good for Dogs To Chew on Balls?

Tennis balls are the poster child for dog toys, and most dogs can’t resist their rubbery chewy feel and furry texture. However, it’s best to only use tennis balls and other chew balls under close supervision, as they can pose risks to your dog’s health. Let’s take a closer look at some of the main issues with tennis balls as chew toys.

Choking

While many fetch and chew balls are marketed as “indestructible,” a large, strong dog with powerful jaws can shred a tennis ball in minutes or even seconds, and the two halves of a tennis ball can easily be swallowed. Sometimes, half of the ball — or even the entire thing — can get stuck in the back of their throat, causing a serious medical emergency, as your dog may not be able to breathe in the process.

The ball itself isn’t the only choking risk. Some dogs enjoy shredding the yellow-green fuzz that covers a tennis ball, but your dog simply can’t digest the rubber or furry outer layer. Over time, the pieces can cause choking hazards and intestinal obstructions, creating dangerous medical emergencies that may require surgery.

Dental Damage

Even if your dog doesn’t try to eat the ball, it can still cause damage. The outer layer of a tennis ball is quite rough and can wear down a dog's teeth (called "dulling"), sometimes quite severely. After years of this wear, you may see tennis ball-shaped grooves on the inner surface of your dog's teeth. This irreversible damage can cause considerable pain and make it difficult for your dog to eat, not to mention making their teeth more susceptible to breaking. If your dog is constantly stuck with a ball in his mouth, especially if it's covered in dirt or sand, you may want to switch to a toy with a sturdy surface.

Mystery Materials

Tennis balls are assembled in large quantities on factory assembly lines around the world. Unfortunately, there are no standards for the materials used in the manufacturing process, and there's no doubt that toxic chemicals are used in everything from the rubber ball to the fleece coating to the glue that holds them together. Furthermore, these balls are designed specifically for tennis, are inexpensive, and work well for the sport. You may want to think twice about what you do when your dog happily chews on a tennis ball—you have no way of knowing what chemicals they're ingesting.

How to Play Safely

If you want your dog to play with tennis balls while also reducing the risks they pose, it's important to practice safe practices:

Only use the ball for fetch, and don't leave it around the house for your dog to chew on all day.

Never allow your dog to play with a tennis ball without your supervision.

Throw away any balls that begin to show signs of wear before they finally fall apart.

Ultimately, you are the only one who can decide if a tennis ball is appropriate for your dog. Consider this question carefully and act in the best interest of your pet. As you can see, tennis balls do pose some risks to dogs, but if you follow some common-sense, safe practices, you will most likely be able to allow your dog to play in a controlled, contained environment.