Toys that are okay for their teeth

[WeAllHaveWings]

Just had 8 month old lab pup at vets for a checkup and chat as part of his health plan.

Like most Labradors he loves chewing, but vet has advised against every chew he currently gets some chews that could damage his teeth. He says he shouldn't get:

Marrow bones from farm shop
Stag bars
Tennis balls
Paddy whacks
Pigs ears
Nylon bones

He says we shouldn't give him anything to chew which we can't make an indent in with our fingernail as he has seen dogs with cracked teeth chewing these things.

We also give him dried tripe and lambs skin which is softer, but doesn't last long. he has a kong. He destroys any stuffed/fabric/rope toy in minutes (including tuffies).

Is there anything else out there for dogs to chew which is long lasting, but teeth frendly?

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

I am not for one moment stating that your vet is wrong and that the objects above can't damage teeth. But for me it is down to calculated risk. Do the benefit to the dog outweigh the potential risk of losing a tooth?

It is a personal choice but I once broke a tooth on crusty bread! I have not stopped eating crusty bread.

What you choose to do is of course up to you. But it feels to me a little like not letting dc learn to ride a bike because they may fall off and break something.

[butterfliesinmytummy]

I thought that dogs should chew hard things to help keep their teeth clean and scrape off tartar? I've never been told by a vet not to let a dog chew hard stuff, although I know that rawhide isn't digestible so my vet advises against that.....

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

I agree with you butterflies that it is a case by case thing for each item. I don't like rawhide either or marrowbones.

But my dog has a stag bar and it raw fed so regularly chomps through chicken wings or chunks of pork spine!