Veterinarian Reveals the Popular Toys and Treats You Should Never Give Your Dog
We all want what’s best for our pets, and we love to spoil them with extra special toys and treats. Unfortunately, it turns out a lot of popular dog products on the market might not be as safe for our pooches as we thought.
Dr. Hunter Finn, a veterinarian in Texas, has taken to social media to shed light on certain items all dog owners should avoid buying. Many of them seem perfectly innocent and make safety claims on their packaging, but he points out exactly how they could end up causing more harm than good.
In his first video, Dr. Finn starts by highlighting rawhide chew toys with double-layered knots on the ends. Apparently, those can become choking hazards or could cause your pup to need surgery if they swallow large pieces that can’t pass through their system. On a more positive side, he points out how pet owners can easily check whether products that claim to help keep their furbaby’s teeth healthy are legit by looking for the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal. You can check out a list of VOHC-approved items on their website, too.
Take a look at the video for more tips (plus a cameo from his own cute pup):
Finn has followed up by sharing even more advice and warning against things like pig ears. He says these treats very fatty and can cause obesity or tummy troubles. They also apparently have a higher chance of developing bacterial overgrowth in between your dog’s chew sessions. There’s also bad news for raw or processed bones, hooves, and antlers: Finn says they are “great at wearing and fracturing fluffy’s teeth.” Yikes.
Check out another video to see why he also cautions against giving your pooch any jerky treats:
His videos aren’t all gloom and doom, though. Unlike those double-knotted chew toys, Finn claims rope chew toys aren’t too bad — as long as they don’t get shredded up and ingested, which can also cause digestion problems. He also says bully sticks (Buy on Amazon, $18.83) are fine in moderation and under supervision. Although he says they aren’t his “first choice,” that’s pretty much the most glowing review of a product he’s given so far.
We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on Dr. Finn’s TikTok page for more helpful tips to keep our pets happy and healthy! (Psst feline fans: He’s promised some cat content soon, too.)
Related: Dog Pros: How to Wash Dog Toys — And Which Ones *Never* To Toss In The Washer
