Are Tennis Balls Safe For Your Dog?

There is no doubt that dogs love tennis balls. But are they the safest choice for your German shepherd?

German shepherds have a high prey drive and love to chase a ball. A game of fetch is an easy way to provide them with the exercise they need and can be used as a reward after training. Most will even play with their ball alone, providing them with a welcomed, entertaining distraction.

Even with the many types of balls on the market, tennis balls continue to be a popular choice. But the question we’re examining here is, are they a safe choice for your dog Before we get into the downside of tennis balls, let’s explore why they’re so popular.

Why are tennis balls so popular?

Not only do they provide endless hours of fun, they’re inexpensive, easy to replace, and you can buy them in many stores. In addition, they’re easy to throw, bouncy, and gentle when caught in the mouth, which makes them just about perfect for a game of fetch.

Dogs have probably been chasing some form of tennis balls since their invention in the 1870s, but they gained popularity after the hollow flannel balls become popular in the 1970s. Since then, plenty of dogs have enjoyed them.

Tennis balls designed for dogs come in many sizes, from tiny to jumbo. But, according to the International Tennis Federation, a regulation tennis ball measures 2.575 inches (6.5cm) to 2.700 inches (6.85cm) in diameter.

Their size availability makes them ideal for almost any size dog. It seems that just about all dogs gravitate to them and some even find them delightfully chompable. This brings us to the downside of tennis balls for German shepherds.

The dangers of tennis balls-

Choking

Most German shepherds are considered power chewers and many like to chew on tennis balls until they break the two molded shells that make up each side of the ball in half. After the ball is broken, they can then get to work destroying it.

For many dogs, this is the end of their fun. But some like to chew them up and will even swallow chunks of the flannel-covered rubber. This can be a choking hazard, cause digestive upset, or even a blockage, depending on the size of the chunks swallowed.

The chunks of the tennis balls are not the only danger. Half a ball can also be a choking hazard as well as a whole ball. While it’s not common for a dog to get a ball lodged in its throat, a regulation-sized ball or smaller, is just about the perfect size for a German shepherd to choke on.

Since dogs playing with balls is so common, tennis balls can easily become an overlooked danger. But even a dog playing with a ball alone can get in trouble. According to National Today, 200,000 dogs choke per year. So many, that there is now a National Pet Choking Prevention Day that will commence on June 22, 2024. According to the campaign, the top choking hazard for dogs are

1. Balls
2. Sticks
3. Chew toys
4. Bully sticks, treats, long-term chews
5. Food packaging and trash

Dental damage

Despite tennis balls being somewhat soft and flexible, they can cause dental problems. The felt covering the outside of the ball is made to withstand the rigors of repeated pounding on the tennis court and is very abrasive.

Over time, chewing on the ball can blunt a dog’s teeth. This type of wear only gets worse with time and can lead to painful and costly dental problems. Dirt or sand-covered balls are even more abrasive than clean balls.

Dangerous ingredients

The tennis balls you buy may have been manufactured anywhere in the world. There are no regulations or industry standards on what toxic chemicals may be used. Tennis balls are made from rubber, glue, and fabric and there is just no telling what toxins your dog might be ingesting when they chew one.

If you need one more reason to switch out of your tennis balls for smooth balls, it’s that the felt gets filthy and slimy. Although it seems that dogs love their stinky, wet balls, a rubber ball is easier to clean and doesn’t get gross over time.

How to play it safe-

Use a larger-than-regulation-size tennis ball

If you want to give your dog a tennis ball, choose one that is made for large dogs. In other words, make sure it’s too big to get wedged in the back of your dog’s mouth. Keep in mind the German shepherd that recently went viral when a red Kong lodged in its throat.

Supervise your dog.

Consider the tennis ball one of those toys you don’t leave out, especially if they enjoy chewing it. Supervise your dog while they play to ensure they don’t swallow any of it. When playtime is over, replace the tennis ball with a smooth rubber ball designed for power chewers.

Only you can decide if a tennis ball is a safe toy for your dog. If in doubt, play it safe and replace your tennis balls with some of the numerous large rubber balls that are available at most pet stores. You never know, you just might find a new favorite.

If you do decide to continue to use tennis balls, keep your eyes on the balls and replace when you see wear and tear and never leave them out for your dog to chew on all day. We hope you found this information helpful. As always, please feel free to share with your friends.

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