Arya Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 Just watching a Leerburg dvd and he talks about not using tennis balls because in Germany it was discovered that the glue that glues the felt on reacts with dogs' tooth enamel and helps wreck it. Has anyone else ever heard of this? Only thing I know is I always wash my tennis balls after training and let them thoroughly dry because of bacteria causing mouth probs if you don't. Dog slobber and dirt make a good combo. But Leerburg suggests they can be really bad. What do others think? I am wondering (and worrying) now as I train a lot with tennis balls. Don't want my dog to be gumming her food in a couple of years cos of how we train! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 Don't know if this helps, but you can buy tennis balls from the $2 shop which don't have that glue stuff around it. These ones are joined by two halves, howver no glue in sight. In saying that my Rotti goes through them pretty quickly, they seem to split in half. But four balls for $2....... In saying that though, I used to have a Dally who was a compulsive ball chewer, that the vet said his teeth looked like he chewed rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 Only thing I know is I always wash my tennis balls after training and let them thoroughly dry because of bacteria causing mouth probs if you don't. I don't wash down bones/toys/hide chews that dogs have buried and dug up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 This was discussed in the "health" forum. From memory, a DOLer's "tennis ball obsessive" dog had worn down its teeth and was informed by her Vet it was most likely due to the substance which makes up the outside surface of the tennis balls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 Well I have a Kelpie here with very worn down teeth who has lived his life with a tennis ball in his mouth. I have also got an assignment question on the dangers of it at the moment to complete. BUT we referred a dog to a Dental Specialist here in Melb for that very problem and they say not to worry about it, the fact that the teeth wear so slowly negates the need to do anything about it....will have to dig up the report. Something about the pulp never being exposed. Mel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clover Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 If you are worried about tennis balls you could always switch to rubber balls. In the 16 or so months i have had my BC bitch her teeth have worn down slightly from tennis ball chewing. I use rubber balls for the Border Collies at flyball for this reason. Tinny about 14 months after i got her..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopuppy04 Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 It is true Arya - I think I was speaking to you about it yesterday! LOL. My last girl - a 'ball obsessed' Kelpie had her canines worn down to 'nothingness'.... it got a little sore for her in the later years and she couldn't have bones etc coz her gums would bleed..... knowing what I do now - I wish I got her teeth checked out as it was likely the only sign to 'heart problems' etc, that may have contributed to her death Anyways - not really related to tennis balls! I *do* think they wear the teeth down, but I only let Leo play with his tennis balls either in the park with me or at training - that way he can't rip the fur off or chew it ALL day like she used to! It is only when they have T. balls all day every day that it becomes a prob IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poodle wrangler Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 If you are worried about tennis balls you could always switch to rubber balls. My thought, too. I got a ball from the bargain bin which is also designed to be chewed for $5. Bargain as a tennis ball lasts < 1 day around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry's Mum Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 A tennis ball would last less than 10 seconds with Perry who is totally ball obsessed and a chewer - I took her tennis balls away because I wa worried about her teeth and the possibility of her chewing a big off and swallowing it. Now she has two types of balls - solid rubber balls for playing with and a light soft chewy foam ball especially designed for dogs who like to chew - it has stood up well to some pretty hard chewing over the past year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sayreovi Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 All the dogs here at the moment are ball crazy (2 in particular). One competes in flyball and two are in training. Ages range from 2-5 years. All have perfect healthy teeth, no wear and tear, but i also dont leave balls out in the yard for them its only when i take balls outside that they get to play with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Posted May 21, 2007 Author Share Posted May 21, 2007 Hey thanks everyone, this is interesting! I only let her play with the balls when we are training and she doesn't chew them outside of this time in the back yard or anything, so from the general consensus, it seems this would be okay I am going to get a couple of rubber balls too though as tennis balls are hard to wash. LP, your squeaky one would be a big prize in this house, I can tell you! Dru, I got some of those tennis balls too but they only lasted a min or two with my girls big choppers LOL. I get cheap ones from the sports store that are Wilson rejects as they are slightly off balance or some thing. They dont' ever split or break and are three for $2, so that's good. But she still only has them when she's working with me. Thanks for the pic Clover - shiny clean teeth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Posted May 21, 2007 Author Share Posted May 21, 2007 Only thing I know is I always wash my tennis balls after training and let them thoroughly dry because of bacteria causing mouth probs if you don't. I don't wash down bones/toys/hide chews that dogs have buried and dug up. I know what you mean about bones Dru - yuk, how do they stand it! But, this happened to someone else I know too - my dog had red infected patches on the inside of her mouth, near her canines. It was weird. At first the vet even thought it might be an immune problem but antibiotics would clear it up, then back it would come. I knew someone else whose dog had had an infected mouth off chewing dirty tennis balls so I started washing mine and hey presto, the mouth problem disappeared, never to return. I think it's just that muck and saliva in the felt of the tennis balls provide a good medium for bacteria to flourish. I know bones should too but they probably do in some instances. We used to get dogs with awful bacterial gut infections in fairly regularly at the vet clinic I worked at so I'm guessing they'd been eating stuff they shouldn't... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 I tend to have a variety of yard balls a couple of tennis balls, more kongs, and a couple of Orka Jacks (just the small ones) so Geordie grabs whatever he can find at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShellyBeggs Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 There are worse things than tennis balls! My lab, now 12, has a rock obsession and where I live I can't get rid of all those especially with a gravel drive. He even brings big rocks he can barely carry up to the front verandah to chew on them until they are little pieces (if I don't notice and take them off him). He even has piles of his favoruite rocks hidden around the property. Tennis balls at my place generally have the felt on them for the first 30 seconds after coming out of the packet and then they are general dunked into the dam a gazzillion times. They never last a week before falling a part and I have to throw them out. I don't think I will worry about the bacteria too much! Cheers Shelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny123 Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 This was discussed in the "health" forum. From memory, a DOLer's "tennis ball obsessive" dog had worn down its teeth and was informed by her Vet it was most likely due to the substance which makes up the outside surface of the tennis balls. I've heard this as well. Apparently the outside surface is abrasive, like a scouring pad and will wear away the tooth enamel if a dog chews them constantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloss344 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 The Kong people make tennis balls that say on the pack that they do not wear down enamel. I bought 3 for about $10 at Big W. They are quite robust and also have a squeaker which is a bonus. The three balls have lasted about 8 weeks so far which is a long time for Bob. Regular balls can last from 10 mins to a week or so. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Kong-Dog-Toy-Air-Ko...1QQcmdZViewItem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Posted May 25, 2007 Author Share Posted May 25, 2007 thanks Bloss, I'll look into this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2tollers Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 The Kong people make tennis balls that say on the pack that they do not wear down enamel.I bought 3 for about $10 at Big W. They are quite robust and also have a squeaker which is a bonus. The three balls have lasted about 8 weeks so far which is a long time for Bob. Regular balls can last from 10 mins to a week or so. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Kong-Dog-Toy-Air-Ko...1QQcmdZViewItem I'll check these out too. If they're ridgy didge my dogs would be in heaven. Both of mine have worn down teeth. Lilli, who I got when she was 5yo, had very worn down teeth when she arrived here. The vet said hers wasn't necessarily just from tennis ball because she's managed to wear down her molars too. That would indicate she had bee chewing on other things. Todd on the other hand has a "typical" tennis ball mouth. The wear is at the front and he's had it from the age of 18 mths - 2 years. As soon as we realised what was happening we removed all tennis balls from the yard and they only get to play with them under supervision. I was talking to my vet today and he said that tennis balls are now made from fibreglass instead of cotton and that's what is causing the problems. Anyone else heard this theory. The others I've heard are: the glue they use now; and sand mixed with saliva on the ball is like chewing sandpaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackborder Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 This was discussed in the "health" forum. From memory, a DOLer's "tennis ball obsessive" dog had worn down its teeth and was informed by her Vet it was most likely due to the substance which makes up the outside surface of the tennis balls. I've heard this as well. Apparently the outside surface is abrasive, like a scouring pad and will wear away the tooth enamel if a dog chews them constantly. 100% true I have 2 boarders, and the vet always comments on how healthy they look, but always asks what they do all day to have such worn teeh ( THEY PLAY WITH TENNIS BALLS!!!). so now they only get regular tennis balls at FLYBALL :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 Hmmm, fibreglass, this is very interesting. Not healthy! I am checking out the Kong ones but lately I have started to switch from tennis balls more onto hoses in training. Boy, this is working well as I can interact more closely with my dog and pick her up and swing her around with them a bit and do tug and stuff, as well as throw them. Trouble is, have gone through a few different kinds of hose finding some that German Shepherd teeth don't destroy Currently plastic washing machine hose pipe seems to be the go. Hopefully she don't pull her teeth out with me swinging her around LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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