Dame Aussie Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 Was speaking to a friend whos Mum has a BC x that is ball obsessed. Apparently she lost almost all her teeth quite young (She's around 8 now) and they were told it was due to the tennis ball being in her mouth all the time! I'm just wondering if this can happen? Lili LOVES her ball but I'd hate to see it ruin her teeth! If so, are other balls made of rubber etc ok instead of the tennis ball? Does anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 (edited) Apparently the rubber is abrasive in normal tennis balls, there are some balls out there (Like the Kong brand tennis balls) that are safe for dog's teeth. ETA: Actually it might be the felt that's abrasive rather than the rubber. Edited June 29, 2010 by amypie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted June 29, 2010 Author Share Posted June 29, 2010 Apparently the rubber is abrasive in normal tennis balls, there are some balls out there (Like the Kong brand tennis balls) that are safe for dog's teeth.ETA: Actually it might be the felt that's abrasive rather than the rubber. Thanks amypie...no more tennis balls! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 Aww, you can buy her the Kong airdogs ones! Or something like an isqueak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted June 29, 2010 Author Share Posted June 29, 2010 (edited) Yeah I'll have to do a bit of research and see what I can find! ETA: The iSqueak looks good Edited June 29, 2010 by Aussie3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Paws Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 I thought I read somewhere(possibly the Leerburg website)that the glue on the tennis balls actually eats the enamel off there teeth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmoo Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 ball obsessed dogs and dogs that are obsessive about carrying things in their mouths quite often get flat spots on their teeth. I have heard that the glue in tennis balls can harm dog teeth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 Tennis balls will wear dogs teeth down, but then again, so will carrying around house-bricks so it's hard to say what caused my GSDs teeth to wear so badly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 It also depends on how tough the dogs teeth are. Some Borders have chalky teeth that wear down very easily. It isn't a common problem but one that is know to occur. No idea what causes it because it occurs randomly and does not really seem to be an inherited trait. I have seen dogs with no points left on any of their teeth by the age of four. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magstar Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 I heard that tennis balls are bad because so much dirt etc gets stuck on the ball and then that acts like sandpaper on the dogs teeth. I hadn't heard about the glue being bad before, so that is interesting to know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MolassesLass Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 One of the pups from my first litter had very flat teeth by the time she was an adult (young teeth have softer enamel) and the vet said it was dirt getting into the ball. However, all my dogs are ball obsessed but none have any noticeable flattening of their teeth. Maybe I have different dirt or keep the ball cleaner but I have no problem with tennis balls. That said, rubber balls can be found fairly easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirty Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 My girl who is ball obsessed has very worn down canines. One of them is actually broken off because she used to play with golf balls! But she is 9 now and her teeth are very clean and she has no dramas with them. I wouldn't deny my dog the pleasure she gets from playing with tennis balls because her teeth might wear down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karly101 Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 Tennis balls hold all the dirt which is what will wear the teeth down... Any object which rubs against the teeth again and again can also wear teeth... so it can happen with a rubber ball as well, basketballs are apparently particularly bad as well. But weigh up the risks.. my gsd still has his tennis ball.. it just is only for supervised play and I try and keep it as clean as possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 I know our club's flyballers shave the tennis balls they use. I have no idea how! You can buy decent sized rubber balls from most sports shops - a much better bet I reckon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockerlover Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 tennis balls r a no no because of the covering on them .a solid rubber ball is far better . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiesha09 Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 I heard that tennis balls are bad because so much dirt etc gets stuck on the ball and then that acts like sandpaper on the dogs teeth. I hadn't heard about the glue being bad before, so that is interesting to know! I heard it was the dirt that gets stuck on them too. But surely any ball that that is used extensively is going to cause wearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGirl85 Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 My JRT has been chewing tennis balls for 8.5 years and she has had no harm caused by them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haylz27 Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 I heard something about the glue and rubber on the balls... Apparently it does something to the teeth but it would be interesting to get more opinions. My dog chews them up within minutes so I don't give them to her anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Tennis balls will wear dogs teeth down, but then again, so will carrying around house-bricks so it's hard to say what caused my GSDs teeth to wear so badly... - could have been the house bricks, Aidan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Tennis balls will wear dogs teeth down, but then again, so will carrying around house-bricks so it's hard to say what caused my GSDs teeth to wear so badly... - could have been the house bricks, Aidan I shall stop playing fetch with them then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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