If you are a dog lover, you must already have heard about dog chew toys. Chew toys can help keep your dog from chewing your property, protect him from ingesting harmful objects, ease boredom and contribute to teeth and gum health. Not all chew toys, however, will do for your dog. Here are some tips you might like to read to help you choose the right chew toys.

Proper Size

Different dogs are in different sizes, and you should choose just the right size toy for your dog. If the toy is too big, many dogs do not want to play with it at all. On the other hand, however, if the toy is too small, you dog might accidentally swallow it and choke on it. So, you really should know about your dog's breed and size very well to pick the right toy size. Fortunately, many reputable dog toy manufacturers often have detailed description on the toy label to help you decide if the toy is for your pet.

Security Considerations

Needless to say, the safety features of the chew toys should be thoroughly considered when you choose them. Dependent on your dog's breed, a chew toy that is too hard might damage his teeth. If the toy is too soft, however, it might bring about accidental ingestion of torn or chipped parts. It is a general rule that you should avoid chew toys with small beads, buttons, strings, wire, bells and fake fur. Even a mild-tempered dog could rip off small parts and swallow them, resulting in choking, mouth wounds, and damage to the intestines and constipation.

Pick a Variety of Toys

It would not be such a good idea to have a whole box of dog chew toys but you should at least have a handful of them. Dogs do eventually get bored if they only have one kind of chew toy. To avoid this, you should rotate chew toys. It would also be a good idea to occasionally give your dog chew toys with edible treats in them. This will encourage your dog to play with them.

Durability of Toys

it always helps if you monitor your dog when he plays chew toys. Even very durable toys could come apart due to a factory defect or an extremely aggressive dog. Bring your dog to the vet if you notice vomiting, weakness or unusual behavior after chew time.

You should also examine your dog's chew toys periodically. Chew toys should be extremely durable but even the most expensive ones though do not last a lifetime. It will be dangerous for your dog to continue playing with a damaged toy. So, be sure to replace those as soon as you have detected.

Your Veterinarian Counts

Whenever you want a second opinion, your veterinarian should be the first person you ask about. He might even be able to recommend good toy brands and retailers.

Dog chew toys are important to all dogs both as a fun provider and a health helper. When picking such toys for your pet, you just need to keep in mind the safety features. With a good choice, you dog will have a good time with it.