Overview

• Vet Alex Crow used his @alex_thevet platform to identify seven everyday toys that risk dental erosion, choking, gut blockages or toxic emergencies
• He cautioned that standard tennis balls trap grit that wears down enamel and pose choking hazards, and advised switching to dog-safe balls with breathing holes
• Squeaky toys, rope playthings and antlers or hard bones were flagged for risks of ingested parts, severe intestinal obstructions or fractured teeth requiring surgery
• Plastic bottles can shatter into sharp fragments, battery-powered toys carry corrosive toxin dangers and bead-filled items threaten internal blockages
• The advisory has spread across British media and social feeds, driving pet shops and owners to favour unshreddable rubber chews in size-appropriate designs