A vet has shared some expert advice for pooch owners
A vet has issued a stark warning to dog owners about one of the most widely used dog toys, claiming it can cause irreversible damage. Doctor Chris Brown says he has spent more than a decade observing the impact of tennis balls on dogs’ teeth.
Tennis balls are a well known toy for dogs, and seeing a pooch with one in their mouth is a common sight. But it turns out that these illuminous green sport accessories are built for high endurance, which Chris says can be the root of serious dental damage in canines.
The 47 year old explained: “The nylon fibres on a tennis ball are designed to withstand the hardest tennis courts in the world.” He added: “When they go into your dog’s mouth, they’re designed to be tougher than their teeth. They essentially wear down their teeth. The nylon fibres are like sandpaper.”
He cautions that the damage can be permanent, frequently leading to serious dental issues later in life, reports the Express. “Once they wear them down and expose the pulp or the centre of the tooth, where the nerve sits, there’s no repairing that. You can fill that, but you can’t get the teeth to grow back,” he said.
Dogs are also colour blind(Image: Getty)
Brown says he can now instantly identify dogs affected by the problem. “I’ve seen a cattle dog at the age of four that essentially had the teeth of a 14-year-old dog, because of just how much time that dog spent with a tennis ball in his mouth,” he shared.
In another instance, a boxer named Duke had worn down most of his canine and incisor teeth. Brown, who is colour blind, also points out that many dogs struggle to even spot their toys.
“I see the world the same way dogs do,” he explained.
“The biggest frustration for a lot of pet owners in the park is that they’ll throw the ball for their dog, and the dog runs straight past it, and the dog can’t find it,” he shared.
“Most balls for dogs, if they’re not tennis balls, are orange… for a dog’s eyes, the orange is no different to the green grass. So the ball disappears the moment it lands on the green grass,” he explained.
It comes as a new dog breed report compiled by experts at Petplan revealed the top 10 most popular dog breeds in the UK.
According to Petplan’s research, some of the most popular puppies among Brits include German Shepherds, Cocker Spaniels and Miniature Dachshunds.
Choices for favourite breeds varied by voters’ age groups. One in 10 people aged 61 and over said Labrador Retrievers were their favourite breed. This was closely followed by Cocker Spaniels.
On the other hand, the youngest respondents were most keen on Golden Retrievers, while Millennials favoured German Shepherds.
Meanwhile, Teddy is the most popular puppy name, but other popular contenders include Daisy, Bonnie, and Archie, with many owners opting for a human name for their pooch.
