Dog Chew Toys: Choosing the Right Strength, Materials and Safety Features

By Dr Duncan Houston

A rubber toy, a rope tug and a bacon-flavoured chew can sit beside each other on a shop shelf, but they are not designed to be used in the same way.

Some products are intended for chewing. Others are for interactive play. Some are edible, while others must not be swallowed, even when they smell or taste like food.

Before buying, you should be able to identify what the product is made from, which chewing style it suits and whether it is intended to be eaten.

Quick Answer

Choose a chew toy according to your dog’s size, chewing behaviour, age and dental health, and look for clear material and strength information. Durability matters, but extremely hard products can damage teeth, while pieces bitten from softer toys can cause choking or intestinal obstruction. Treat rope toys as supervised tug toys rather than something to leave a dog shredding and chewing. Flavoured does not mean edible: some popular flavoured chew toys explicitly state that they are not intended for consumption.

What is the difference between the main types of dog chews and toys?

The first distinction is their intended purpose.

A product being sold in the dog-toy aisle does not make it suitable for every dog or every type of play. Even edible chews can cause problems when swallowed in large pieces.

A company should clearly explain the chew strength

“Strong”, “tough” and “durable” are only useful when the company explains what those descriptions mean.

Helpful product information should include:

• Intended chewing style: gentle mouthing, steady chewing or powerful chewing.

• Suitable size and age: including relevant weight guidance and puppy restrictions.

• Material: such as natural rubber, a named synthetic material, nylon or textile.

• Intended activity: chewing, tugging, fetching or food dispensing.

• Consumption warning: edible or non-edible.

• Replacement instructions: what damage or wear means the product should be removed.

If a company uses a numbered strength scale, look for an explanation of the levels. Do not assume that one brand’s “5 out of 5” is equivalent to another’s unless they use the same disclosed testing method.

Ask what durability claims are based on, including whether testing assessed the finished toy. A material description alone cannot tell you how a thin section, seam or attachment will behave.

Stronger should not simply mean harder

A chew toy needs to resist being torn apart without putting teeth at unnecessary risk.

Very hard nylon products, bones, antlers and hooves can fracture teeth. A product lasting a long time does not prove that it is gentle on the mouth.

A useful screening guide is whether the material has some give and can be indented with a thumbnail. This is a practical caution, not a safety certificate: a flexible toy can still be too small or easy for your dog to destroy.

If your dog destroys a toy quickly, do not automatically keep moving to harder materials. Reassess the size, shape, construction and activity. Some dogs need a different enrichment option and closer supervision.

What should you know about natural rubber?

Natural rubber can provide a resilient, flexible material for chew toys. However, products made from rubber can differ substantially in firmness, thickness, shape and resistance to damage.

For example, KONG describes different rubber formulations for puppies, average chewers, stronger chewers and older dogs. That illustrates why the material name and the intended chewing level both matter. It does not mean every rubber toy is suitable for a powerful chewer.

Look at the whole design. Narrow projections or thin sections may give a determined dog somewhere to concentrate their chewing. Check all components, including any rope, fabric or plastic added to a rubber body.

Natural rubber is not food. A swallowed piece can cause a physical blockage even if the material is described as non-toxic. Likewise, terms such as “food-grade” or “BPA-free” do not mean a finished toy is digestible or safe to swallow.

Flavoured does not mean edible

This is an easy distinction to miss.

A product can contain flavouring that makes chewing appealing while remaining a non-edible object. The food flavour does not turn the underlying rubber, nylon or plastic into a treat.

Two manufacturer examples make the point:

• Nylabone’s Flavor Frenzy Power Chew describes flavour throughout the toy, while its instructions state that the product is not intended to be eaten or ingested.

• Benebone’s nylon safety guide states that its flavoured nylon chew toys are not edible and advises removing them if the dog appears to be eating the material.

These are examples of why the safety instructions matter, not recommendations that every dog should use these products.

Check the individual product rather than relying on the brand name. A company may sell both non-edible toys and edible treats.

Rope toys are for supervised play, not prolonged chewing

Treat a rope toy as equipment for a supervised game of tug. Do not leave it with a dog who settles down to strip, shred or swallow the fibres.

Rope can look harmless because it is soft, but softness does not prevent an intestinal injury. Veterinary guidance specifically recommends supervising rope-toy play.

Long swallowed strands can act as a linear foreign body. If part becomes anchored while the intestines continue moving, the bowel can bunch along the material. This can cause serious tissue damage or perforation. A swallowed knot or bundle of fibres can also obstruct the gut.

Research in dogs has linked linear foreign bodies with more severe gastrointestinal damage than non-linear objects.

For rope toys:

• Stay actively involved in play.

• Stop if your dog starts pulling out strands.

• Remove frayed or damaged toys.

• Put the toy away after the game.

• Choose a different activity for dogs who repeatedly try to eat rope.

Cotton being natural does not make a rope toy safe to eat.

Match the toy to how your dog actually uses it

Body weight is useful, but it does not describe chewing behaviour on its own.

Watch what happens during the first sessions with a new product. A toy that suits one dog in the household may be unsuitable for another. Keep small toys away from dogs large enough to swallow them.

For puppies, consider developing teeth and the manufacturer’s age guidance. Older dogs, dogs with dental disease and dogs with previous tooth fractures may need a different approach rather than simply a stronger toy.

Size and shape matter as much as strength

Choose a toy your dog can handle comfortably but cannot readily swallow whole. Follow the product’s sizing instructions and consider its narrowest parts as well as its overall length.

Rings and closed openings also need appropriate sizing because they can become caught around the jaw or another body part.

If your dog repeatedly breaks off pieces, the toy is unsuitable for how that dog uses it, regardless of the strength printed on the packaging.

When should you replace a chew toy?

Inspect toys before use and during chewing. Remove a toy if you notice:

• Cracks, splits or pieces starting to detach.

• Missing chunks.

• Sharp or damaged surfaces.

• Exposed stuffing or an accessible squeaker.

• Frayed rope or loose threads.

• Wear that makes it small enough to swallow.

Follow the manufacturer’s product-specific instructions. Surface wear and a detachable chunk are different findings, but neither should be dismissed without checking the toy.

There is no universal replacement interval. A toy might last one dog months and be damaged by another during its first session.

When is a chew-related problem urgent?

A broken tooth also needs assessment. Dropping food, chewing on one side, avoiding toys or developing facial swelling can indicate a painful dental problem. Dogs do not always make their pain obvious.

What should I do if my dog swallows part of a toy?

1. Remove access to the remaining toy safely.

2. Contact your veterinarian immediately for advice. Explain the material, approximate amount, time of ingestion and your dog’s size.

3. Keep the packaging and remaining pieces. A photograph can help identify what is missing.

4. Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian specifically instructs you to.

5. Do not give oil, laxatives or food to try to push the object through.

6. Never pull string or rope protruding from the mouth or anus. It may be anchored internally.

Do not wait for symptoms or assume the object will pass because your dog has swallowed things before.

Your vet may recommend examination, imaging, monitoring, endoscopic removal or surgery, depending on the object and findings. Early advice can make a meaningful difference to the options available.

Do chew toys clean teeth?

Some products can help with plaque or tartar control, but a textured surface or dental claim alone does not demonstrate effectiveness.

For dental products, look for the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s Seal of Acceptance, which relates to evidence for plaque and/or tartar control. It does not remove the need to select the correct size and supervise use.

Appropriate chews supplement dental care. They do not replace regular toothbrushing or veterinary dental assessment.

Build a safer chewing routine

Offer variety through supervised chewing, suitable food puzzles, sniffing activities and short training sessions. A dog does not need to spend every quiet moment gnawing the toughest available object.

Use part of the daily food allowance in suitable food-dispensing toys, rotate activities and follow cleaning instructions. Repeatedly eating non-food items deserves a veterinary discussion, particularly if the behaviour is new or escalating.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming “flavoured” means edible.

• Treating “natural” or “non-toxic” as permission to swallow the material.

• Choosing the hardest product simply because it lasts longer.

• Leaving a dog to shred rope.

• Relying on a strength rating without checking size and behaviour.

• Waiting for vomiting after a known or suspected dangerous ingestion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can dogs eat small pieces of rubber toys?

Rubber toys are not intended for consumption. The risk depends on the amount, shape, size and individual dog. Contact your vet if a piece may have been swallowed rather than assuming it is harmless.

Are all nylon chews unsafe?

They are non-edible, and very hard products carry a tooth-fracture risk. Suitability requires more than a “power chewer” label. Ask your vet about alternatives, particularly for dogs with dental problems.

Are rope toys ever appropriate?

They can be used for supervised interactive play when the dog is not shredding or swallowing them. Remove them when play ends or fibres start coming loose.

Does a higher strength rating mean I can leave my dog alone with it?

No. A strength rating does not guarantee that the toy cannot break or be swallowed. Follow supervision instructions and inspect it regularly.

What should a good company tell me before I buy?

The material, intended use, chewing level, sizing, age suitability, ingestion warning and replacement criteria should all be easy to find.

A well-chosen chew gives your dog an enjoyable outlet while respecting their teeth and chewing behaviour. Look for clear material information, meaningful strength guidance and an unmistakable distinction between toys and food. ASK A VET™ can support you with choosing suitable activities and understanding warning signs, but suspected ingestion or injury needs prompt veterinary advice.