Non-toxic dog toys: which materials are safe

Who checks whether a dog toy is safe?

In the US, no federal body oversees the design or safety of pet toys. The FDA covers pet food and edible items, but toys, harnesses, and crates aren't regulated the same way.^[1]

A voluntary safety standard for dog toys is being developed at ASTM International, a standards organization. It isn't finished yet, and even once it is, following it will be up to each manufacturer.^[1]

What research says about chemicals in dog toys

The best-known study is small. Researchers at Texas Tech tested whether phthalates and BPA, two chemicals used in some plastics that can act on hormones, leach out of dog toys and plastic training bumpers into a fake dog saliva. They squeezed the items with steel tongs to mimic chewing.^[2],[3]

• Bumpers leached the most. The plastic training bumpers released BPA and phthalates. The chew toys tested had lower phthalate levels than the bumpers.^[3]
• Older toys leached more. Toys and bumpers that had been left outside to weather released more BPA and phthalates than new ones.^[3]
• Some chew toys showed other activity. The researchers also found unidentified chemicals in some chew toys that mimicked estrogen in lab tests.^[3]

Here's the honest part. The researchers said there was no good data to compare their numbers against, so they couldn't say whether these amounts harm dogs. The study shows exposure is possible. It doesn't show that dogs got sick.^[3]

Common dog toy materials, one by one

No material is safe or unsafe on its own. What matters is how hard it is, whether it breaks into swallowable pieces, and whether the maker tells you what's in it.^[6],[7]

• Natural rubber. A popular choice for chew and stuffable toys. We found no research showing it's chemically safer than well-made synthetics. Its real advantage is that good rubber toys usually bend, so check that yours passes the thumbnail test below.^[7]
• TPE and other synthetic rubbers. Soft, stretchy plastics used in many modern chew and fetch toys. Some makers state that theirs are BPA- and phthalate-free. That's their claim, not a government check.^[1]
• Hard nylon. Some nylon chews are very hard. Whatever the material, if you can't dent it with your thumbnail, it's too hard and can fracture teeth.^[7]
• Rope and cotton. Rope toys often shred, and swallowed strands can get stuck in teeth or the gut. Use rope for supervised tug with you, then put it away.^[6]
• Plush and polyester stuffing. The fabric is less of a worry than what's inside. Swallowed stuffing is a common cause of gut blockage, and squeakers can be swallowed too.^[6]
• Soft vinyl and flexible plastics. Phthalates and BPA are chemicals found in some plastics. The Texas Tech study found both leaching from plastic training bumpers. If a soft plastic toy doesn't say what it's made of, you can't tell by looking.^[2],[3]
• Tennis-ball felt and dyes. Tennis balls are made for tennis, not dogs. The fuzz is abrasive, and dirt and sand make it worse, which can wear down teeth. As for dyes and coatings, a Texas A&M vet advises avoiding toys with added coatings, since they may be toxic if swallowed.^[9],[6]

What the labels mean, and what they don't

• "BPA-free." It means BPA itself isn't used. It doesn't tell you what replaced it. A systematic review found two common substitutes, BPS and BPF, are about as hormonally active as BPA.^[4]
• "Phthalate-free." Useful to see on soft plastic and vinyl toys, since phthalates were among the chemicals found leaching from training bumpers. Like every toy label, it's the maker's statement.^[3],[1]
• "Food-grade" and "FDA-compliant." The FDA authorizes materials that touch food for specific uses, after a safety review of that use. A toy maker saying its material is "food-grade" or "FDA-compliant" is pointing to those food rules. It doesn't mean the FDA has looked at the toy.^[5],[1]
• "Non-toxic." There's no federal standard behind this word for pet toys. It's the least specific label of the bunch.^[1]

The labels are still worth something. A maker who names the material and says which chemicals it leaves out is giving you more to go on than one who says nothing. Just don't read a label as a safety test.

Hardness and pieces still matter more

Chemical risk is uncertain. The risks from a toy that's too hard or breaks apart are well known, and they're where most vet advice focuses.^[7],[6],[8]

• Thumbnail test. Press your thumbnail into the toy. If you can't leave a dent, it's too hard. A chew toy should also bend slightly.^[7]
• Size it up. Pick a toy too big to swallow or fit whole in the mouth. AAHA suggests one bigger than your dog's snout and slightly wider than their mouth, and a size up for strong chewers.^[7],[6]
• Match it to how your dog chews. Choose a size and type that suits your dog's size and chewing habits, and watch them with a new chew.^[8]
• Retire worn toys. Chews wear down into thin sections that can break off and be swallowed. Throw them away before they get that far.^[8],[6]

Simple steps if chemicals worry you

You can't test toys at home, but a few habits line up with what the research found without costing much.

• Buy from makers who disclose materials. Favor toys that name the material and say what's left out, like BPA and phthalates.
• Replace old, weathered plastic. In the Texas Tech study, toys and bumpers left outside to weather leached more chemicals. Swap out cracked, chalky, or sun-worn plastic toys.^[3]
• Skip coated and painted toys. Additives and coatings on toys may be toxic if swallowed.^[6]
• Keep chew toys chew toys. Plastic training bumpers leached the most in the study. Use them for retrieving, then put them away rather than leaving them out as chews.^[3]