Many pet parents can attest to the fact that their dogs love squeaky toys. What’s the draw for them? Researchers aren’t quite sure, but they believe some dogs find the noise somewhat similar to a prey animal. Many small animals, such as mice, squirrels and other rodents make a squeaking noise when caught, scared or injured. Some scientists believe this could set off the prey instincts in dogs.
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And for reasons we can’t understand, there are dogs that really love the squeaky sound of toys for no apparent reason! These dogs are just crazy for squeaky toys. They’ll grab up the toy and run around making it squeak until it drives you berserk!
Squeakers Can Be Dangerous for Dogs
While toys are great fun, some of them can be dangerous for our precious pups. The problem is that some toys are made of thin material such as plastic or fabric, which is easily chewed, torn or shredded. Once a dog tears open the toy, many pups choose to give the toy a “squeakectomy” (remove the squeaker).
The squeaker is usually a small bit of plastic that is shaped like a bladder, with a small opening on one side. The opening contains some type of mechanism, a bit like a whistle. The bladder fills with air and when the toy is squeezed, the result is the infamous squeaking sound.
These small bladder devices are easily chewed or even swallowed whole. The squeaking device can be a choking hazard, which can lead to asphyxia. It can also become lodged in a dog’s gastrointestinal tract, leading to a bowel obstruction. Both of these issues are medical emergencies.
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Call the Vet Immediately
If your fur baby has swallowed the squeaker, or if the squeaker seems to be caught in his throat, do not induce vomiting. Call the vet immediately. It’s possible the vet may need to perform emergency surgery to get the squeaker out, but this depends on where the device is located.
Squeaky toys are a part a dog’s life; however, if you choose to give your fur baby this type of toy, then be sure to invest in toys that are difficult for dogs to shred. And if your canine companion regularly performs squeakectomies on his toys, it may be best to choose toys that don’t contain squeakers!
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Ask a Vet Live NowBenefits of Toys for Dogs
Dog toys, including those with squeakers, have many benefits for our fur babies. Toys are fun to play with and help wear out dogs who are energized for action.
They’re also useful for training purposes and can be great fun for both pet parents and their canine companions.
What could be more fun that taking your dog out and throwing a frisbee or a ball? Then you watch him run like lightning to fetch it, bring it back and start the process all over again!
Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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