‘Stop’: Vet reveals hidden danger of giving your dog tennis balls

A veterinarian has issued a warning to dog owners over the dangers of a popular toy – saying it could cost a fortune in dental bills.

A veterinarian has issued a warning to dog owners over the dangers of a popular toy – saying it could cost a fortune in dental bills.

Hunter Finn, a Texas-based animal expert, regularly shares pet advice on TikTok with his 2.1 million followers. In a recent two-part video, Dr Finn explained the serious harm that tennis balls can do to your dog’s mouth.

“Stop giving your dog tennis balls. Right now you’re probably thinking, ‘Dr Finn, how does [a tennis ball] harm my dog?’” he said in the clip.

“Well, when you’re playing fetch with your dog and throwing this thing, it’s getting caught in saliva and dirt and sand, and [the felt covering the ball] just basically turns into sandpaper.”

Texas-based veterinarian Dr Hunter Finn. Picture: TikTok

Tennis balls can do severe damage to a dog’s teeth. Picture: TikTok

Over time, because the felt is “abrasive”, it will “severely wear down your dog’s teeth”, Dr Finn added, sharing an image of one canine’s warped mouth after playing with the balls.

“As that ball turns in your dogs mouth as it’s playing with it, and you’re grabbing it, and it’s being thrown and picked up multiple times … your dog’s [mouth] will start to look like this,” he said.

While a dog’s teeth “don’t always have to be removed” when they’re in that condition, Dr Finn said it was better not to take the risk, and opt for a rubber ball instead.

‘The outer coating of a tennis ball is quite abrasive and can wear down a dog’s teeth, sometimes severely.’ Picture: David Caird

He’s not the first expert to warn against the toy – countless veterinary hospitals have published advice regarding what one called “the epitome of a dog toy”.

“The outer coating of a tennis ball is quite abrasive and can wear down a dog’s teeth (called ‘blunting’), sometimes severely. After years of this kind of wear and tear, it may become possible to see tennis-ball shaped grooves on the inside surface of your dog’s teeth,” California’s Sierra Veterinary said in a blog post.

“This kind of irreversible damage can cause considerable pain and make it difficult for your dog to eat, not to mention make their teeth more susceptible to breakage. If your dog has a ball in his mouth at all hours, especially if it is covered in dirt or sand, you may want to switch to a toy with a solid surface.”

Originally published as ‘Stop’: Vet reveals hidden danger of giving your dog tennis balls