Camelot Cockers' Educational Center - Tennis Balls and Your Cocker Spaniel!

Although tennis balls are probably one of the most popular dog toys, it is recommended that tennis balls NOT be given to dogs! But "why?" you ask.

According to my veterinarian, chewing on a tennis ball can cause serious dental problems. The wooly nylon fuzz on tennis balls can be abrasive and can wear down the enamel on your cockers' teeth! Additionally, when a tennis ball bounces along the ground, it picks up whatever is on the ground and can hold it in the fuzz i.e. bacteria, feces, dirt, small pebbles, glass, sand, food… use your imagination! This not only harbors bacteria, but the ball can begin to become even more abrasive.

Cockers can be aggressive chewers of toys and treats, chewing on a tennis ball can wear down the teeth (over time), so much that the tooth pulp becomes exposed; these teeth become infected, very painful, and will need to be extracted before they abscess. If not treated in a timely manner, the infection could lead to sepsis and ultimately in death.

We all know that some dogs could never live without a good game of fetch, so instead choose a bare rubber ball that won't collect as much grit as a tennis ball. These will be easier to clean, are sometimes more durable than a tennis ball, and ultimately much safer! The truth is your Cocker probably won't even know the difference!

If I still don't have you convinced not to use a tennis ball then please consider this: "In the 1980s, the dye in regular tennis balls was reported to increase the risk of cancer in dogs who ingested small amounts of the dye that dissolved in saliva as the dog held the ball, and special tennis balls were made for dogs, using a safe dye. I have been unable to find information on whether the dye currently used in tennis balls is unsafe for dogs. http://tennis.about.com/od/tennisballfaq/f/faqballs013.htm

With the recommendation of my vet, and the possibility of cancer causing dye, I won't even take the chance of putting my cockers' in harm's way!

-Allison Flores

-Michael Flores Jr., A.S., CMA, NREMT-B