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Blog | Natural and Organic Pet Toys

Giving your dog chew toys is an important part of caring for your pet as it allows him to exercise his jaw, clean his teeth, be mentally engaged and reduce frustration so he does not end up tearing your personal belongings to shreds!

While chew toys are something that every dog should spend time with daily, one needs to be mindful about the quality and safety of these toys. 
Since the production of chew toys is not regulated, most of them are made using cheap plastic and chemical dyes. Dogs are smaller and more sensitive to chemicals than humans are, so it is safe to assume that they will be negatively affected by these conventional, low-quality toys.

The soft and chewy texture given to dog toys is courtesy of chemicals like phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA). Phthalates and BPA have been linked to several health problems in humans such as liver, kidney and reproduction issues, as well as cancer. Dogs spend hours chewing and grinding these toys which creates the perfect warm and moist environment for the chemicals to break down and be released into their body.

Many pet owners may think it is safer to give dogs rawhides and bones to chew on. While this may seem more natural, rawhides go through chemical-heavy processing, and bones can break into small, sharp pieces that can damage teeth and gums and create a choking hazard.

Due to the issues mentioned above, the customer demand for safe natural and organic pet toys is steadily increasing. Pet owners see their animals as members of their families and are willing to buy better quality toys if it means that their health is protected.

For pet toys to be certified organic they have to comply with strict procedures in their manufacture and processing and frequent on-sight inspections. If you are unsure about the validity of an organic product you should ask the company if you can see their certification documents.

There are now many reputable companies selling pet toys that use natural dyes and organic and eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, hemp, bamboo and sea grass. This means that your pet can chew for hours without negative effects. 


Sources
http://allnaturalpetcare.com/blog/2012/12/02/pet-chew-toys-may-contain-bpa-phthalates-study-which-brands-dont/
http://www.petage.com/natural-pet-toys-fueled-by-consumer-interest/
http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/wellbeing/safe-chew-toys-pets