Although your senior pet may no longer be as interested in chewing and playing with toys, chew toys are the perfect activity for physical and mental stimulation. In addition to keeping your senior pet entertained, chew toys will keep them more active, help them use their brain more, and care for their dental health. However, not all chew toys are created equal, and some are unsafe for your furry pal. Determine their best options before stocking up on chew toys for your senior pet​

Safe chew toys for senior pets

Chewing on toys or treats provides not only great entertainment for your senior pet, but can also help boost their cognitive function. Some excellent chew toy options for senior pets include:

• Kong Toys — One of the most popular pet toy brands, Kong makes a wide range of chew toys designed for all chewing levels. Sturdy rubber Kong toys are an excellent choice if your senior pet still has a puppy-like penchant for destroying toys and has no dental issues. Softer varieties geared specifically toward senior pets who are less-powerful chewers also are available. In addition, Kong rubber toys provide hours of chewing entertainment and can be stuffed with pet food to make them more enticing. Your senior pet may be on a prescription diet, but you can mix canned and dry food, fill the Kong, and freeze it overnight for a longer-lasting chewing experience.
• Stuffed puzzle toys — Senior pets typically aren't as destructive as puppies or young adults, so many plush toys make great chew toys for them. Plush toys are gentle on your senior pet's gums, and some provide interactive fun that stimulates mental function. A plush puzzle toy like the Outward Hound Hide a Squirrel can invigorate dogs who enjoy chasing squirrels but may be limited by old-age infirmities. Small plush squirrels are stuffed inside a soft hollow tree, encouraging your pooch to pull out their top nemesis.
• Food puzzles — Food puzzles provide additional fun to mealtimes by stimulating your pet's mind and offering low-impact, indoor exercise perfect for senior pets. You can stuff food puzzles with all manner of treats and diets that are safe and healthy for your furry pal's medical condition. You can purchase commercial food puzzles or easily create your own at home. Cardboard tubes and boxes, crumpled paper, and rolled-up towels can all be configured into food puzzles for your senior pet.

VOHC-approved dental chews — Since many senior pets suffer from some form of dental disease, chews approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) provide the ideal chewing solution. Their approved products will keep your senior pet entertained and healthier by battling their accumulated plaque and tartar that can lead to many types of dental problems.

Unsafe chew toys for senior pets

Many senior pets suffer from chronic medical conditions or dental diseases that can make certain chew toys unsafe. Do not give your senior pet the following:

• Antlers, bones, and hooves — Although durable chew toys seem perfect for your pet, items like antlers, bones, and hooves can be too hard, leading to fractured teeth. Worse, sharp fragments can splinter off and pierce or lodge in your pet's gastrointestinal tract, requiring emergency surgery.
• Rawhides — Rawhides are a popular pet chew, but many of these products can be unsafe, especially for senior pets. Not only can they be difficult to chew, but they're also often loaded with harmful ingredients. The chemical processing that creates rawhides from animal skins can be harsh on your pet's digestive system, and the rawhide chew itself can be swallowed whole and become a gastrointestinal obstruction. This is a rare but possible occurrence.
• Rope toys — Your senior pet may not feel up to tugging on a rope toy anymore and these toys are best tossed out. Many of these toys can unravel and an unsupervised pet could swallow some string, causing a life-threatening obstruction.

Senior pets still require the physical and mental stimulation that chew toys offer, but some items can be unsafe for your furry pal. Contact our office at (802)871-2329 if you think your senior pet may need hospice care.