Soft plastic chew toys swap to Natural rubber or cotton rope toys

Why make the swap

• Why switch to natural rubber or cotton rope toys

  Natural rubber has no PVC, so it needs no plasticisers. Undyed cotton rope is washable.

• What's the concern with soft plastic chew toys

  Phthalates and BPA leached from plastic training bumpers into simulated dog saliva, more so after simulated chewing. Most toys leached far less, though one leached a lot of a phthalate.

• General information, not veterinary advice. Ask your vet before changing what your pet uses.

• Good to know before you buy

  Natural rubber: skip it if anyone in the house has a latex allergy. Supervise rope play and throw out frayed rope. Stuffing a toy with peanut butter? Check the label for xylitol, also called birch sugar, which is dangerous to dogs.

• Sources (2)

  1. Wooten & Smith 2013, Chemosphere: phthalates and BPA leached from training bumpers into simulated saliva; most toys far less (opens in a new tab)
  2. FDA: xylitol (also birch sugar) is dangerous to dogs and is in some peanut and nut butters; check the label (opens in a new tab)

  Health and safety facts on this page come from these sources. What a pick is made of comes from its maker's listing or website, as stated on the date we checked.