chew toy
{{Short description|Type of toy designed for animals to chew}}
A chew toy is an object designed to be chewed on by animals for stimulation and relief from boredom or discomfort.{{US patent reference|number=5477815|issue-date=1995-12-26|inventor=Anthony O'Rourke|title=Dog chew toy}} Chew toys can help relieve pain associated with teething, which is especially true for younger animals, such as puppies.{{Cite web |date=2013-02-07 |title=How to Prevent Puppy Chewing Problems |url=https://www.thrivingcanine.com/how-to-prevent-puppy-chewing-problems |access-date=2020-01-12 |website=Thriving Canine |language=en}} There are several types of chew toys made from different materials, including rawhide, wood, paper, and mineral. Chew toys are commonly associated with dogs, but have also been effective with birds, rodents, and rabbits. Some parents give human infants a similar toy called a teether to help soothe inflamed gums during teething.
Uses
= Anxiety relief =
Chew toys have been used to relieve anxiety in animals.{{Cite web |date=2013-02-07 |title=How to Prevent Puppy Chewing Problems |url=https://www.thrivingcanine.com/how-to-prevent-puppy-chewing-problems |access-date=2020-01-12 |website=Thriving Canine |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2011-07-11 |title=Providing Enrichment For Pigs |url=https://www.ciwf.org.uk/media/3818880/providing-enrichment-for-pigs.pdf |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Compassion in World Farming}} Some laws surrounding pig production within the European Union include chew toys under the umbrella of "manipulation materials" that are required by law to be provided to pigs to facilitate necessary "proper investigation and manipulation activities".{{Cite web |date=2016-08-03 |title=On best practices with a view to the prevention of routine tail-docking and the provision of enrichment materials to pigs |url=https://food.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2016-12/aw_practice_farm_pigs_stfwrkdoc_en.pdf |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=European Commission}}
= Gum health =
Chew toys are also used to maintain animals' gums.{{cite web |last=Lynn Smith |first=Chandra |date=2009-04-19 |title=Use chew toys, leash to help train puppies |url=http://www.eveningsun.com/ci_12162339 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903211938/http://www.eveningsun.com/ci_12162339 |archive-date=2009-09-03 |access-date=2009-05-02 |publisher=The Evening Sun}} Some domestic animals, such as rabbits and hamsters, specifically require chew toys, in order to maintain their oral health, since their teeth grow continuously throughout their life and must be whittled down by extensive chewing in order to maintain them at a functional length.{{Cite web |last=Kruzer |first=Adrienne |date=2022-03-08 |title=What to Do if Your Hamster is Biting Its Cage |url=https://www.thesprucepets.com/why-is-my-hamster-biting-the-cage-5095735 |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=The Spruce Pets}}
Types
= Rawhide =
File:Dog with rawhide chew toy.jpg
Rawhide chew toys are among the most popular chew toys for dogs. Since rawhides are made of hard and durable material, these toys can sometimes withstand weeks of wear. Examples of rawhide chew toys are twists and rawhide bones.
Groups such as the American Kennel Club contested rawhide's safety, stating that large chunks of rawhide can cause intestinal blockages when ingested.{{cite web |url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/are-rawhide-chews-dangerous-for-dog/ |title=Are Rawhide Chews Dangerous for Dogs? |author=Anna Burke |date=2023-11-09 |website=American Kennel Club |access-date=2023-11-20}} Chew toys made of leather are not recommended for dogs as they cannot be properly digested in the stomach, and risk causing intestinal obstruction.{{cite book |last=Parent |first=Lucia E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yKxxFgRbz74C&dq=%22dog+toy%22+leather&pg=PA23 |title=Beagles: Everything about Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Handling, and Behavior |author2=Lucia Roesel-Parent |publisher=Barron's Educational Series |year=2003 |isbn=0-7641-2002-6 |page=23}}{{Cite news |date=2020-03-20 |title=Chewable toys for dogs that will give a massage to gums |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/most-searched-products/pet-products/dogs/chewable-toys-for-dogs-that-will-give-a-massage-to-gums/articleshow/74714444.cms |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Spoil your dog with these toys, treats, beds and more |url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/Shop/story/dog-treats-toys-products-102529632 |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Good Morning America |language=en}}
= Wooden =
Wooden chew toys are made of soft, non-poisonous wood, and are often coated in bright, vegetable-based dyes or paints. They are generally used by rabbits and small rodents.
= Paper =
Paper chew toys are made of non-bleached, non-toxic paper. They are often inexpensive or able to be crafted at home. One common type of paper chew toy is an empty toilet paper roll.
= Mineral =
Mineral chew toys are made of flavored animal-safe minerals. These range from flavored fruit-shaped blocks, for birds to ice cream cone-shaped treats for rabbits. They also come shaped like bowls with minerals inside. A common mineral chew toy is the cuttlebone, a toy for birds that aids in trimming their nails and beaks.
= Rubber =
File:Dog enjoying black kong toy.jpg]]
There also exists a variety of rubber chew toys for dogs. Some are hollowed, so that one can place treats inside them. These chew toys sometimes contain materials that are unsafe for dogs to ingest, such as polyvinyl chloride.