Toys and gear

Be sure your dog's belongings are safe

Our world is full of chemicals. And from food preservatives to flame retardants, many of them were designed to keep us safe. But each year, more information comes to light that many of these chemicals are, in fact, hazardous to human health. Government agencies have been created to monitor manufacturing practices so that certain chemicals are not present in our products beyond reasonable levels.

We hope Bo's ball is toxin-free! (AP photo via Examiner.com)

But our dogs are not so fortunate. Since there are no government standards for hazardous chemicals in pet products,* it's up to us to know what we are giving our furry friends to play with, sleep on and wear. And because a higher percentage of their body is surface area (due to their size) and they spend more time playing with toys and sleeping on their beds, their risk of exposure to dangerous chemicals is often greater than a human's.

Find out more about how you can be sure that your pup's gear is safe!

• Toxic toys
  
  Learn about a database where you can find out if your dog's toys contain harmful chemicals

*Source: HealthyStuff.org