I have read several places on this site reference to a study showing that tennis ball glue eats dogs tooth enamel. I have been unable to find a copy of this study and would like to share it with the local dog trainer and pet store as they have both asked to see it if i can get my hands on it. Can you direct me to where i can get a copy of this study? Many Thanks.

 Quote: will brown

I have read several places on this site reference to a study showing that tennis ball glue eats dogs tooth enamel. I have been unable to find a copy of this study and would like to share it with the local dog trainer and pet store as they have both asked to see it if i can get my hands on it. Can you direct me to where i can get a copy of this study? Many Thanks.

I have read that it's the combination of dog saliva with the glue that forms a destructive substance.

But I guess it might be the tennis ball's fuzzy surface, based on:

QUOTE: ... owners should avoid the use of tennis balls for chewing as these are very abrasive and cause significant teeth wear. END from http://www.NewmanVeterinary.com/DentalProblems.html

QUOTE: Discourage playing with tennis balls as the "fuzz" on the tennis ball is very damaging to your pet's enamel. END from
http://www.LakesVet.net/programs/dental.htm

QUOTE: Another concern about tennis balls - particularly with those obsessed with them - is that the coating on real tennis balls that allows them to stand up to the pounding of a tennis game is very abrasive to the enamel of a dog's teeth. For the occasional toss-fetch game it's probably not an issue, but over a lifetime for a dog who lives with a tennis ball in his mouth, you could have significant dental issues down the road. END from
http://www.dogwise.com

and, from

Picture of abraded teeth, caption, on DentalVet.com:
QUOTE: Abrasion - a pathologic wearing away of dental tooth surface by friction of a foreign material. Examples: tennis balls .... END from http://www.dentalvet.com

and QUOTE: Speaking of tennis balls, as a quick aside, they are actually a problem for dogs in that the coating that makes them tough on the court is very wearing on the enamel of teeth. This isn't a big problem for dogs who occasionally chase a ball, but with a ball crazy dog, it could present a significant health problem down the line - they may want to switch to handballs, Kong balls, or some other kind of ball that is not damaging to enamel.END from http://www.dogwise.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=15&threadid=2596

Other sites say the glue is an additional problem..... so, all in all, pretty convincing. And of course tennis ball choking deaths are warned of on just about every vet med site.

Thank you so much. I will take this material to the instructor and the pet store.

Sorry for resurrecting this old thread but I am having a very difficult time finding the study done in Germany that showed the glue is unsafe for dogs. Has anyone had any luck with this?

I find myself having to defend my advice about not letting (adult) dogs play with tennis balls. I keep getting the, "Well my dog does and he/she is fine" responses.

Any ideas?

 Quote:

Any ideas?

You offered your advice so just drop it and move on.

Well if anyone comes across the study, I'd love to have it. Just giving advice is one thing, giving advice with data to back it up is another.

My adopted adult dog lived in a shelter for a year before I adopted her (no toys, eating crap kibble). When I got her, her teeth were brown, but in good shape. I had her spayed & her teeth cleaned at the same time, shortly after I got her. I introduced her to toys and her favourite by far was a tennis ball. We played ball at least 4 times a week, maybe more, for up to an hour a day, for about a year and a half to two years. Then I learned about tennis balls and she no longer has any (we now use Fantastic balls). Her teeth are now rounded on all the edges, like they have been worn down. After only 2 years with tennis balls! This dog is NOT a voracious chewer and hardly ever chews. She only fetches balls.

I do not know if there ever was an actual tennis ball study, but I have found lots of information from vets that this is something they have seen happen. And I did find this article:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/pettalk/2009-01-20-tennis-teeth_N.htm