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What is a simple way to check whether a chew toy is too hard for your dog's teeth?

Press a thumbnail into it. No dent means too hard.

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  1. Press a thumbnail into it; no dent means too hard ✔
  2. Drop it and see whether it bounces
  3. Squeeze it with your whole hand

Why: AAHA says if you cannot leave an indentation with your thumbnail, the toy is too hard. Hard chews can damage or fracture a dog's teeth.

Huh, didn't know that: AAHA lists antlers, yak milk chews and rawhides among hard chews that can damage or fracture teeth.

The dad joke
What do you do if your dog chews a dictionary? Take the words out of his mouth.
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References

Answer: Press a thumbnail into it; no dent means too hard. AAHA says if you cannot leave an indentation with your thumbnail, the toy is too hard. Hard chews can damage or fracture a dog's teeth.

  1. AAHA, Don't Chew On This! www.aaha.org/resources/dont-chew-on-this
    Press your thumbnail into the chew toy surface. If you can't leave an indentation, the toy is too hard.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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