Appropriate Toys and Chews for your Kai Ken
It's hard knowing what toys and chews you should get your Kai Ken, there are so many products out there that have varying reviews. No doubt everything out there works for some dog, but how do you know it will work for yours? Here are my personal experiences and recommendations:
Tips to keep in mind:
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- When choosing toys and chews, perform a "thumbnail test" where you press your thumbnail into the toy/chew. If your nail makes a mark or impression, then it is considered safe to give to your dog (however nothing is guaranteed). If you're not able to make a mark with your thumbnail then the item is likely too hard and puts your dog at increased risk for tooth fractures.
- Always supervise when giving chews that could become potential choking hazards! I never really had to supervise my dogs much and never had any issues, until puppy Kurisu was chewing on a bully slice. Luckily I was in the same room when I heard her thrashing against the side of the x-pen. I ran over and opened her mouth. She chewed it to the perfect size to completely block her throat. She was just a 12 week old puppy and it was hard to get my fingers into her mouth. There was nothing to grab on to! I was able to push one of the corners in so it spun (from an 'o' shape to a 'l' shape), then I could grab it and pull it out. I didn't trust her with ANYTHING for a very long time lol! Now as an adult I do give her gullet sticks, tripe chews, and whimzees without supervision (leaving for work, class, etc).
#1. Avoid bones, antlers, horns, himalayan yak cheese, and hooves.
I know these chews are very popular and they last a long time which is great for our wallets. However Tavi has broken her teeth on ALL of these things. Luckily they've only been slab fractures and did not require an expensive tooth extraction or root canal. Kurisu's teeth do appear stronger and thicker from what I can tell (she is larger) but I also have had friends who's dogs have broken teeth on these items and honestly it is just not worth it at all. Trust me, my favorite "Kong alternative" was to take center cut marrow bones and freeze yogurt, peanut butter, kibble, etc, in the middle and give as a treat. I did this with Bakugo when he was a puppy and he broke his puppy tooth on the bone.
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#2. Only buy balls that have holes in them & always size up.
This one sounds kind of weird, but it makes sense I promise! One of the top reasons for suffocation in dogs is they swallow a ball and you can't get it out (there is nothing to grab on to). With holes in the ball, it buys you some time to get to the vet as air can get through and it gives you something to grab if you're trying to fish it out.
This one sounds kind of weird, but it makes sense I promise! One of the top reasons for suffocation in dogs is they swallow a ball and you can't get it out (there is nothing to grab on to). With holes in the ball, it buys you some time to get to the vet as air can get through and it gives you something to grab if you're trying to fish it out.
#3. Never buy smoked bones! Only raw, dehydrated, or freeze dried.
Smoked bones are prone to splintering into sharp pieces that can cause lacerations inside your dog's throat and stomach.
Smoked bones are prone to splintering into sharp pieces that can cause lacerations inside your dog's throat and stomach.
Our favorite toys:
- Sodapup has durable hard rubber toys that are very similar strength to Kongs. What we love most about Sodapup is that there are a variety of different food toys and the difficulty of them dispensing food varies. They're also easier to clean than a Kong as they don't have all the ridges inside the toy. Here is a recipe list for things you can stuff into Sodapup toys!
- Kong also has a great variety of durable toys. Ensure that you get an appropriate size (always size up if in doubt) and strength for your dog! A small puppy strength toy would be inappropriate for an adult Kai Ken, who would be able to shed the toy and might accidentally eat parts, or worse they might swallow it. A good rule is that toys should be roughly the size of your dog's head.
- The Kong Wobbler is one of our favorite food dispensing toys. It is durable, can hold a full meal of food for most dogs, and is an easy game for all dogs to figure out! It is a little harder for the toy to work on carpet.
Our favorite long lasting chews:
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Our favorite chews (that don't last very long):
- Bully sticks
- Gullet sticks (can be stinky!)
- Cow/pig/lamb ears - be careful as pig ears can sometimes be greasy & fatty, which can cause pancreatitis.
- Tripe chews (they're always stinky lol!)
- Cod skins
- Trachea chews
- Chicken, duck, or turkey necks & feet (raw, dehydrated, or freeze dried)