Replying to Raquel M. 06/04/2025 - 13:46
Hi Raquel,
You’re very welcome! I think it’s great that you’re being proactive with client education, especially with dogs that are high risk for this kind of emergency.
The drilled-hole approach in balls is something I’ve seen a few times too. While, as you said, it’s not foolproof, the idea is that a central air channel could reduce the risk of complete occlusion if the ball becomes lodged. I don’t know of any formal studies specifically validating this, but from a first principles perspective, it seems reasonable, especially compared to solid, unvented balls which are much more dangerous.
Beyond that, some additional points I’ve found helpful for clients:
Avoid smooth, round balls that are just the right size to occlude the oropharynx, particularly rubber or silicone ones that are hard to grip. Safer options are larger than the dog’s mouth or have irregular shapes.
Kong-style toys or those with built-in air holes can be a safer alternative for ball-obsessed dogs.
Supervised play with retrieval toys, especially outdoors or during high-arousal games like fetch, is important to avoid the “gulp and go” moment.
Teaching a strong “drop it” or “leave it” command can be helpful for prevention.
Some emergency clinics also hand out basic first aid infographics or QR codes with links to vetted videos like the Heimlich ones we shared so clients have a quick reference if something happens.
If I come across anything more concrete in the literature, I’ll pass it along.
Best,
Scott
