Pooch poison: Lead found in dog toys

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The toys your dog loves to chew on may be toxic.

Results of recent testing conducted by Washington Toxics Coalition show an alarming number of chew toys contain lead and other harsh metals and chemicals like cadmium, mercury, and arsenic.

Using a metal analyzer, the nonprofit group tested 400 pet products designed specifically for dogs to bite or otherwise put in their mouths.

The tests found lead in 25 percent of the products, and 28 of the products showed lead levels greater than 300 ppm -- the current standard for lead in children's products as was set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Tennis balls made for pets were among the toys tested, and the coalition found nearly half of them had detectable levels of lead even though sports tennis balls humans use do not contain lead.

The group also tested a number of pet collars and found nearly half of them had detectable levels of lead with more than 25 percent of them exceeding 300 ppm.

"Whether it's made in China or not doesn't matter," said Ivy Sager-Rosenthal with the coalition. "We found it in both American and foreign-made products."

In order to avoid dangerous pet products, the coalition suggests avoiding vinyl and soft plastics, brightly-painted items and anything with rhinestones and trinkets as they're more likely to contain lead or other harmful chemicals.