Silicone
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The problem with silicone arises when dogs find out they can chew this material. Dogs contained in a kennel situation become bored very quickly and find any way to keep themselves occupied. This naturally means they will find any weak spot in the silicone seal and play with it. Once the dog can get their teeth on the strip of rubber, they will pull and chew until it pops off.
Most of the time, this behavior is merely a nuisance for the kennel owner - however, if a dog ingests enough silicone it can become lodged in the intestines. Silicone does not break down inside the body, and can cause diarrhea, bloat, blood in the stool, and in severe cases - complete blockage of the intestine. Most of the time the silicone pieces will pass through the dog, causing minor discomfort until it is all expelled, however, if large enough pieces were ingested, it might be necessary to surgically remove the lodged pieces.
Gator Products avoids these potential issues by not using silicone to seal the kennel systems. Instead, we glue the kennels together and use materials that are naturally waterproof - so no silicone is necessary.
Silicone is a common product used to seal kennel systems. It is easy to use and provides a watertight bond. When used properly, it can be very effective in containing any fluids within the kennel.
Self-contained unit showing the seams without silicone.
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