4 Reasons To Never Feed Your Dog Rawhide Again

They Are Highly Processed

Rawhide is not strictly as natural as you may think.  It is created using the inner layer of cow hide, most commonly, by separating it from the outer layer of hide.  The outer hide then goes on to be used in shoes, furniture and clothing production.  

Once the inner hide has been separated, it is then treated chemically to clean and preserve it, before being cut and shaped into the treats you are used to seeing in the pet shops.  Some lower quality manufacturers, have been known to have detectable traces of toxic chemicals in their finished product.  Would you knowingly feed your dog a treat that may contain arsenic, bleach, lead or formaldehyde? I am sure that the answer to that is no!

They Are A Choking Hazard

As rawhide starts off as a very hard chew, it takes your dog a long time to chew them enough to actually get a piece off to eat.  During this lengthy chewing process, the rawhide gets softened, to the point where it is an almost chewing gum like consistency.  If larger pieces of this sticky substance are swallowed, they can easily become stuck in your dog's throat causing them to choke.  It is also often extremely difficult to physically remove these pieces from your dog's mouth, as by this point, they are really slippery and difficult to get a grip of. 

They Can Cause Intestinal Blockages

Any pieces of rawhide that are successfully swallowed, still have the potential to cause issues further along the digestive process.  If the pieces are very small, it is likely that the acids within your dog's stomach should be able to break them down so that they can be digested more effectively.  However, this is often not the case.  Instead, larger pieces that manage to exit the stomach, may well become stuck in your dog's intestines, which can be a life threatening situation, requiring emergency surgery to remove the blockage.  This experience would not only be extremely traumatic for your dog, but also for your finances! 

They Can Cause Dental Injuries

Because rawhide products are designed to be hard and longer lasting chews, they can in fact cause damage to your dog's teeth and mouth in the process of being chewed.  This is particularly common in younger dogs and puppies, whose jaws and teeth have not yet fully developed.  Sharper pieces of rawhide may also scratch your dog's gums as they chew which can be why you may see traces of blood on the chew if your dog has been chewing at it for a while.  Your dog may also fracture or break their teeth too, so to keep their pearly whites strong and damage free, rawhide is best avoided.   

There are so many alternatives to rawhide chews available on the market today, including; 

• Totally natural chews such as pig's ears, cow hooves, chicken feet, rabbit ears etc
• Chew toys such as 'Kongs' which can be filled with treats
• Himalayan 'yak' chew bars
• Vegetables such as carrots are also great for a low calorie option

To find out more about vegetables and fruits your dog may like to try instead of rawhide chews, click here to see my blog post on the subject.

To find out more on how your dog's diet can affect their wellbeing and behaviour, take a look at my book Canine Contentment - The Essential Guide.