Rawhide is bad for dogs for a number of reasons. intestinal blockage. These concerns are so big, that the Humane Society and ASPCA both discourage the consumption of rawhide for pets. Also, Petco recently announced it will no longer sell traditional rawhide in its stores.
Many veterinarians recommend rawhide chews to help with your dog's dental health with a few cautions. However, some vets are very much opposed to the practice of giving these treats to dogs, citing cases where pieces of rawhide became lodged in the throat or intestines of dogs.
Rawhide is Difficult to Digest
This creates a risk of obstruction in the esophagus or intestines if a dog swallows a large piece whole. Additionally, these pieces can also cause choking hazards that could become caught in their trachea as they gnaw and tear pieces away from their rawhide chew.
Pet parents should limit the amount of rawhide consumed at any given time and discourage consumption of significant pieces that could cause choking or gastrointestinal obstruction. Obstruction may be more likely to occur in smaller dogs.
CDC warning: Don't give your dog a pig ear treat, you could both get very ill. (WQOW) – A warning for dog owners, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said you should not give your pooches pig ear treats. They are also advising retailers to stop selling them.
Generally speaking, rawhides are not easily digested, which is why large chunks broken off and swallowed pose such high obstruction risks. Any pieces your pup breaks off will have to pass through his digestive system in chunks, since they will not be broken down as well as the rest of his food.
A very good alternative to nasty rawhide, is a pig's ear. Pigs ears are made up of cartilage making them a chewy and tasty treat. They are suitable for both large and smaller breed dogs.
A good rule of thumb is to let your pet chew a rawhide toy an hour a day. If your dog enjoys chewing rawhide frequently, make sure it always has two or three rawhides to keep it busy.
Some of the most common and healthy chew for dogs that you can find at your local pet store, include: Bully sticks for dogs. Bully sticks are shaped like natural bones, but they have a softer texture that are more palatable and easy to digest. Bully sticks are some of the best chews to give your dog.
Many veterinarians warn that rawhide isn't safe for dogs because it causes choking and blockage risks. Rawhide isn't easily digestible, and if your dog swallows large pieces of rawhide, these pieces can get stuck in the esophagus or other parts of the digestive tract causing severe health concerns and even death.
Dr. Sara Ochoa, DVM, shared that the main reason rawhides are sold in stores is that pet parents are still buying these chews. Most people do not fully research things before they buy them for their dogs. They think that just because they are sold in stores that they must be okay for their dog.
Those hides are treated with many strong chemicals in order to reach the stage where they can be shaped and formed into the chews you see in stores. In contrast, No-Hide chews contain NO animal hides and chemicals are NOT used to produce them, so your animal is safe from consuming harsh chemicals.
The researchers noted that feeding rawhide chews to a dog who tended to consume large pieces could increase a dog's risk for intestinal blockage. When a pork skin chew was compared directly to a beef rawhide chew, the pork skin product's digestibility was significantly greater than that of beef rawhide chew.
Rawhide bones and other edible chews can pose a choking and blockage risk. In fact, this is a much bigger risk than contamination or digestive irritation. If your dog swallows large pieces of rawhide, the rawhide can get stuck in the esophagus or other parts of the digestive tract.
Cow ears are generally considered a better alternative to rawhide chews because they are more easy for your dog to digest and don't tend to be as tough. Because rawhides are harder and tougher than cow ears, they are also more likely to cause broken teeth and mouth damage.
In fact, eating too much rawhide can cause your dog to experience vomiting and diarrhea, Ahn says.
The piece of rawhide may be flexible enough and get broke down by the intestinal tract enough to pass (it can take 3-5 days).
Is rawhide safe for puppies? Puppies can try a rawhide. But wait till they are about 6 months old. Their mouths are not fully developed and a rawhide may be too hard for them.
They're Safe for Dogs
The lack of harmful ingredients means Greenies Dental Treats are a safe, healthy pet food that is easily digestible. Just make sure your pet chews them thoroughly before swallowing.
Chicken feet are highly nutritious for dogs. They have two main health draws to them; they help manage joint conditions, and they help maintain dental hygiene. The only part of the chicken feet which might cause a problem is the nails. They can be sharp and harder to digest than the other parts of the foot.