Why is rawhide bad for dogs? For one, rawhide bones and rawhide chews are famous for causing issues to the digestive tract as well as intestinal blockage. They can even get stuck in the esophagus. Some dogs swallow such large pieces of it without chewing and end up at the ER vet.
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 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.
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.
Given how rawhide bones are bad for dogs, it's safe to say that natural and sustainable non-rawhide bones are now more important than ever in keeping our fur babies safe and healthy. So if today, you're looking for non-rawhide bones to buy for your canines, the list below should answer any questions you may have.
Digestive Distress & Intestinal Blockage: When dogs swallow rawhide the effects can be dangerous. Rawhide swells in stomachs and can swell up to 4x its original size! This swelling, combined with the inability to digest this material, can cause blockage and indigestion for pets.
"If used sparingly as a treat, pig ears are not bad, but they're not 'healthy' either," Sanders tells Daily Paws. Sanders says pig ears are safe for most medium- and large-sized dogs when given as an occasional treat once or twice a month. "Pig ears are best when given sparingly as a special treat," she says.
The rawhide will usually soften and break down over the time it takes for them to chew through it. The smaller pieces that are softened, broken down, and chewed thoroughly can pass through a dog's digestive system when consumed slowly, but it is best if they are not swallowed.
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.
Tendons and Other Animal Parts
Backstrap and other tendon chews are a safer choice not to mention low in fat and high in protein and collagen. Trachea is a softer chew that contains chondroitin and glucosamine, so it can be a good choice for a dog with joint issues.
Irritation of the Digestive Tract: Some dogs are sensitive, or more likely, allergic to rawhide or other substances used in their manufacture. This can cause some big problems, diarrhea and vomiting among them. Chemical Exposure & Contamination: Rawhide chews can contain trace amounts of toxic chemicals.
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.
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.
Rawhides originate from the hides of horses and cows. These hides get pressed into dog treats, usually with added chemicals. On the other hand, no-hides are supposed to be more natural and produced without the use of animal hides and chemicals, though they may still be made with animal products.
Rawhide is dehydrated animal skin that has not been exposed to tanning. The difference between beef hide and rawhide is that rawhide does not have to be made from cattle skin. Rawhide can also be made from the skin of horses, buffalo, or other animals.
After six hours, which is approximately the time it takes for a meal to begin to leave a dog's stomach and enter the small intestine, the pork chew was more than 50 percent digested, while the rawhide was only 7.6 percent digested. This low rate of gastric break down continued even when tested up to 24 hours.
Cow ears are also a great alternative to rawhide chews. While they're not the same, they're far less harmful to your dog's digestive system than many other treats. They don't splinter like other types of bones and contain very little fat and calories compared to actual beef jerky snacks (which can be high in sodium).
First, pork hide IS rawhide.
Wikipedia says rawhide is “untanned skin of cattle or other animals.” If you're buying dog treats made from the untanned hides of cows, buffalo, deer, elk or PIGS, no matter what clever marketers tell you, it's all rawhide!
But dogs can find themselves sick and in pain if they eat too much rawhide or ingest pieces that are too big, says Albert Ahn, DVM, veterinary advisor for Myos Pet. In fact, it's why one major U.S. retailer stopped selling traditional rawhide products.
Some dogs are fine with bully sticks, but a rawhide may lead to diarrhea. We recommend trying one treat at a time. If you add three or four in the mix at the same time, and your dog has GI issues, if will be hard to tell which treat was the culprit.
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.
As well as being an all natural pet treat, Pig Ears for dogs are Grain and Gluten free and contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Great for dog dental health, pig ear treats help to reduce tartar and plaque build up while chewing.
Pinna barely has any muscle in it, so pig ears make for an easy-to-chew and digestible treat for dogs. Think of it as a natural alternative to rawhide, better for your dog's teeth, stomach, and health.
Hard Beef Knuckle Bones and Beef Marrow Bones are ideal and the safest for dogs. Chicken, Turkey, and Pork bones are too soft and dangerous for dogs. Dogs love the sensation and taste of chewing bones. Chewing bones releases feel-good endorphins for dogs.