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Is rawhide bad for my dog?

12/12/2019 - Christmas

Is rawhide bad for my dog?


Rawhide chews are readily available in the shops, especially at Christmas time when they come in lots of festive colours and shapes.  If it is for sale in a pet shop can it really be that bad? The simple answer is YES!
 
Rawhide is made from the inner layer or cow or horse hide and is the by-product from the leather industry. These are cleaned and de-haired using chemicals and then bleached, often this includes the use of chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide and sodium sulphate.  Once cleaned the hide is made to look pretty by cutting and rolling it into shapes which are glued together, at Christmas time these are painted with festive colours to help make them look appealing.
 
As well as having no nutritional value rawhide can provide a number of risks,

Rawhide is indigestible and if broken into bits and swallowed it can get stuck causing blockages throughout the dog’s digestive system. If chewed well it also doesn’t break down so often turns into a long string like form which is swallowed and can also cause blockages. Both these scenarios can also pose a choking risk. Rawhide can also cause digestive irritation and upset tummies.
 
What can I give my dog instead?

Thankfully there are a number of safer, healthier and tastier alternatives which your dog will enjoy chewing a lot more, here are my top suggestions;
Pizzle
Dried animal skin
Dried ears, tendons and other body parts
Anthos root
Air dried or raw bones
Stuffed Kongs
 
As with anything new introduce new chews slowly to avoid overloading your dog’s tummy with too many new things at once and always provide supervision to ensure your dog’s safety when enjoying a chew.

Have you tried one of our Pawsome Parcels yet? Treat your favourite four-legged friend to their very own special delivery, our Pawsome Parcel, a box full of yummy natural chews for them to enjoy! Follow our Pawsome Parcel Facebook page for chew tips and recipes!