No-Hide Salmon Chews

[Debbie and Toby]

https://www.earthanimal.com/c/for-dogs/dog-treats/no-hide-dog-chews...

Has anyone used these or know anything about them? Just made a visit to the pet store, they assured me this is not rawhide and is a completely safe chew, just wondered if anyone has used this or would know if it would be safe? We don't give Toby rawhide, but it looks like rawhide, so any input would be welcome.

[Debbie and Toby]

Some of the No-Hide chews they had were quite a bit smaller and that also concerned me, I was afraid he could swallow one of them, so we opted for this long one.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, you want bigger chew objects. It's not just the length that's important, it's the thickness, too. And you should always supervise them when they have a chew. 

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

Yup, the longer ones are 2-4x as thick.  Gonna pick up some of the bigger ones today and will save the other ones for when he's a bit older (the expiration is a ways off).

Thanks, Karen !!

[Debbie and Toby]

Definitely with supervision!

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

I'm always in the room or next to him, but it's near impossible to tell when he is going to go from chew mode to swallow mode.  He does it right away.  I never give him the chew items when I am out of the house.

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

CHEWY TREAT UPDATE:  Just wanted to say THANKS for starting this thread.  I was unaware of Earth Animal's products; besides salmon, they also make beef and other meat chews.  But I was able to find the salmon chews and got 2 of the 4" mini-logs in a bag for like $8.  Expensive, but worth it as a change-of-pace from beef/chicken/turkey/etc.  They also seem to be sold individually as loose single pieces (at least at 1 store I went to) and different sizes, too, as I recall.  

I gave the salmon chew to Teddy last night and he chewed on it for like 15-20 minutes or so.  Softened it around the edges but didn't eat it or break it up into a smaller piece (yet!).  I put it in the freezer afterwards to preserve it.  Looks like I can get 3-4 nighttime snack uses out of it so the cost is about the same as those smaller Bully Sticks he likes (buying bigger braided ones now).

Teddy is 7+ months old and weighs just over 12 pounds; nobody thinks that the Earth Animal chews or a braided bully stick is too tough/thick for his small teeth, right ?  I want/need things that last at night for him to chew/eat when I have my late-night snacks and coffee but I don't want to damage or break his teeth.  His mouth is much smaller than a Standard or even a Mini Doodle's mouth.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

In it's normal state, there's no problem with it's being too big or damaging his teeth, but I wouldn't freeze it. That's going to make it too hard and tough to chew. Keeping it in a sealed bag in the fridge should be enough to "preserve" it.. 

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

OK, thanks for the suggestion, Karen....as a single guy, I rarely preserve foods but thought freezing was better if looking at weeks instead of days.  LOL  :-)

If I do freeze, I will thaw it first before giving it to him.  But I think a big Ziplock in the fridge makes more sense, thanks !

Is it OK to make other treat recommendations in this thread or should I hit another ?  Got a few useful tips some may appreciate.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Freezing, thawing, and refreezing food will actually make it spoil faster. :)
If you're talking about recommendations for specific treats/ brands, the best place for that would be in the Recommended Treat brands discussion in the Food Group. Otherwise, you can start a new discussion. 

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

Ziplocked and in the fridge as of a few minutes ago, thanks Karen !  If I don't HAVE to give Teddy a Bully Stick at night and/or the Salmon Chew, I hold off -- that's why I was freezing them.  I was told freezing the leftovers from his Pumpkin and TummyTums things was OK after their fridge use.

Sometimes late at night he's full (rarely) and doesn't bark when I eat/snack and other times a Smartbone does the trick.  Even though he's active (as measured by the FitBark), I don't want to give him TOO high a snack regimen of ultra-high protein stuff (I know there's debate here, but anything WAY above the protein content of his normal food I watch). Even the Bully Stick manufacturers says 1 a day, tops.

So again, I welcome these Earth Animal chews as another alternative in substance and style.  Well Done !

[Debbie and Toby]

I am so happy that these chews are working out well for Teddy. When  I first saw these in the store, I thought for sure they had to be rawhide, but I am so happy they turned out to be much safer and healthier than rawhide. Does Teddy gnaw on these or bite on them? Toby doesn't gnaw, he just tries to bite the ends off and it does worry me.

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

Debbie, Teddy only gnawed on it for the 1st time last night.....it looks a bit "squished" but he did not noticeably wear either end unlike a bully stick.  I am tracking how many nights/times the Salmon Chew and the Huge Bully Sticks will last him so I'll report back here.  He barely made a dent in the chew last night, that's why I guestimated 3-4 times before he finishes it.

My biggest problem is that once he gets it small enough he'll try and swallow the rest whole.  But the 2-pack Salmon Chew is thicker than the 4" bully stick or the Smartbones (also good to get for Toby) so I am hoping he'll be chewing it for a while longer.  Remember, Teddy is a Toy Doodle so has a smaller mouth -- he was attacking the side of the Salmon Chew as opposed to bully sticks or Smartbones sticking in/out of his mouth like a lollipop.  It was too big/wide for him (at least last night) -- good !!!  LOL 

- Frank