What's the Real Story on Rawhide?

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Is rawhide bad for dogs?  Does it depend on the dog's age?  Or does it depend on what type or where it's from?  Do any of you give your doodle rawhide chews?  Why or why not?  Thanks for the input!

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

 

I have been told by my vet and other emergency vets that rawhide can cause intestinal blockages.  Our dogs have never had rawhide, just not worth the risk.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I think Rawhide is a real no no.  I know of at least two friends whose dogs ended up in emergency situations with obstructions.  The stuff should be banned. I think the antlers seem like the safest option.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

"Rawhide is the inner layer of cattle hide. The outside layer of the hide is the more valuable part, and is used to make leather. The inner layer is used to make rawhide, gelatin and glue."  Bully sticks which are made from dried bull penises muscle are the better choice.  My boys love the braided ones, they last longer and give more chew for the buck but you should never let the dog eat pieces of a bully stick. 

[Lee Seidman]

Look at Elk Antlers,  they last forever, are not messy, do not hurt the Doodles and are good for their teeth as well as satisfy a need to chew.  Rawhide is poison as far as I am concerned, treated with chemicals, cause blockages, and become sticky messes.

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

i have had to pull rawhide out of the back of a choking dogs throat - very dangerous.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I don't give my dogs rawhide chews. I don't feel that they are safely digested by all dogs. I tried them years ago (before doodlekisses knowledge) and the dog I had then always got diarrhea.

[9pavxfihcp80]

We don't allow our dogs to have rawhide either. They have several antlers around the house to chew on, and we occasionally give them pork hide chews for a treat. They last a good amount of time, but unlike rawhide, don't swell and expand when chewed on. They break up and are easy to swallow.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

OMD!  This sounds terrible.  Jane - I am freaking out right now because I have given Bexter bully sticks before and he eats them in about 10 minutes.  He chews and the whole thing is GONE in 10 minutes.  They're not supposed to eat them?  If that is the case, I can't give him those either or it will be GONE in just a few minutes.  Is this weird that he does that???  HE hasn't had one in about a week, and he's perfectly fine, so I'm trying not to panic here.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Traci - don't panic but a bully stick - well I'm not seeing how this could be eaten in 10 minutes.  They are totally digestible - it is dried muscle so it is o.k.  Go on line to Red Barn their bully sticks are from cattle raised in the U.S., and the bully sticks are manufactured in the U.S.  NO additives or preservatives.  We order in bulk and keep them in the frige.  Expensive but worth it.

 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

And we get the braided ones not just the straight one - the braided ones take a lot longer to chew on.  Don't for get to through them out when they get small so they don't come apart.

 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Jane-I'm confused, what do you mean don't let them eat a piece? If they are chewing on them don't they eat the pieces??? Just curious because we used to do the rawhide thing but are looking for safer options.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

They do slowly "eat" them as they chew on them, they get kinda soft on the end.  What I mean is don't ever let the bully stick get so small that they have a big piece in their mouth.  They could choke or if eating a huge hunk get a stomach problem.