Rawhide Chews - Are They Safe For Your Pets?

Rawhide is a very popular chew, especially throughout Christmas as they come in a range of festive colours and shapes but are they actually any good for your furry friends?

Rawhide chews are often advertised as a natural treat for your dog. However, this is misleading due to the process they go through before they reach the shop shelves, including the use of chemicals.

In this blog post we will look at what rawhide chews actually are and the process they go through to reach the shop shelves, the dangers of rawhide, suggest some safe alternatives to rawhide, and what to do if your dog has consumed rawhide.

So, What is Rawhide?

Rawhide is the hide (the layer underneath the leather) of the animal once the leather (top layer) has been removed. It is part of the leather industry, not the meat industry. 

Rawhide chews are mostly made out of beef, buffalo, pork or horse hide.

Rawhide is treated with many different chemicals to separate the top layer from the layer used as dog chews, and to preserve and whiten the chews.

Sometimes they are then dyed different colours to become more appealing to the buyer.

Then they are made into different shapes, which in some cases involves bits of rawhide being glued together (yes glued!), to make the chews into braids and bone shapes.

Due to the chemical process of making rawhide chews, flavourings and colourings are often added afterwards to make them look more like the natural version of the chew. Be sure to look at the ingredients / composition list on the packaging as rawhide isn't always just the pure white bone shaped treats.

Rawhide is used to make dog chews, intended for them to be chewed on and to be long-lasting. They were not however made to be consumed by the dog.

What are the Dangers of Rawhide Chews?

• CHEMICALS - rawhide is processed with many chemicals including bleach, which your dog may ingest even if they don’t consume any of the chew. As well as being bleached, treated with artificial flavourings and colourings, some rawhide treats are glued together to create different shapes such as braids and bone shapes. Not only would your dog be ingesting harmful chemicals but also glue!!

• CHOKING HAZARD - Rawhide was intended to be chewed on but not consumed. However, bits of the chews can break off, creating a choking hazard.

• INTERNAL BLOCKAGES - They do not easily break down in the stomach and therefore can cause blockages which may have to be surgically removed.

• BACTERIA - The rawhide can be contaminated with harmful bacteria which can affect both your dog and anyone who has handled the chew, spreading bacteria such as salmonella and E-Coli.

• BROKEN TEETH - Rawhide goes soft and gooey when it has been chewed on otherwise it is a hard, dense material. Stronger chewers may risk breaking their teeth.

Are There Any Positives to Rawhide Chews?

Well, yes and no.

Technically, chewing is beneficial for your dogs as it releases endorphins such as dopamine and serotonin (also known as the 'happy hormones'). These endorphins are calming and relieve stress and anxiety.

In addition to this, chewing is a natural, instinctive behaviour in dogs providing mental and physical stimulation, which we should fulfil as dog owners because it benefits both ourselves and our canine companions. If a dog or puppy is not fulfilled, in this case through chewing, then they will likely find their own 'chews' which will include a whole list of things that you do not want your dog to chew on, such as your furniture, and your socks!

By providing your dog with something intended for them to chew on, you're not only relieving their stress, releasing happy hormones and providing mental and physical stimulation for them but also saving your money and sanity in the long run!

So, yes you could say that rawhide chews have some positives. But, you and your dogs can gain all of these advantages of chewing without rawhide chews. There are many safe, natural chews available to you to buy which do not contain any chemicals, are much easier to digest and generally a lower risk option.

In the next section we will look at some of the alternative chew options to rawhide.

Safe Alternatives to Rawhide Chews

There are lots of natural chews on the market that are much better options than rawhide. Here are just a few examples,

• Bully Sticks / Beef Pizzle

• Beef / Lamb Trachea 

• Beef / Pigs Ears

• Duck / Chicken Feet

• Himalayan / Yak Chews

When you are looking for safe chews for your dogs, make sure to look at the ingredients / composition list on the packaging as some 'all natural' chews that look like they wouldn't contain any rawhide but actually do! Head over to our instagram page where we have posted a Rawhide or No Hide quiz.

What To Do If Your Dog Has Consumed Rawhide

• Immediately contact your veterinarian if you suspect that your dog may have ingested rawhide. 

• Check the chew regularly to notice any missing chunks of rawhide as soon as possible.

• Look out for signs of vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy and dehydration - these symptoms may present due to the chemicals and bacteria in the chews, not only when the ingested rawhide has caused a blockage.

• We recommend avoiding all rawhide treats and chews.

Summary

At Pooches and Paws Pet First Aid, we do not recommend giving your dogs rawhide chews. We believe that the dangers of rawhide outweigh the benefits significantly and recommend looking into other safe alternatives such as the ones we have listed in this blog.

For more information on our first aid courses, browse our website or contact us at support@poochesandpaws-petfirstaid.co.uk.