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Old 11-09-2006, 08:22 PM   #12 (permalink)
Sugardog
 
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Well, the way nylabones break down is they basically crumble as they're being chewed and the pieces the dog swallows, if any, are very small and pass without a problem. If the dog can break off large chunks, then you are giving the wrong variety. Puppybones are pretty soft and break apart easily, an adult dog probably won't have much of a problem breaking off a large hunk and swollowing it. This is why Nylabone warns you not to give adults puppybones, to take the bone away after the ends get worn down, and to use a tougher one if the dog can easily break off pieces.

The other thing about rawhide is that it expands very, very slowly. By the time the dog swollows it, it still isn't fully expanded from it's saliva. It will further expand in the stomach and intestines and thats when it can cause a block. Nylabones don't expand at all. This is especially bad if you have a dog that doesn't chew much.

Not to mention those chemicles they use to process the rawhide. Thats really saying something when they actually have to sanitize the hide after being in the chemicals to remove the skin.

But even the "safe" rawhides expand and can cause blockages and pose as a choking hazard.
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