Hide chew sticks are bad

[JackLover]

did you know that hide chew sticks are bad roe your dog! I have been feeding them for years, and i ahve just found out that they are bad for my babys, i wont be feeding them anymore!

[Ritz459]

Well, I give Rose rawhide all of the time. From what I know, the only danger is them chewing off to big of a peice and it getting stuck in their digestive tract. But Rose doesn't rip off big peices. She just chews on it, so I find no problem with them.

[JackLover]

its not only the choking hazard, Dogs should not be given rawhides, pigs ears or any other dried body part to chew on. These are a terrible choking hazard and many dogs have choked to death on raw hides. Rawhide has to go through several rounds of chemical cleanings in order to remove all the hair from the hide. These tend to not be rinsed off fully and the chemicals thus get ingested by the dog. Dried body parts (essentially leather) are also a bacteria hazard. Dogs' digestion systems are designed for fast processing of meat and bones, and that speed is their natural defence against bacteria. But dogs don't digest rawhide, it sits around in their stomach for some time before being passed in the same state as it went in. This can result in food poisoning, the mildest symptom of which is diarrhoea and vomitting.

[scarlett]

so what to give in place of that?

[theGOOCH]

It's a matter of opinion. I have given every dog I have ever owned rawhide and have had no problem. Blitz has at least one pig skin twist every day.

[JackLover]

I took that from a vet site, as we cant see whats happing to our dogs insides how do we know what damage is being caused

[theGOOCH]

I took that from a vet site

Ask 30 vets and you will get 30 different answers

[IceyBlueSibes]

We have always given our dogs raw hides, pig ears, hooves, etc. and have never had any health problems. Now my boyfriend's sister's dog... can't chew but maybe one rawhide a month or else he gets terrible diahrrhea (sp?). I think it also has a lot to do with how the dog's system reacts with these chewies. We have to keep bones, rawhides, pig ears, hooves, etc. for these guys or else they will chew up the house.

I agree with GOOCH though, you can ask many different vets, and they'll all have a slightly different answer.

Something in place of these? I would think greenies, or a stuffed kong.

[mulroony]

ALways given my dogs rawhides. max did get the runs from pig ears, but never a problem with raw hides. I have heard of dogs choking on them though, so just watch it when you give it to them.

[Odetoadream]

I use to give rawhide, pig ears, hooves, and things to my dog. Till he got very sick from it. It almost caused a blockage. My vet then informed me how they made rawhide, using a lot of chemicals etc. Not to mention not all hide comes from the USA, some countries have different regulations about it to prevent disease and health risks.

I immediatly stopped giving it. Now, I give my dog greenies, 100% ediable as well as nylabones. Greenies are eaten fairly fast, however, nylabones last much longer and is hard for them to get pieces off. And I always watch him when he has it. I also stuff his Kong with yogurt and freeze it and it'll keep him occupied for hours.

My first collie could eat all that without a problem. Only after Kody got very ill did I learn about the dangers. And it is true, ask various people and you'll get various answers. It is up to YOU to decide. It made my dog deathly ill. But I've also had one that LOVED rawhide and never had a problem with them. My choice was to give the safer alternatives. (safer in my opinion )

Sincerely,
Cinthia

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Originally Posted by theGOOCH

Ask 30 vets and you will get 30 different answers

Yep your right. I don't give them simply because of the breed I have, they have enough difficulty with a small windpipe so I'm not about to press my luck by giving rawhide.

My Chow years ago LOVED those huge rawhide bones and had them often without any trouble at all. Its always best though to never leave a dog unattended with rawhide or anything else that can become small enough to lodge in their throat.

[fireworksinjuly]

Originally Posted by Crossfire Bulldogs

Yep your right. I don't give them simply because of the breed I have, they have enough difficulty with a small windpipe so I'm not about to press my luck by giving rawhide.

Crossfire- do you give them anything. Just curios cuz of Big Boy Id like to know what I can give him, if he wants anything.

I dont feed rawhide at all. Between the troubles with lodging in the digestive tract and the fact they have no nutritional value at all I just dont do it. Its just all too processed and un-natural. I dont eat much processed food, im not going to make my dog do it more then he has to.
I give Kino meaty marrow bones. Rib bones...or stuffed Kongs.

[Pugdawg1]

I am not comfortable giving mine rawhide. Not worth the risk. Friends pug last winter choked on one, darn near died from that. I like to give mine raw marrow or rib bones. They love them and I am comfortable with giving them.

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Crossfire- do you give them anything. Just curios cuz of Big Boy Id like to know what I can give him, if he wants anything.

I use nylabones, other strong chew toys and give treats on occasion.

[calgal]

A large knuckle bone or leg bone is good too. The marrow in the leg bone should be removed first as it's very fatty and will cause diarrhea. I give Zada Nylabones and small cuts of the leg bone. I've heard so many horror stories about rawhide that I just choose not to buy them.