Bones made of dried animal skins like buffalo, deer, elk and cattle help satisfy dogs’ natural desire to chew while also strengthening teeth and preventing destructive chewing behaviors, especially among puppies.
However, rawhide can be hazardous when consumed in large pieces, potentially leading to digestive discomfort and blockages that require medical intervention for treatment.
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They satisfy a dog’s natural urge to chew
Rawhide bones provide an effective solution for satisfying a dog’s natural urge to chew, while simultaneously cleaning their teeth by rubbing away plaque and excess acid build-up, helping reduce bad breath while protecting gum health by preventing gingivitis – which could ultimately lead to tooth loss.
Unfortunately, dogs may swallow pieces that are too large and choke or get an obstruction in their digestive tract, prompting manufacturers to include warning labels on rawhide bones.
However, these hazards can be avoided by purchasing only products manufactured in the US and ensuring your dog uses them under supervision. Be mindful to remove any chews that pose a potential choking hazard, have become dirty or worn down as your pup chews. Also try offering alternative chews like bully sticks, dehydrated beef tracheas or pig ears which might not last as long but are much safer and digestible options than rawhide bones.
They’re a choking hazard
Rawhide bones may seem long-term solutions for dogs’ bone chewing needs, but they pose a significant choking hazard that should not be ignored. Chewing could break off large pieces that could potentially block an intestinal passageway leading to intestinal blockage or even lead to intestinal blockage and even death in some instances.
Rawhide is created from the inner layer of cow, horse or other hoofed animal hides. Once extracted from their hides, this layer is submerged in sodium sulfide solutions and further processed until dried into chews for sale. However, during this process toxins such as mercury, arsenic and formaldehyde may remain.
These chemicals, and their inability to be digested properly by dogs, can cause gastric and digestive discomfort in them. Furthermore, these chews may become contaminated with pathogens like salmonella, leading to diarrhea in some instances. These digestive issues are especially troubling among teething puppies or senior dogs with compromised muscle tone or bone structure – these issues being especially troublesome during teething puppies or senior years when muscles tone has decreased; potentially even leading to jawbone or tooth fracture from these chews! For optimal safety in this situation try salmon skin bones antlers or vegetable sticks instead.
They’re not always safe
While dogs love to chew, it is essential that they have safe toys to satisfy their natural urges. Chewing on chews strengthens teeth and jaws while providing fresh breath and decreasing plaque and tartar build-up.
Rawhide bones may seem harmless enough, but they can actually pose significant health hazards to both you and your dog. Salmonella contamination poses serious threats both to them as well as you. Between 2008 and 2011, six major FDA recalls of rawhide were issued due to Salmonella contamination.
Hides are washed with bleach and hydrogen peroxide to clean them, leaving behind toxic residues which are absorbed through the skin. Furthermore, they’re coated in chemicals such as titanium oxide or FD&C Red 40 that may pose health risks if eaten by pets ingesting these flavoring chemicals – plus these chews don’t break down easily leading to digestive blockages in some instances.
They can be harmful
Rawhide can be toxic to dogs if consumed in large pieces or chewed too aggressively, swelling in their stomachs and potentially wrapping around the intestines, leading to intestinal blockage that results in vomiting, loss of appetite and low energy. This health risk could cause vomiting, loss of appetite and reduced energy in your pet.
Rawhide production requires split and soaked hides in various chemicals–most frequently sodium sulfide–for at least 24 hours, prior to being washed and bleached, before further treatment with various other substances (washes and spraying of other chemicals are optional).
Rawhide bones contain chemicals that are absorbed by your dog’s digestive system, creating major digestive issues for those dogs with existing issues. You should try and find safer alternatives to rawhide bones that still satisfy a dog’s need to chew, while many are made from materials which won’t harm their pet’s wellbeing.
