RAWHIDE TREATS ARE VERY POPULAR TREATS FOR OUR DOGS.  HERE ARE SOME TIPS ABOUT RAWHIDES THAT EVERY PET OWNER SHOULD KNOW!

ALL DOGS NEED TO CHEW.  IT’S A NATURAL INSTINCT.   CHEWING CAN BE FUN AND PROVIDE STIMULATION, AND IN SOME CASES MAY RELIEVE ANXIETY.

OWNERS  SHOULD  BE AWARE OF SOME OF THE MORE COMMON RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH RAWHIDES LISTED BELOW.

1.      CONTAMINATION W/ POSSIBLE TOXIC CHEMICALS,SALMONELLA , E. COLI.

2.     DIGESTIVE IRRIATION.  SOME DOGS ARE MORE SENSITIVE OR ALLERGIC TO RAWHIDES OR OTHER SUBSTANCES THAT ARE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO DIARRHEA OR VOMITING.

3.     CHOKING OR BLOCKAGES.  PIECES OF RAWHIDES CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE ESOPHAGUS OR OTHER PARTS OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT.  SURGERY IS SOMETIMES NEEDED TO REMOVE THE PIECE.

IF YOU DECIDE TO USE RAWHIDE TREATS, MAKE SURE YOU TAKE  THESE PRECAUTIONS TO MINIMIZE THE RISKS.

1.      ALWAYS BE PRESENT AND SUPERVISE WHEN YOUR DOG IS CHEWING ON A RAWHIDE.  ALLOW 15-30 MINUTES FOR HIM OR HER TO CHEW ON IT AND IF ANY GAGGING OR CHOKING STARTS, IMMEDIATELY TAKE AWAY.  ALSO TAKE AWAY THE RAWHIDE WHEN THE PIECES ARE SMALL ENOUGH TO SWALLOW WHOLE. SUPERVISE HOW YOUR DOG HANDLES A RAWHIDE. IS SHE SWALLOWING PIECES WHOLE, IS HE GAGGING.  IF SO, THEN TAKE THE TREAT AWAY AND CHECK WITH YOUR VET ABOUT OTHER TYPES OF RAWHIDE CHEWS.

2.     SEPARATE YOUR DOG WHILE HE OR SHE IS CHEWING SO THEY CAN RELAX.  THIS WAY, YOUR DOG WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO GULP LARGE PIECES ESPECIALLY  IF YOU HAVE A DOG THAT IS VERY TERRITORIAL AROUND FOOD.

SOME ALTERNATIVES TO RAWHIDE CHEWS ARE LISTED BELOW

ICELANDIC FISH SKIN CHEWS

RABBIT EARS

SWEET POTATO CHEWS

SAM’S YAMS VEGGIE RAWHIDES

SAM’S YAMS BIG BOYZ

BICHON FRIES

Z-RIDGE DENTAL BONES

Z-RIDGE DENTAL BONES W/ CARROTS

OSTRICH TENDONS

LAMB CHEWS, LAMB EARS