Plus, rawhide goes through more bleaching processes and is soaked in more chemicals than shoe leather. Not only can food not pass along to be digested, but if the rawhide chunk is big enough, it could damage the bowel wall, causing tissue death and serious sepsis. It is important to note that rawhide bones and chews made in USA are the absolute best for your dog. Wet rawhide has been used by some earlier cultures as a means of torture or execution, gradually biting into or squeezing the flesh of body parts it encloses as it dries. It is thought to be more durable than leather, especially in items suffering abrasion during use, and its hardness and its shapability render it more suitable than leather for some items. As your dog chews, the horn will begin to breakdown into small digestible pieces. When that skin is turned into shoes or a handbag, it’s the valuable outer layer that’s used. Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rawhide_(material)&oldid=943992826, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 5 March 2020, at 02:00. “FDA Investigates Animal Illnesses Linked to Jerky Pet Treats.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They can be hugely damaging to the dog’s teeth. She has worked in the pet industry for over a decade and loves to share her passion for animal welfare with others. Fair enough. Get our latest articles delivered directly to your email inbox. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(4133719, 'b19dc58a-97c3-45db-b018-ce9448873b6e', {}); The toughest chew on our list is the Himalayan Yak Chews. Rawhides are cheap, widely available, and long-lasting. They go through a manufacturing process similar to the outer hide that is used to make leather. Salmonella and E. coli. Rawhide is a hide or animal skin that has not been exposed to tanning. They love the taste, and the texture is ideal for safe chewing and dental cleaning. No matter the type, any chew that is not properly chewed, is swallowed whole or is not the appropriate size for your pet can be a choking hazard. It is similar to parchment, much lighter in color than leather made by traditional vegetable tanning. In recent years, bully sticks have become one of the most popular, natural chews for dogs. Share your top picks in the comments below! + Click to see the sources for this article. It’s not the longest-lasting chew on our list, but it is absolutely a fan favourite due to its meaty flavour. Rawhide … ahem, processed hide … is not a food product. Milk Thistle for Dogs: Protecting Your Dog's Liver. All of which makes it even more surprising that rawhide chews are such popular treats for dogs. Rawhide chews are difficult to digest, pose a blockage outage, and are made using toxic chemicals. Gauchos skin the animal and put the freshly skinned hides on their feet like socks, where they are left to dry, taking the user's feet shape. Such a backing prevents the bow from breaking by taking a share of the tension stress. This makes it a matter of luck as to whether the dog gets a minor bellyache or a major blockage in their bowel. She must have chewed the treat in the night and tried to swallow the knuckle end. Like any cooked bone, there is a risk of tooth damage, so ValuePack Tartar Bones are not suitable for puppies, seniors, and dogs with dental issues that could crack or chip their teeth while chewing. This is a recreational chew, so avoid letting your dog eat the whole thing. On the other hand, it has also been used in the context of medicine by First Nations peoples, and other groups such as the Sioux Nation: wet rawhide would be wrapped around a long bone fracture and it would dry, slowly setting the bone;[citation needed] the dried rawhide then served to support the fracture, similar to how a plaster cast does today. As they soften, they will massage the gums and help to work baby teeth out. There were 6 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalls of dog rawhide chews due to salmonella between 2008 and 2011. We prefer the look of a clean crisp white rawhide to the yucky colour of it's natural state. How Is Rawhide Made? Guess what? We can’t deny the dental benefits of rawhide chews too, but there are many concerns about the safety of feeding your dog these “less-than-natural” chews. Rawhide is made from the inner layer of skin or hide of an animal, typically a cow. Monitoring them ensures their safety and also helps you understand how they chew so that you can offer the safest and best natural chews to improve their dental health. The most common types of tendons available are beef, bison, and lamb. So is it a surprise to learn that rawhide is arguably even less digestible? That chewy treat your dog chows down on has been soaked in chemical preservatives, ash-lye, chemical puffers, bleach and then colors and flavors. Eldon's Beef Tendons are fully digestible and are suitable for all dogs. In this article, we will explain just how dangerous rawhides are, and how you can choose a safe rawhide alternative that will support your dog’s dental health. They are grain-free and 99% digestible. It is often used for objects such as whips, drumheads or lampshades, and more recently, chew toys for dogs. Unlike antlers that are very hard, lamb horns have some give, so they are suitable for dogs of all ages and sizes. Keeping your dog’s teeth clean and their breath… tolerable, is easier when your dog has natural chews to remove bacteria and food that is hiding in between their teeth. This is just a fun space to experience the cute, quirky and joy that pets bring us every day. They are made of beef esophagus, so they are high protein, low fat, and easy on the tummy. For bigger breeds, a cow ear won’t be super long-lasting, but it will still stand up long enough for their teeth to benefit. The story of rawhide starts with the skin of a slaughtered animal. Yak chews aren’t suitable for every dog. Always feed chews in moderation. This will prevent your dog from packing on the pounds or running into digestive issues. Traditional gaucho's "boots" are made with horse feet rawhide. They will clean hard to reach places near the back of the mouth and scrape away plaque and bacteria near the gum line. The action of chewing will loosen bacteria, especially in the harder to reach areas at the back of their mouth, and the enzymes from the raw meat will fight off bacteria and freshen your dog’s breath. The process of separating the inner and outer layers requires some harsh chemicals. Does this sound like something that you want to feed your dog? This process already raises some red flags, and we are just getting started. An example is buskin. When selecting a size for your dog, you can never go to big, but it’s dangerously easy to feed a chew that is too small. What Is Rawhide Made of? Your dog will enjoy cleaning off the bone, and they won’t even know that they are cleaning their teeth at the same time. So full marks for not letting materials go to waste, but major minus points for not being organic or natural — or edible. A blockage is life-threatening and will require expensive surgery to clear. It will provide plenty of abrasion to remove bacteria from their teeth and will last longer than most natural chews. It can be rendered more pliable by 'working', i.e. In some cases, the blockage is caught too late, or the surgery is too risky for the blockage to be fixed in time. Rawhide is not pliable when dry and would be unsuitable for that use. The issue is in the texture of the rawhide. It’s a thick stick of hardened yak and cow cheese that will be best suited for tough chewers. Yes, chewing is natural behavior, and yes, it’s important to give puppies chews. Some jerky pet treats sourced from China have been linked to the potentially fatal kidney condition Fanconi syndrome, which raises concern over safety standards generally. Make sure you are balancing dental chews with their regular diet and exercise. June 10, 2017. For example, rawhide is often used to cover saddle trees, which make up the foundation of a western saddle, while wet: it strengthens the wooden tree by drawing up very tight as it dries and resists the abrasion regularly encountered during stock work or rodeo sports. Rawhide is a byproduct of the leather industry. ©2016 Homes Alive Pet Centre. They don’t expand in your dog’s stomach, so don’t be alarmed if your dog begins to crunch away at this dental chew. Tripe twists are low fat, and easy to digest. For adult dogs with strong teeth, they are a low-fat chew with loads of flavour. A more apt name for rawhide is processed hide … and here’s why. Choosing American Rawhide, Merrick, Dingo, Bone Buddies or Beafeaters brands you give your pet a rawhide chew of premium beefhide from corn-fed American cattle produced under the strictest quality standards. If the variety of chemicals used to make rawhide chews isn’t scary enough for you, we have yet to even touch on the number one reason that rawhides could be dangerous for your dog: intestinal blockages. While keratin is hard, it is less dense than a bone and does not pose the same risk to your dog’s teeth as a harder chew would. We spelled out the dangers of feeding your dog rawhide, but what else can you give them to care for their dental health? To make them more appealing to dogs (and to us), rawhide chews are often coated or painted with artificial flavouring and colours. How is it made? But not so “raw” hide now, is it? Where does it come from? The resulting material is hard and translucent. Even for those of you who are comfortable with the above, the dangers of rawhide chews don’t end there. They go through a manufacturing process similar to the outer hide that is used to make leather. This is no small matter. The dangers to pets also include: If you regularly give your dog rawhide chews, then read on. The same leather used for furniture, purses, and belts. Dubious origins of some of the chews. It can also be used as a backing on a wooden bow. Of course, many dogs have been eating rawhide without issue for their whole lives. Smartbones.com. Collagen for Dogs: What is it and Why Does Your Dog Need it. If you are anything like us, you just need a little pet pick-me-up from time to time. When properly chewed, a dog with good digestion will likely not have any major problems from eating rawhide chews, but why take the risk? But how about choosing a safer and more wholesome alternative than exposing them to the dangers of rawhide chews? When they weaken the main chew sufficiently they pull smalls chunks away, which the dog then invariably swallows as a prize. Lye is also used to help remove hair, fat, and any other tissues that are attached to the hide. It may also be oiled or greased for a degree of waterproofing. Rawhide is a hide or animal skin that has not been exposed to tanning. But rawhide isn’t the answer. They are suitable for dogs of any size and are a safe chew for seniors and dogs that have fewer chompers than they should. It is quite effective for training dogs and also satisfies their natural desire for meat. Far from being broken down, rawhide forces your dog to pass the pieces they swallow, making for a risk of bowel blockage. Coming in from a long walk for a satisfying chew is what makes their tail wag. Like ancient Roman cothurnus, the rudimentary boots have no toe box and do not cover the toes completely. One of the ways that we manage our dental health is by flossing.