Some toys we buy for our dogs can actually be dangerous. Rawhide chews are around the top of the list of dangers. The belief that those rawhide chews that many of us give our dogs is healthy or good, is wrong. For one, they are designed for the dog to be able to chew on them for at least an hour, therefore not disolving very quickly.
Dogs have an instinct to eat things really fast, and that way they won't starve, right? That is how they do it in the wild. When there is something to eat, you have to eat it fast, because something might come and get it from you.
Even though domestic dogs may not have that problem, they still have the instinct, so they will chew that rawhide up in a matter of minutes, and it will remain in their system, cutting it up, and not able to pass through.
Secondly, rawhides are all gooey and stuff (some of you will know that from trying to pick up one that your dog was chewing on), so they stick to the insides of the dog, causing death in the end, because it just builds up more and more, sticking to the dog's insides, blocking anything that has to pass through the system.

Have always given my dogs rawhides, not all the time but for a treat and now i have the JRT there is always bones available to them to stop them chewing furniture. my dogs are small and the bones always last a long time so there is no problem of that with mine.

Even so, any little amout that they get in their system adds up to a lot. There are definately a lot of chew toys out there that are more safe.

I have heard that before about rawhides, but didnt understand why they were unsafe.  thanks for explaining it!  that really makes sense!
Jessica

Your welcome Jessica, glad to help.

Hmm, interesting knowing...we used to give our dogs that but we don't really do that anymore...but thanks for the info..

We did too, until I decided I'd be a dog trainer, and began doing TONS of research on dogs a couple of years ago. I've learned a lot..

Ah that's pretty cool...thanks for sharing

I knew that Rawhide was bad for dogs, but not exactly the reasons why. So thanks for the indepth info, my Aunt has three dogs, all of which she gives rawhide treats to..I am going to pass your info on to her, tell her not to buy them anymore. She doesn't give them rawhide treats often, but after reading that, I think that giving them 1 is too much. Thanks!

My dogs have never had raw hides, the newest one is a notorious chewer though, (although he seems to stay away from my things) so we give him pigs ears,  these are alright for dogs right?

Pig ears are, but I believe that pig SKIN is not. There are many other things like pig ears (like what you do 'jagzy girl'), cow hooves, cow 'noses' (eww), lamb ears, and lots of other hooves and ears. Cow hooves are best for really strong chewers like my dog, but if you are selecting hooves, make sure the tips aren't too sharp, for they will cut your dog's gums and tongue.

Hooves? Never seen them in the shops, will have to keep an eye out.

Yes we have them in our local ones. Got a story about them though.. When I was still liveing with my perents we gave one to Jade (family dog) who must have buried it in my brothers duvet when we were not watching her with it. Any way he brought home his friend Norrie who sat on the bed talking to Ben, Norrie felt something under the duvet so pulled it out. His face dropped, really in shock. Poor lad's a muslim. Last place you expect to see a trotter! We could not believe it when we heard! Luckly he laughed about it, poor guy.

Oh that's HILARIOUS! Poor guy!

Quoted from Jagzy Girl

Hooves? Never seen them in the shops, will have to keep an eye out.

It is possible they don't have them in Scotland, but then again, there are a lot of cattle in Scotland right? Especially highland cattle... Do they have any specially for dogs, stores around you?

No. Yes there is cattle up there but a lot of what the uk eats is from the supermarket- the cattle could be anywere! Mainly Europe.

Quoted from laddiecat

Oh that's HILARIOUS! Poor guy!

One of them moments you dont know if you should feel mortafide on his behalf or laugh. We never mentioned it after Ben told us.

Haha, nice story. Going shopping thursday so maybe i'll find Indie some then (or Squishy as i like to call him, which is weird because he's a whippet, so not remotely squishy at all!)

Ooo whippet. lovely. Did wonder what they were in the pic. Jade's whippet x Staffie -crazy mix. Love any dog that is a part of her now!

Dogs!

haha, Indie is a such a funny dog, he's got really odd ears. I'll find a picture, he was such an adorable puppy though.

Puppy!




Indie as a puppy compared to Rio who's fully grown




Indie and his weird ears

lol I love him. He looks so cheeky in that last one!

I love whippets. I like the slender legged built-for-running dogs the best, but of course I love ALL dogs, and more than any other animals; I must put them honestly ahead. Indie is adorable. Is Rio your dog too? Bet they give you lots of excersize!

He's gorgeous and so so cute

Yeah rio is too, he's about 7 Also got a german shepherd cross called Cassie and she's 15. I call her Cheesie or Cheese Dog because in dutch Kaas means Cheese.