ive heard that rawhide is really bad for your dog..when it breaks off i can choke your dog. i dont know really..my dog seems to be okay with it, and its cheap..

anyone against or for rawhide?
any bad experiences?

One of my mom's dogs had a rawhide bone, this was way back before they realized that dogs can choke on them... and he managed to chew off a good sized chunk, and almost choked to death. Mom had to sit on him (he was a standard poodle) to hold him still long enough for her to get her hand into his throat and get the piece out.

Since then, she has never bought rawhide for any dog. And neither have I.

choking is a hazard, and rawhide can cause gastric irritation when dogs chew on it often...
There are also wonderful alternatives to rawhide taht we use. Pet supply stores are everywhere, and carry many diverse alternatives including vegetable and meat-flavored bones made from potato starch, bones made from extremely strong rubber infused with flavorings, and corn-starch based bones also infused with flavor. All of these but the rubber ones break apart into tiny pieces while being chewed. Once they are chewed down to a small piece that your dog could swallow, just make sure to throw it away. All of these bones except for the rubber-based ones are easily digestible.

I don't do the rawhide because of the choking factor. I once had a dog (thank goodness he was really small) that was choking on one, and we doggy heimliched it out of him. Seriously, we had a dog emeregency book and followed the directions and it flew out.

the choking risk is too scary for me, especially when there's lots of other chew treats out there that aren't risky.

I also didn't know it was a choking hazard. My lab went through those like they were nothing when we did buy them (so i'm done with those anyhow). We recently started using the Nylabones.

Originally Posted by luvdanes04

I also didn't know it was a choking hazard. My lab went through those like they were nothing when we did buy them (so i'm done with those anyhow). We recently started using the Nylabones.

how long do the nylabones last?

I have never used this as a treat for my dog. As has been said there are far more dog friendlier treats available than taking any kind of risk at all. Must admit to not using many treats but tend to go for for the biscuit type if I really wnat to.

My little terrier died choking on rawhide. After it happened, I found tons of anecdotal evidence on the web that it is a very common occurrence. These stores sell it simply for the profit. Don't let your dogs chew rawhide. The risk is too great.

Many people have had bad experiences with Raw Hides and that's enough for me to stay away from them.

Even if everyone says they are great I still wouldn't give them to my dog. They look too fragile and can easily break into little pieces which can choke your dog

Well the thing with rawhide is... It laces the dogs stomach. It can cause some stomach probelms because of this. Besides the choking its really made up of "worthless" parts that don't do anything for your dog. Sometimes dogs cut their gums on the hide itself after extensive chewing. So its bad in many ways especially for pups.

If your gonna have him chew on something. Natural bones work. You can find them in pet land or even if you go to your butcher you can pick some up. Boil them and let your dog chew on that. Best choice is always cow bone since its heavy and thicker then any other bone you might pick up. Once it breaks though toss it.

Otherwise a Kong with peanut butter or soaked in chicken broth works the best!

not for me..I make sure that it will not happen with my dog..

[wishbone]

Dogs in the wild was fed by raw food, it was perfect for them. Just avoid cooked chicken bone, they are too sharp for them. Dogs on raw are a lot more healthier and live stronger and longer compare those who eat processed food.

Hey, I've heard that rawhide is pretty dangerous for your 4 legged friends, and there are lots of other options out there!
There's actually a great site that talks about an alternative that's all natural and safe for your dog. Go here to visit and read up on it. thego2dog

hope it's helpful!

[rayter]

My vet didnt recommend Raw Hides, so I never used it.

Originally Posted by rox

ive heard that rawhide is really bad for your dog..when it breaks off i can choke your dog. i dont know really..my dog seems to be okay with it, and its cheap..

anyone against or for rawhide?
any bad experiences?

I would never give my dogs rawhide chews, they can swell inside the dogs stomach, try putting one into water for a hour or so and see what happens, it swells up just like it does inside the dog. Avoid them.

I would never give my dogs rawhide chews, they swell up in the dogs stomach,try putting one into warm water and see what happens. Try giving a raw carrot thats cheap and healthy.

[rayter]

Stay away from that food. Rawhides aren't the best. The dogs cannot digest them and they can cause obstructions.

Rawhides are great for teeth, but can also be very dangerous when injested in pieces. They are very difficult for the dog to digest even in small pieces.
I would opt for something like Greenies, or a rubber chew toy that is not designed to be broken/swallowed.
All toys and chews should be supervised. I do give my dogs rawhides. I watch them while they eat them. They are the type to soften and chew - if they broke off pieces and ate them, I absolutely would not give them rawhides.