Rawhide For Dogs

Because there is so much controversy over rawhide for dogs, you may be unsure of whether or not to actually give it your beloved pup.  You’ve probably been told conflicting information.  Some people will tell you that it’s good for the dog’s teeth and oral health, so sure go ahead and give it to them.  Then you hear that there are dangers associated with the use of this so called treat for your dog.  One of these dangers presented is the presence of salmonella bacteria especially if the product is imported from outside of the United States.  This bacteria is harmful to us as humans, so it is safe to make the assumption that this bacteria is also not good for our canine pets.  Uh, oh, prepare yourself for the next warning that you should know about.  It has been found and studied that some rawhide for dogs contain the highly toxic chemical, arsonic.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  Why would manufacturers use something so toxic?  Well, they claim to use it as a preservative, but I think personally they should find something else to preserve the freshness of the rawhide.

If you  notice after chewing on the rawhide your dog experiences symptoms such as vomiting, not eating, walking with a hunchback, diarrhea, or dehydration you should seek medical help for your pet right away.  Other symptoms your dog may have but you will not be able to know about are sore throat, acute pancreas pain, and intestinal blockage.  I say better safe than sorry and not even give your doggy these harmful products.  There are many alternatives to these unhealthy ones.  There are tons of all-natural and organic dog treats that your dog would most likely enjoy and also benefit from greatly.  If you follow my advice and care for your dog as you would yourself, you can spare your dog many many health problems and ultimately a tremendous improvement in their life quality as well and quantity and by that yes, I mean you can actually add years to your dog’s lifespan by not giving him or her rawhide for dogs.

Rawhide For Dogs – Are They Good or Bad?

So, is rawhide for dogs good or bad for them?  That’s what this site aims to find out and inform our readers of.  As we said, there is quite a debate going on about the subject.  All in all, it really comes down to the brand and the ingredients of the particular product itself.  So, with that being said, we are going to take a look at a few different products that we found and pick them apart one by one, breaking down the good and the bad about each one.  First up is a product we found over on Amazon called, Green Cow Rawhide Dog Bones. They are in a five pound package and boast the following that you will most likely appreciate:  made from free-range, pasture-raised, and grass-fed cows.  The cows that these are made from are from southern Brazil, where it is known to have a cooler climate thus reducing external biological impact such as ticks and fleas providing for a much better high quality rawhide for dogs.  The product sells for a measly $25.45 and you can probably get free shipping if you sign up for Amazon Prime a new program they’re running.  They are sold by a company called, Rush Direct, Inc.

Next up on our list is a nice product sold by Rawhide Brand.  The item is called, Natural Rawhide Twists and they are packaged in an eco-friendly biodegradable package, quite possibly making this our top pick.  These twists, as they call them are sold in a convenient 12 oz. package and we learned that these treats are made from free-range, grass-fed cattle as well.  The cows are not fed any hormones or antibiotics, so no need to worry about any of those being passed onto your dog from the consumption of this product.  To top it off, the package that they come in is completely recyclable.  This is one company who we feel confident from buying from and you should, too.  Oh, and the price, a low $10.25, certainly won’t hear us complaining about that.

Well, that tops off our list today of favorite rawhide for dogs.  We do hope you will come back and visit us as we continue to expand our website to bring you the latest info and facts on this popular treat for dogs.

Is Rawhide For Dogs Really Dangerous?

Rawhide For Dogs -

Is it really dangerous?  Let’s take another look today.

In most recent weeks I have been shown that these rawhide for dogs products may be hazardous to your pet’s health, especially your dog because that is who these products are intended for. Last month, our 3 year old Yorkie was chewing happily when, suddenly, he started to choke and gag. He came to me excited and frantic, but nothing was coming out. I tried to find the rawhide that was filled in his throat, but could not.  When we called our vet, we ran over and she sedated him due to the seriousness of this incident. I knew it was that piece of rawhide that he had been so happily chewing on. After he awoke some hours later, he tried to vomit but again could not. Then he was given an inductor and vomited a little bit. This whole experience was quite unnerving for me to say the least.

That night, he began to vomit blood. It was terrible.  He was restless all night and I sat with him and held him so that he could try to get a little rest. In the morning, it seemed he was resting comfortably, but then he suddenly froze. Right away I noticed that he had purple gums and breath. We ran to the vet once again, who put him on fluids, sedated him and then took some x-rays of his internal organs. I felt that my beloved pup was sure to die from this horrendous experience.  I vowed to never buy rawhide for dogs again!

The problem was that a large part, the size of a golf ball got stuck in his small intestine, just below the stomach opening. So when he was stabilized, the vet performed the surgery, the obstruction was removed and sewn back up and my Yorkie was kept for observation for a few days. He seemed to brighten in the coming days, so he was sent home with painkillers and antibiotics and a bland diet. The next day though, he was indifferent and running a temperature of 106degrees, which as I’m sure you know is very, very dangerous. Back to the vet once again, now for more X-rays and this time the vet had to come and take three inches out of her small intestine. Rawhide for dogs blockade had caused the necrosis and putrefaction, of that part of his intestine. This was life threatening again!

Another few days of observation and he was kind of back to his old self agin. He was sent home with more painkillers and diet of antibiotics and soft foods.  We had to be so careful and monitor him with frequent temperature checks. I can gladly say that now, three weeks later, he has returned to normal. He is eating regularly, drinking, playing and living. But two surgeries later, thousands of dollars later and weeks of recovery, all due to only a piece of rawhide for dogs, we will never ever be buying that for him again.  If this sounds like a horror story, that because it truly was.

The big dogs seem to swallow and digest rawhide better than small dogs. Their stomach and intestines are larger, therefore allowing larger pieces to pass through. However, there is always the possibility that it may become an obstruction even for a larger dog. If you give your dog rawhide, natural is more easily digested than an artificial type formula. And small dogs should not be given large chunks of rawhide. There are sticks available which are sufficient for the small dog to chew instead of chips or bone. These kind are much, safer in my opinion.

Our vet suggested an alternative to rawhide for dogs chews. Give your dog dental sticks or bones. These are made to break up when chewed so no large pieces are ingested and decompose without problem in the system. They are made from natural and organic ingredients so there is nothing strange in the body. Therefore, if you are giving your dog rawhide, please watch carefully. If the piece is chewing is too big, take it away from him right away. If your small dog is trying to swallow a large piece, again, take it away. You will be so glad you did.  I can only wish I would have been more careful.

Rawhide for dogs is a popular toy/gift for the dogs. I shared my experience with you to show the risks involved. I really hope you never have to go through what we did in the past few weeks. Proper use and monitoring of this product can save a lot of problem in the future for you and your pup.