Are rawhide chews bad? Alternatives please.

[belindarose]

My 6 month old pup loves rawhide chews and basically eats them. He will chew for ages. Although this has prevented him chewing anything he's not meant to, I've read that they're not considered good for them. Any thoughts? What other chews work for your dogs? He has his food in kongs but doesn't chew them once the food is gone. And won't touch a nylabone. Thanks.

Oh. I didn't know they were bad. I've been getting Jasper the rawhide shoes. He loves them.

I'm hoping a doghouse person with lots of knowledge will come and tell us they're fine. I was googling.

Proper air-dried skins are fine i think- the compressed manufactured stuff shaped into bones etc expand in the stomach and are not good.

also make sure they come from the uk.

Where do I get 'proper' ones from? And what about real bones?

My dog's vet told me I should give them to my dog as she has bad gums and will help prevent it. There is nothing wrong with rawhides and obviously puppies are teething so it is a relief for them. But obviously avoid the cheap overly flavoured ones, plain rawhides are fine. They are also great to give when you are going out for a few hours to keep your dog busy :)

I try and avoid the cheap rawhides that are bacon flavoured or something (usually from Poundland or somewhere similar) as 1) they smell vile and 2) they are full of artificial crap that will do no good for your dog.

"proper" air dried stuff!! HERE

When they are chewed for a period of time they become very soggy and can mould into different shapes, then become stuck in the mouth or throat. I have had a dog very nearly choke to death when a rawhide chew moulded itself to the roof of her mouth blocking her airway. I know others who have had similar problems. As a result I would never give them to my dogs now.

RE: the Hollings link, avoid avoid AVOID their cooked/smoked bones. All the pigs' ears, rawhide, tripe sticks etc. fine but never a cooked bone.

Raw bones are the very best chew and quite often free or very cheap from a butcher. :)

I've also heard good things about Stagbars.

Can I ask a stupid question? What do I ask my butcher for? Just, like, a 'bone for my dog'? Or will he laugh at me?

We give pigs ears regularly here. Also the very occasional rawhide chew (plain) - mainly at Christmas as relatives buy them for the dogs.

Bones too - I just ask the butcher for "something for the dogs" - however, grund No 1 decided to go out the garden with one bone, which looked as if it was from a dinosaur and then kindly decided to drop it on my foot. Just keep them away from your bare feet!

Marrow bones are what I ask for.

Stag bars (antlers) also v good and lasted for ages.

Don't do rawhide or ears any more as they are gobbled up and down the hatch in less than a minute and SO calorific.

Hmm - I must admit I have been wondering about the calorific content of rawhide chews. I haven't found it marked anywhere. We reduce the amount Rory's dinner after he goes to dog training, but had been wondering if I should do the same after a rawhide chew.

We always supervise him with a rawhide chew... just in case!

Mouse loves rawhide chews too, and they do last a lot longer than a pig's ear (not to mention less smelly!). The rescue told us to give big ones, as small ones might be choking hazard??

Am struggling with the wonderful tug-a-jug now, as Mouse too thick not yet discovered how to get anything out, and gets hugely frustrated. He just won't tug the rope end!

I hate the smell of pigs ears though do get Hollings products for my dogs. They love them. I have recently bought pig trotters for the hooligans - went down a treat (puke)

I give mine proper rawhide chews - and NEVER ever roasted bones. The sterilised marrow filled bones are fine and last ages too.

My butcher is amazing and I get lots of bones from him. Just ask for some large bones (or not so large if you dont have huge GSDs like me) and if you are a regular you probably wont get charged, if not expect to pay a pound or two for a big bag of raw meaty bones!

Hi we give them cow toes, pig ears the sterilised marrow fillled bones and chicken feet. We got them in bluck on the show ciruict will try and find a link.

We give cow ears, no smell or grease. Pets at Home do them, around 70p but you can pick through bin and get some huge ones for that price.