Moderation and Caution

by Rachel
(Madison, Wisconsin)

Personally, I like rawhide as treats for my dogs, especially in winter when being outside for long periods is out of the question. It relieves boredom and stress. However, I never buy flavored or coated rawhide, as it greatly increases the risk of food-borne illness, as I learned early on when my dogs had what I originally thought was a flu bug.

They started developing the same symptoms a week later after being given another rawhide dog chew. Some research revealed that freeze-dried coatings/flavorings or the same not heated to a sufficient temperature for any dog food or chews greatly increase the risk of a food-borne illness. They are just as happy with unflavored rawhide. I also NEVER give my dogs rawhide if I can't be present as they do present a choking hazard.

It hasn't happened for years, but I did have to pull one out of my Boxer's throat once, so I don't take any chances. My German Short Haired Pointer really needs to chew, and he will find other things if he doesn't get his rawhide. Since it doesn't seem to interfere with their digestive systems, I don't really have a problem with it. I guess I would recommend not using chews if your dog seems perfectly happy without them.

However, I stay completely away from rawhide "bones" with the knotted ends as they are a huge choking hazard. They always chew it down to the last knot, and that is the size of a ball you would never give your dog to play with. I stay strictly with the "chips," or longer strips and avoid the twists as well. I simply don't want them swallowing lumps or chunks of the stuff.