RE: Rawhide Warnings. It may not be the actual RAWHIDE itself making the dogs sick. Please read.

by Char
(Pembroke Pines, FL)

After hearing about the warnings of rawhide dog chews, I read that rawhide is killing dogs and/or getting them sick.

Dogs are either getting them stuck, causing internal damage OR they are getting seriously sick/ill after eating them. I have done some research on the subject & would like to say what I have found out & what I think on this subject.

RAWHIDES MAKING DOGS ILL:

I believe I have found out WHY dogs are getting sick with diarrhea, fever, not eating, lethargy, etc. after eating a rawhide.

It's NOT the actual rawhide that's the problem. It's the flavor coating of Chicken or Beef flavor that is probably getting your dogs sick!

Manufacturer's freeze dry the ones with the special flavor coatings & if they don't heat them to a high enough temperature to kill any bacteria in the coating, the dogs can get sick.

My advice? Stick to the white, flavor free rawhides. My dogs actually like them MORE than the ones with the flavor coatings!

RAWHIDE DOG CHEWS GETTING STUCK:

Yes, a rawhide can get stuck & do internal damage BUT, it can happen with ANY bone/toy/object! Dogs always have "objects" stuck. They eat everything... foam in a stuffed toy, plastic from a dog toy, used napkins from dinner, dirty socks, etc!

My advice? Rawhides are FINE IF you watch & listen to your dog when it is eating one. Little pieces of rawhide can easily pass through your dog's system. The problem lies, where a person throws a dog a bone, literally, then walks away, thinking the bone will keep the dog happy & occupied. You can't do that... b/c when dogs eat rawhide, eventually they get to the end of it & they usually try to swallow a big piece of it whole. Normally, it gets stuck in their throat & the dog usually regurgitates it & chews it down, smaller & swallows it again. If you are right there to hear the regurgitation or see that the dog is trying to swallow the past big piece, then you can simply get up & remove the big piece & throw it away.

If you see it has already swallowed it, you can simply put your fingers down it's throat & pull it out. If you are not there to monitor the dog & something bad happens to the dog, it's YOUR fault for throwing it a bone & walking away.

A responsible dog owner, NEVER, EVER leaves a dog's sight when they are eating anything.

Now there are cases, where owners were responsible & were watching the dog & it still got stuck & honestly, that's a chance you are taking when you give your dog anything to chew & it will happen to some! Just be smart about what you think your dog can handle! Little dogs have little intestines so I wouldn't given them anything too harsh! Big dogs have bigger intestines, so it may be easier to swallow certain products.

I have read that if you think your dog has eaten something (even plastic) that could be stuck or having a hard time passing through, that the best thing to do at home, is to feed the dog a few pieces of bread. If it's having trouble, like bleeding from it's rectum or not pooping, or laying there crying... I would take the dog to a Vet ASAP. They will need to do an X Ray to see if anything's stuck & probably operate to remove the object.

I personally, have had a dog die from eating a "real bone" & I won't use them again, ever, no matter what people on here say. I am a fan of rawhides & give my 2 large dogs rawhide bones, rolls & chips & have NEVER EVER had a problem.... EVER. But I watch them closely... always.

I am much more worried about splinters from the real bones, going through my dog's body & stabbing it's internal organs or intestines & having it bleed out inside.

My opinion, plain rawhide dog chews are safe in moderation, IF the owners are present & watching the dog.