Tucker's Talking Topics: Are Rawhides Safe for Dogs?

(This is the question posted on Tucker's Doggie Delights Facebook Page yesterday and here is the detailed answer!)

Are Rawhides Safe for Dogs?

The Choices were: Yes, No, or Maybe

The Answer: Maybe

The fact of the matter is that rawhides are safe for dogs to chew, but there are a lot of concerns to giving your best friend one. First and foremost, where are the rawhides produced and has anything been added?  The second concern is how well your dog breaks down the rawhide before swallowing.  Please read our comments below.  After digesting our thoughts please give us yours.

Rawhides are not considered a food in the industry so they are not governed by AAFCO, the USDA or any other agency.  Most imported hides contain toxic chemical preservatives such as arsenic and lead.  Many of the imported rawhides contain added flavoring such as smoked, bbq, chicken, or mint. You can spot them by the added coloring dyes.  Read the labels carefully (if you can find any).  Many say "made in the USA" but will contain fine print saying "Product of China".  The rawhides sold at Tucker's Doggie Delights are primarily USA made, Illinois sourced, unflavored, and have no additives.

Rawhides start as hard chews.  Once a dog begins chewing the rawhide, their saliva softens the hide and allows them to rip pieces off.  The danger comes from the size of the piece that the dog swallows.  The larger the piece the more difficult it will be to safely pass through the dogs digestive system.  Rawhides can expand up to 4x its original size and can become lodged in the intestines. This could lead to surgery or worse if it is not treated timely.

We preach caution when feeding  your dog rawhides.  We recommend monitoring your dog while they chew and not leaving them alone for extended periods while chewing on rawhide.  That could mean giving it to them when you are home and taking it away when you leave.  Make sure you are buying a quality rawhide sourced from the USA.   Always take the rawhide away if they are trying to swallow a chunk that is too big.   Rawhides can be an economical and enjoyable treat for your dog.. But we believe cautions should be taken.

Tucker's Doggie Delights can provide alternatives to rawhides if you're interested.

Please share your experience or concerns with rawhides below!