How Safe Are Rawhide Chews for My Dog?

As a veterinary technician, many people always ask what kind of treats are best for their dog? This question usually brings up the subject of rawhide chews. Many dogs eat them and have absolutely no issues, although a handful of dogs could have problems after ingesting said treat.

One of the doctors I used to work with would always warn clients that many rawhide chews are manufactured in China and sprayed with a nasty coating to make them tastier and could make dogs sick. I'm not exactly sure what the rawhide chews are sprayed with, but if you think about it, it doesn't sound like an added healthy bonus. If you feed your dogs rawhide chews, then you should try to buy the ones that aren't coated in the gross sticky brown stuff.

Another concern with the rawhide chews are that some dogs do not actually chew them. Instead they swallow them whole. This is a problem if the treat causes an intestinal blockage. If a rawhide chew were to get lodged in your dog's intestines, surgery would be necessary to remove it. They aren't exactly all that digestable anyway.

Finally, they could potentially cause an airway blockage. If your pup tried to eat one too fast, it could get lodged in his airway and cause him to choke. This is also, of course, an emergency that would require swift action.

There are some dental rawhide chews out there that are great for your dog's teeth and are easily digested. They are called CET Chews and this is what I would usually recommend clients give their pets as an alternative to the traditional rawhide chew treat.

So if you do decide to give your fluffy friend this rawhide chews, just remember to make sure he isn't scarfing it down too fast. If he does, then you may want to try another type of treat that better suits him.