Are RawHide Bones Safe For Your Dog?

Rawhide Bones are simply one of the most popular dog treats that pet owners give their dogs. Rawhide bones are usually reasonably priced and for many dogs, they last quite a long a time. Still there is an ongoing controversy amongst dog owners regarding the safety of rawhide treats.

There are those dog owners who swear by rawhide and there are those who wouldn’t ever think of giving their dog a rawhide treat. The truth is there are pros and cons to feeding your pup a rawhide treat.

There are actually many benefits to giving your dog a rawhide bones. A lot of dogs, specially puppies, use chewing as an energy release. Providing your dog with an outlet such as chewing can eliminate unwanted behaviors. For example, if you give your puppy a rawhide chew bone to chew on, they are less likely to chew your furniture or other belongings.  Chewing also helps many dogs release stress and it is also a great remedy for boredom.

Another benefit of chewing on rawhide is oral health. Chewing on bones actually helps remove plaque. Rawhide is especially good for keeping your dog’s teeth and gum’s clean.

While rawhide bones can be beneficial there are a few things that you have watch out for. Rawhide is actually intended to be chewed on over a period of time. If you give your dog a rawhide bone and they consume it in minutes, then this is probably not the best treat for them. I had a black lab that would devour any rawhide chew that we gave him. This can be harmful because rawhide will expand in your dog’s stomach and if the piece is too large, it can cause problems. Gradually wearing down a rawhide isn’t an issue. Your dog will be able to digest small amounts of rawhide rather easily. It’s the larger pieces that can cause problems. It’s also important to be aware of any pieces that come off of the rawhide bone. Larger pieces of rawhide can get lodged in your dog’s throat and cause them to choke.

It’s important that you supervise your dog when you give them any type of bone. You will want to make sure that you pay close attention to how fast your dog chews a rawhide bone apart. You may need to get your dog a larger bone or perhaps a sturdier type of rawhide. Pressed rawhide bones are very durable and are often better for larger dogs.

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