Rawhide is made from the skin of animals, usually cow.
The skin is split into inner and outer layers. The tough outer layer is used for leather shoes, garments, and upholstery, while the softer inner layer is cut and formed into different shapes for dog chews.
Hazards
As with any toy you give your dog, raw hide and beef hide chews can present a choking hazard if they're not used under supervision. As your dog chews and slobbers on his treat, the hide becomes rehydrated, soft and gooey. When it reaches this point, your dog is able to tear away sections from the main bone. Most of the time your pet will simply wind up eating the hide and it will pass through his digestive system without a major event.
In some cases:
* The hide can actually become lodged in a dog's teeth, requiring an owner's assistance to remove it.
* Larger chunks may be too big to swallow, causing a dog to choke.
* Intestinal blockage can also occur if the chunk of hide becomes lodged somewhere along the intestinal tract, and may require surgery to remove it.
While all of these scenarios are possible, they actually happen quite rarely. However, you should still take some precautions to ensure your dog's safety whenever you give him a raw hide chew.
Here are a few safety tips:
* Make sure the chew is large enough that your dog can't fit it completely into his mouth.
* Only give your dog a beef hide chew when you can be around to keep an eye on him.
* Keep two chews on hand and trade them when one becomes too soft. The hide will harden as it dries, and you can give it to your dog again when the other chew becomes soft.
* Replace your dog's chew when he has whittled it down far enough to fit in his mouth.
Benefits
Raw hide chews do provide some dental benefits for your dog. As your pet chews, the hide scrapes away tartar and calculus from his teeth and gums where harmful bacteria like to hide. This will reduce your dog's chance of developing gum disease and tooth loss.
Raw hides also give your pet a chance to exercise his natural chewing instincts on an appropriate item versus your table leg or favorite pair of loafers. Chewing can be a great stress reliever, so it's important to supply your dog with safe chew toys and bones.
So, Are Raw Hides or Beef Hides Chews Good for Dogs
As you can see, questions about giving your dog raw hide are not easily answered when you consider the pros and cons.
Used under proper supervision, a carefully selected raw hide treat can give your dog a lot of chewing satisfaction, but it takes an owner's watchful eye to head off potential problems. Choosing beef hide chews manufactured in the USA may also prove a better alternative to chews produced in countries that use harsher chemicals during processing.
Are raw hides or beef hides chews good for dogs? In the end, only you can decide.
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