Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Can my 8-month-old puppy chew rawhide safely? Are there risks?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | spayed | 8 months and 19 days old | 10 lbs

We just our new puppy (8 months old) Daisy yesterday, and she found one of our older dogs rawhides. Is it ok to let her chew on it? She really seems to like it.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Amber W

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on December 3rd, 2017

Daisy is super cute! The decision to give a dog rawhide is always a tricky one. Some dogs never have any problems with rawhide while others get bad stomach upset from them. Some dogs can even swallow a piece that's too big and end up with an intestinal obstruction. Intestinal obstructions are serious and require surgery to correct.

I'd monitor Daisy to make sure she doesn't bite off a large piece of rawhide and swallow it as this would make her prone to intestinal obstruction. Remove the rawhide when it gets small as she may swallow it. I'd also watch to make sure she doesn't develop any vomiting or diarrhea. If you see this she should be examined by a veterinarian and rawhide should no longer be given

If you want to err on the side of caution then I wouldn't give Daisy rawhide in the future. A Kong or another type of safe chew toy may be a better option for her.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and good luck with Daisy!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Food & Nutrition

My dog swallowed rawhide. Is it safe for them to digest it?

As long as the pieces are small, it is fine if they are ingested. He will digest them without any issues. Larger pieces pose a risk of gastric or intestinal obstruction. To be safe, remove the rawhide chews once they can fit entirely in Kai's mouth. Monitor for lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite or abdominal pain. These are symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My 5-month puppy swallowed rawhide. Should I be worried? What to do?

Hello, at his point, I would not be too concerned. Most times, the rawhide will continue to be digested. If Jack does not have much of an appetite tomorrow morning, just try feeding him a little later in the day. If, however, he starts vomiting, refuses all food, gulps water & vomits afterwards, or seems painful or bloated, then get him to your vet quickly. I have never liked giving any kind of rawhide to pets. Give him more appropriate items to chew such as Nylabones & Kong toys where you can hide food, & just about anything else that a dog can gnaw on without the possibility of breaking off & swallowing whole pieces. This also includes avoiding any kinds of real bones, pigs ears & hooves which can fracture teeth or splinter off leaving sharp edges. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My puppy swallowed a rawhide chew. Is she safe from obstruction?

The problem with rawhide treats is that they can cause GI obstructions when swallowed whole. There is a chance this could pass without problem, and there is nothing to be worried about, but to be safe, keep an eye on Luna. Signs of an obstruction include vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, lethargy, and a complete absence of passing feces. If you see any of those signs, take her into a vet right away. It can take up to 72 hours for these things to pass, so watch her for the next three days. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What are the risks of buffalo rawhide for my French Bulldog puppy?

Hi there! Glad you're asking questions about what is good for Joey. This topic has actually been under much debate for quite a while amongst veterinarians and not everyone will tell you the same thing. Personally, I always discourage my clients from feeding them because of the poor digestibility and the tendency of the rawhide material to swell once ingested. Potentially this could lead to gi upset or potentially something like an obstruction or perforation (worst case scenario). Some dogs are fine when they eat them-also true. But in my opinion why risk it when there are other safe alternatives? Hope this helps! Glad to see you're a good pup parent!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Are rawhides safe for dogs? Understand the serious health risks.

I do not recommend giving rawhides to dogs at all. In my opinion, they are not safe at all due the risk of GI obstruction. If your dog got a GI obstruction from one, surgery would have to be done to remove it. I know colleagues who have had to perform surgery on dogs who've gotten obstructions from rawhides, and many of them do not recommend them for this reason. I would not recommend giving them to your dog.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My puppy is teething. Is rawhide safe or are there better chews?

I wouldn't use a raw hide for him to chew on. I personally dislike them because of the big risk of choking and obstruction. There are toys you can get from the pet store that you can freeze and then give to him to chew on. The cold would be very soothing to his gums. Until you can get to the pet store, soak a wash cloth in water and put it in the freezer to freeze. You can give that to him to chew on, but monitor him the entire time to make sure he doesn't rip or swallow any piece of the wash cloth. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Are rawhides bad? What safe bones and chews can I give my dog?

This is indeed a true fact. Some raw hides have more of a tendency to cause intestinal blockages. A quick google search can help identify which ones to stay away from as you have already done. I would recommend the ones from your vet which are usually easily digestible. I really like the Virbac or CET dental chews personally and have never seen an issue with blockages from these. I hope this helps! Take care.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share