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

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.

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!

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.

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!

Yes, I do think that's too often in my personal opinion. I don't like rawhides as they can often cause obstruction in the GI tract, but as long as Maya chews it throughly before swallowing it, she should be ok. I would recommend only give her one a week :-)

No! Dogs should NEVER be given raw or cooked animal bones for several reasons. Raw bones run the risk of transmitting harmful bacteria, including Salmonella or Campylobacter, both to your dog and any exposed people. These bacteria can be transmitted through a dog’s stool and saliva. Bones can also pose hazards for foreign body obstruction in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines. Poultry bones are inherently filled with air and cooked bones become more brittle, both of which can splinter leading to perforation of the stomach or intestines. Bones and antlers are also quite hard and can lead to tooth fractures. Instead of offering bones, alternative products such as Nylabones, Kongs, or the dental treats approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (www.vohc.org) are safer and more effective alternatives for dogs that like to chew.

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.