I know that they can break off and there is the choking hazard, but I have heard that they also swell up or foam up in the dogs stomach and can make your lil guy or girl really sick.
rawhide chews are bad for any dog………………
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/NEW00692.html
Take the rawhide challenge. Cut varying sizes from different rawhide products and set them in a bowl of water to soak before going to bed. In the morning you will see the sizes that they have grown to. They will vary, but the increase should be noticeable.
What should you give as a chew treat?
The following products are all digestible and safe for your pets.
Budda Chew Products- all digestible chew bones and treats
Muscle Chews- all digestible, contains no hide product.
Bull Pizzle Chews- all natural alternative to rawhide.
Healthy Edibles- all natural health chews, completely digestible and contain no sugars or fillers. Available at www.drsfostersmith.com
Raw shank or knuckle bones- these should be given only under your supervision and with some knowledge of RAW or BARF feeding methods. Contact Jacque Jordan at
214 529 8355 for more info on RAW feeding or visit www.barfdiet.com to learn more.
Kong rubber products are great chew toys, which can keep dogs very busy, especially when a little peanut butter and dog biscuits are wedged inside for them to work out.
http://lovemychihuahua.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Health&action=print&thread=1111879575
Cow hooves are even more dangerous than rawhides. They are hard enough that a dog can actually break a tooth on one. They can also be chewed up into sharp fragments which may cause a partial intestinal obstruction. Partial obstructions are often difficult to diagnose until the point at which the fragment is ready to perforate the wall of the bowel from pressure against the sharp edges. If perforation has occured, the infection that ensues from leakage of intestinal contents can be fatal.
Pigs' ears can cause GI upset if overeaten, similar to the situation with rawhides, although obstructions are less common because the ears are not usually shaped into solid chunks. There is, whowever, a less widely known danger associated with pig ears: A recent FDA advisory published by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human services on Oct.1, 1999, stated that there is "a nationwide public health warning alerting consumers about a number of recent cases in Canada of human illnesses apparently related to contact with dog chew products made from pork or beef-derived materials (e.g., pigs ears, beef jerky treats, smoked hooves, pigs skins, etc.)… FDA is urging pet owners… to handle them carefully. Anyone who comes in contact with these treats should wash their hands with hot water and soap. Initial reports of illnesses came from Canada and involved Canadian products, but subsequent examination of similar products produced in the U.S. indicate that all pet chew products of this type may pose a risk…."
They are good as long as they are of the size where there is no possibility of choking on them.. take them away and dispose of them once they get too small… My Maltese would fight me for the last bit… cause she knew I was going to take it… was cute – of course – I won every time… LOL
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after a while the bone will start breaking down and if the piece is to big it might get caught in the dogs throat
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Rawhide is ok for any dog AS LONG AS the dog chews it untill the rawhide is fairly soft. There are dogs that take big bits out of the stuff, if can cause serious helth problems for the dog. Just keep an eye on the dog. If you find that it is chewing it down fast I would take it away.
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There r pros and cons on rawhide chews due to choking on small pieces and intestinal blockage, most vets recommend a chew like Milk Bone or similar types that soften and disintegrate in the stomach. If u must give rawhide, do so under close supervision. If the dog is biting off and swallowing pieces of rawhide, other matter can bind to it while going thru the digestive system, forming a glob that can cause blockage.
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I personally don't feed rawhide because they are dangerous in my opinion. I have seen and heard of way too many dogs choking on them. My Bulldogs were bad about chewing on them until they were soft and they would try to swallow them whole and choke on them. They were able to throw them back up but it was a pretty scary thing to go through and I do not ever wish to go through it again. If you do want to feed them rawhide please watch them like a hawk while they have the rawhide. You could also try compressed rawhide. There is a smaller chance of choking with them since they are a bunch of little pieces of rawhide pressed together instead of one huge chunk.
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All of your concerns are true but if you want to give your yorkie a rawhide give him the dingo brand. You can find it at petsmart and they come in really small sizes. Dingos disolve so they are less of a hazard but i would still supervise the chewing. Another alternative is to get a nylabone and put it in your dogs food container or treat bag for a day or two, it will take on the smell and taste of the food so your dog will love it and there is nothing to worry about!!
References :
yorkie owner and dog hotel associate
rawhide chews are bad for any dog………………
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/NEW00692.html
Take the rawhide challenge. Cut varying sizes from different rawhide products and set them in a bowl of water to soak before going to bed. In the morning you will see the sizes that they have grown to. They will vary, but the increase should be noticeable.
What should you give as a chew treat?
The following products are all digestible and safe for your pets.
Budda Chew Products- all digestible chew bones and treats
Muscle Chews- all digestible, contains no hide product.
Bull Pizzle Chews- all natural alternative to rawhide.
Healthy Edibles- all natural health chews, completely digestible and contain no sugars or fillers. Available at http://www.drsfostersmith.com
Raw shank or knuckle bones- these should be given only under your supervision and with some knowledge of RAW or BARF feeding methods. Contact Jacque Jordan at
214 529 8355 for more info on RAW feeding or visit http://www.barfdiet.com to learn more.
Kong rubber products are great chew toys, which can keep dogs very busy, especially when a little peanut butter and dog biscuits are wedged inside for them to work out.
http://lovemychihuahua.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Health&action=print&thread=1111879575
Cow hooves are even more dangerous than rawhides. They are hard enough that a dog can actually break a tooth on one. They can also be chewed up into sharp fragments which may cause a partial intestinal obstruction. Partial obstructions are often difficult to diagnose until the point at which the fragment is ready to perforate the wall of the bowel from pressure against the sharp edges. If perforation has occured, the infection that ensues from leakage of intestinal contents can be fatal.
Pigs' ears can cause GI upset if overeaten, similar to the situation with rawhides, although obstructions are less common because the ears are not usually shaped into solid chunks. There is, whowever, a less widely known danger associated with pig ears: A recent FDA advisory published by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human services on Oct.1, 1999, stated that there is "a nationwide public health warning alerting consumers about a number of recent cases in Canada of human illnesses apparently related to contact with dog chew products made from pork or beef-derived materials (e.g., pigs ears, beef jerky treats, smoked hooves, pigs skins, etc.)… FDA is urging pet owners… to handle them carefully. Anyone who comes in contact with these treats should wash their hands with hot water and soap. Initial reports of illnesses came from Canada and involved Canadian products, but subsequent examination of similar products produced in the U.S. indicate that all pet chew products of this type may pose a risk…."
References :
rescue pets