It can be confusing for many dog owners when talking to others about the types of chews and bones they provide for their dogs. Some owners, breeders and even vets recommend only feeding raw bones, while others will recommend a range of different options in baked types of chew toys.
The key consideration with any type of baked product is to choose from rawhide free chews. Vets, animal nutritionists, and even top breeders always recommend 100% no-rawhide chews as there are significant issues linked to feeding dogs the traditional or even the “shredded” types of rawhide chews.
Rawhide is not the same as the skin of beef from the slaughter plants. Instead, it is just the very inner, tough layer of the skin, usually removed at a tannery and before processing the hide into leather. It is non-nutritious, tasteless and a waste product if not used to create rawhide for dog bones.
Digestive Health
Rawhide is highly undigestible. In studies, there can be as much as 15% or more of the rawhide still in the dog’s digestive system after 24 hours. Choosing rawhide free chews made from natural ingredients such as chicken and baked pork skin provides 100% digestion within the same period of time.
While obstructions in the digestive tract can occur and require surgery to correct, it is much more common for dogs to have digestive problems from the sodden mass of rawhide that sits in the stomach.
Gum and Dental Health
Anyone who as seen a rawhide chew after it is a been chewed for a short period of time knows it turns into a soggy mess of slimy strings and chunks. With rawhide free chews, there is no slime or soggy mess, and the bone stays crunchy, helping to stimulate gums and scrape the teeth as the dog chews.
These 100% rawhide free bones also are fully consumed, so there is no mess and no need to clean up after giving your dog the chew.
