Why Rawhide Treats For Dogs Are A Bad Choice

Rawhides have been the go-to dog chews for years. It is only recently that pet parents and professionals have become more aware of the health risks posed by these chews in all their forms.

Our dogs, especially when young, have an urge to nibble and chew regularly. Chewing also provides a positive outlet for mental stimulation and helps improve dental hygiene at the same time.

But is turning to rawhide the right solution? Let us take a deeper look into what Rawhide is and why you should never be giving it to your pet.

• What Is Rawhide?
  • How Are Rawhide Treats Made?
• Risks With Feeding Rawhide To Your Pet
• Jerky Treats: A Healthier, Safer Alternative To Rawhide

What Is Rawhide?

Rawhide chews are made of an animal’s ‘hide’. The hide is nothing but animal skin that has been removed, dried, and prepared for your pet to consume. The top layer of the hide is tanned to be used for making human fashion accessories. While the inner layer of the hide is used to make these rawhide chews.

How Are Rawhide Treats Made?

After separating the outer and inner parts of the animal skin, the inner layer is washed and whitened using hydrogen peroxide or bleach, which also helps remove the smell of rotten leather. Now, to make this product look delicious, artificial coloring or flavoring like smoke are usually added. 

Finally, the rawhide is pressed into different shapes and sizes, like bones, rolls, twisted sticks, which then become the familiar treats that you see at a pet store.

Risks With Feeding Rawhide To Your Pet

While a popular dog chew, more information about the dangers of Rawhide has come to light only in recent years. A lot of dog parents are still unaware of the horrid, life-threatening nature of Rawhide and continue to offer them to their pets.

Here are a few reasons why you should refrain from feeding your dog rawhides:

1. Choking Hazard

As your dog continues to chew on rawhides, they become soft and straggly, making it much easier to bite off and swallow large chunks. These chunks can then get stuck in the esophagus or other parts of their digestive tract, blocking their airway, hence resulting in choking. Depending on the size and where the rawhide gets stuck, it can be removed from the throat. If not, abdominal surgery becomes essential.

Some common symptoms of choking include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea with traces of blood, restlessness, inability to swallow food or water.

2. Digestive Distress

Traces of the toxic chemicals added during the processing of rawhide may remain in the finished product and can cause digestive irritation. Instead of being broken down like other food and treats, they can pass through your dog’s digestive tract in big fragments and last for months, leading to diarrhea, vomiting, pancreatitis, or other gastrointestinal issues.

Rawhides are not easily digestible, so your dog should be able to pass them after ingestion. If they are not able to do that, a blockage may occur and require surgery.

3. Harmful Synthetic Additives

Manufacturers use a variety of synthetic additives, colors, and preservatives. Lime, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and artificial dyes can all show up in rawhide chews. Butylated hydroxyanisole or BHA is a chemical antioxidant commonly used as a dog treat and food preservative. The U.S. National Institutes of Health has even listed BHA as carcinogenic. 

Additionally, food coloring additives like Yellow #6, Blue #1 and #2, Red #3, and Green #3 are linked with cancer in animals. 

4. Bacteria & Contamination

As rawhide chews are made from animal skins, the threat of Salmonella is immense for your pet and you. Chewed-on, moist rawhide, when left around the house, is a magnet and breeding ground for bacteria.

When dogs go and chew on these again they are at great risk of falling ill. The infection (depending on its type) can also affect the other members in your house.

The risks associated with feeding your pet rawhide largely outweigh the benefits, if any. As a responsible pet parent, you are better off hiding the rawhide and looking for alternative pet treats that are healthy, safe, and offer the benefits of chewing, such as all-natural jerky treats.

Jerky Treats: A Healthier, Safer Alternative To Rawhide

Jerky treats are nothing but meat that is cut into thin strips and then dried to prevent spoilage. These are a very dense source of protein and the gentle dehydration process they undergo helps preserve vitamins and minerals better.

Unfortunately, not all jerky treats are healthy. Most commercially produced jerky treats are packed with artificial flavoring, synthetic coloring, preservatives, and an excess of salt. These pose a threat to a pet’s health and should be avoided at all costs. This is why you should make it a habit to always read the ingredients label before buying any treats for your pets.

A high-quality jerky consists entirely of meat, without any additives, fillers, or preservatives. Like with any other treats, it is also recommended to provide your dog access to ample water when giving them jerky treats. Since jerkies are dehydrated meat they contain very little moisture and your dog may get thirsty after eating them.

At Pawcrafted, we create the healthiest and meatiest jerky treats. These treats are made with ingredients of the highest quality that have been sourced locally, in India. They also contain no synthetic additives or preservatives and will go easy on your pooch’s stomach.

All-natural jerky treats by Pawcrafted make for the perfect, far safer alternative to rawhide. They still allow for chewing while ensuring no harm to our pets. Treat your pet to a safe and healthy, yet delicious jerky today!

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