There are various kinds of dog chews, bones and toys that are available in the market today, rawhides being one of them. Rawhides are often used by pet parents for their doggo’s teeth and also to help with their natural instinct of chewing. These chews are made from the inner lining of the hides from cows and horses which sometimes contain a certain kind of flavouring to make it more appealing to your dog’s taste buds. But, this might also have a negative effect on your fur buddy.
Depending on the dog, a rawhide can last days or even for a few weeks. However, everything comes with pros and cons, and there are several disadvantages of rawhides to your doggo’s health. Rawhide is dangerous and may cause a potential hazard to your furball.
The Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) discourage rawhide consumption and list it among the dangerous household products for pets, next to pesticides and cleaning chemicals. According to another report by Humane Society International, “In a particularly grisly twist, the skins of brutally slaughtered dogs in Thailand are mixed with other bits of skin to produce rawhide chew toys for pet dogs. Manufacturers told investigators that these chew toys are regularly exported to and sold in U.S. stores.”
What are the risks associated with rawhides?
Choking hazard
Rawhide bones or dog treats can pose a serious risk of choking and blockage in the throat. If your pooch swallows large pieces of rawhide, it can get stuck in the oesophagus or other parts of the digestive tract, blocking his or her airway and potentially tearing the lining of the oesophagus, resulting in choking. Depending on its size and where the rawhide got stuck, it may be removed easily from the throat. But sometimes, abdominal surgery is needed to remove them if it reaches the stomach or intestines. And if all of these processes fail, a blockage can even lead to death.
Some of the common symptoms of blockages are:
- - Lethargy or drooling
- - Pawing at his mouth
- - Vomiting or other illnesses
- - Fever
- - Panicking
- - Diarrhoea with traces of blood
- - Loss of appetite
- Signs of discomfort like their tummy might feel hard to touch or they might be reluctant to let you touch themselves, get restless and reluctant to lay down.
- Unable to swallow food or water
Digestive distress
During the manufacturing process of rawhide dog chews, certain chemicals are used in the liquid to soak the hide so that the hair can be easily removed. Small traces of these chemicals may remain in the finished product and may cause digestive irritation like diarrhoea, vomiting, pancreatitis and other gastrointestinal issues. Rawhides are not easily digestible, so your pooch should be able to pass it after ingestion. If he is not able to do that, a blockage may occur which may require surgery.
In addition, some dogs are sensitive and allergic to rawhides and some of the flavourings used, which is important to keep in mind while choosing any kind of dog treats.
Contamination
Since rawhides are made from animal skins and other materials, Salmonella or E.coli contamination is a huge concern. Both the pet parent and the pet can contract salmonella from rawhides. In fact, you should particularly avoid leaving a rawhide bone where your pet can come back for chewing later on, as once your doggo has chewed, moistened and softened the dry surface, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria. It could make your doggo and potentially other members of the family sick and infected.
Healthy alternatives to Rawhides
You know that look- the one your pooch gives you on knowing that they have been a good boy or girl, after bringing the ball back from the room or been well-behaved during their morning walk? In such situations, we know that our beloved pooch deserves a treat! But as a caring pet parent, it’s important for you to understand what exactly you’re feeding your best friend!
Conventional dog treats or rawhides may prove to be harmful for your doggos health. Therefore opting for all-natural dog treats for regular consumption or as rewards is one of the best decisions that you can make as a pet parent on behalf of your beloved furball.
Why choose all-natural dog treats?
For optimum health of your dog, providing a balanced nutritional diet is very important. Natural dog treats are increasingly popular among conscientious pet owners who understand the importance of rewards that are both healthy, tasty as well as promote dental health.
Natural dog treats are usually rich in ingredients derived from natural sources like cheese, fruits and veggies. They are free from artificial additives, chemicals and preservatives. Combinations of different vegetables and gentle grains are prepared and packaged to treat your pooch that they can enjoy with no adverse after-effects, unlike rawhides.
Below are some of the reasons as to why natural dog treats are a better alternative to artificial rawhides:
Free from Hormones
Rawhides or dog chews made with artificial and low-quality ingredients are often manufactured from animals that have been pumped full of hormones and antibiotics. Certain types of hormones are provided to animals from an early age for rapid growth and muscle development, while antibiotics are fed to animals to protect them from illness. When pets consume these treats on a regular basis, they can develop an immunity to antibiotics, while ingesting the hormones in animal products which may result in hyperactivity and a variety of health conditions.
Natural dog treats, on the other hand, are grain and gluten-free and rich in calcium. Many such treats are made from “Churpi”, an ancient Himalayan recipe which is 100% natural, human-grade and preservative-free. These natural treats help keep your furball healthy, full of energy with a shiny coat.
Free from artificial additives
Natural dog treats that are made with fresh ingredients do not consist of artificial additives, preservatives or added colours unlike other treats to enhance flavours and colour. Premium quality ingredients require no artificial flavouring and various colours can be achieved using safe, vegetable-based colourants. Whereas, the shelf-life of low-quality or artificial pet treats are made longer by using chemicals like butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene and ethoxyquin. But natural dog treats are usually preserved with antioxidants that are derived from vegetables known as tocopherols – a combination of vitamins E and C.
Easy and quick digestion
Just like you, your dog can also suffer from allergies and intolerances due to certain ingredients in food. Switching from a chemical-based treat to natural dog treats may help reduce inflammation and lessen the severity of allergic reactions due to the presence of the superior protein sources in them.
Natural dog treats are easily digested and gentle on the stomach as it contains high-quality ingredients, fruits and veggies and is grain and gluten-free.
Weight management
Dogs love to chew and moreover chewing is a natural instinct, whether they’re of a healthy weight or overweight. However, if your dog is on a diet, you may decide to cut out on the number of treats, but this may result in boredom and chewing of other household items instead.
Therefore, switching to human-grade natural treats that are rich sources of calcium and protein with very little fat content can be a useful way of helping your pooch lose weight while maintaining their health. Natural treats also consist of more nutritional goodness and less filler content than rawhides or poor-quality alternatives, so fewer treats are needed for your doggo to feel satisfied and keep them healthy.
Improved oral health
Natural dog treats can be beneficial for your dog’s dental health in a number of ways. It helps clean teeth naturally, prevent tooth decay, eliminate unpleasant breath, reduce plaque and tartar, treat cavities and more. Treats like crunchies and bars that are long, natural, chewy and require a longer time to finish promote better dental health. They’re also rich in minerals like calcium and phosphorus to promote strong, healthy teeth.
Better immunity
Natural dog treats that consist of a high amount of protein can help boost your pet’s immunity. When buying treats for your pet, give a thorough look at the list of ingredients and its content. To be sure that you are purchasing the best natural dog treats, the protein source should be listed within the top few ingredients on the packet.
Dogsee Chew produces 100% natural, unprocessed and long-lasting dog chews. They are ISO 22000:2005 and HACCP certified and the producers of one of the best dog treats in India. These natural vegetarian treats are full of nutrition and are made from churpi or cheese, vegetables and fruits. Dogsee Chew treats are handcrafted and rich in both calcium and protein. They are human-grade and free from chemicals, preservatives, grain and gluten. Dogsee treats are completely safe for your little fur buddies and will successfully keep them healthy, energetic and prevent them from various oral diseases.
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