Raw Hide?

[cscarro]

Hello - So, I have a question about raw hides. When we first brought our baby to the vet, he said to get her some raw hides to help with chewing and everything. She is now 5 months old and LOVES them but I have read that they don't really break down in dog's stomach and could be bad for them. She doesn't ever seem to have a problem with anything though and I always monitor her when she is chewing on them. Any thoughts/ recommendations?

I've given her other nyla bone treats but she devours (sp?) those in 2 minutes. The raw hide chews can last hours, keep her mind going and make her happy. Not sure what to do!

thanks!

 

[Althea]

I am not a fan of raw hides. When the pieces get small enough that they can fit the whole thing in their mouths, they may try to swallow them, and they are definitely a choking hazard. I've not had a good experience, and most trainers I know do not recommend them...in fact, they warn against them. We train our dogs to use kongs and rubber toys made for dogs. I've had the one bone for 6 years. But they have several, and they bounce and twist and provide plenty of chewing. There are also natural solutions: bones and tendons and :ahem: bully sticks (just don't ask what they are made of). Any of those would be a better choice, IMO.

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

I'd say absolutely no to rawhides. If you get the non edible durable nylabones mine have lasted for YEARS and I have 2 Boxers and a German Shepherd plus I pet sit and foster and they've still lasted for years (and my male Boxer chews for AT LEAST 3 hours straight a day).

There's also deer antlers, I get buckarooz brand on amazon and they last for a few weeks typically, also bully sticks which I get at bestbullysticks online for a decent price and they last awhile as well. As someone else mentioned raw meaty bones are also good.

Personally those are the only things I would (and do) give.

Good luck!

 

[TinksDream]

I don't like the raw hides either, they give Tink diarrhea and like you I've herd they don't really get digested. I give Tink either pork or beef bones and she loves them. Also, I give her bully sticks which she will carry around the house and won't let you near her when she has one b/c she is affraid we might take it from her (I don't know why I've never take treats from her). I get the bully sticks from Costco b/c they are a really good deal compared to the pet stores. I also get those really hard white hollow bones and fill them with peanut butter and those seem to last forever.

 

[Kilby'sMum]

We've never given raw hide for the reasons mentioned here. We actually brush their teeth so the cleaning aspect is taken care of plus we give big marrow bones to gnaw on every now and then. We also give raw meaty bones to chew and eat, you could try chicken wings/legs. We've just started on other things too like pigs trotters and lamb necks and it takes them 40 mins+ to eat so they get a lot of good chewing time but not sure if those are ok for 5 mth old (the chicken shouldn't be a problem cause even our 11yo siamese cat eats those).

 

[kathysboxer]

Please don't give raw hides. Mike had to go to his sister's the other day and take one out of his sister's shitzu/poodle mix. She is about 3 or 4#. I gave her a small pork neck and she loved it. But his sister went for a vet check up and he told her not to give them to her. She is too small for bones he said. I'm not going to get into an argument with his sister over it. We were over the other day, and there were raw hides on the floor.
IMO they should be outlawed.
Tyson and Bailey eat pork hocks, pigs feet, pork necks, ribs, and the feet, hocks, and necks keep them busy for well over an hour. Yesterday they had ox tail. Part of one is still on the floor. They munched on them all evening. I would rather see them eat things like that. I know they can digest them and it's good for them too.