I know a lot of people give their dogs rawhides, but mine have never had them. What's your opinion on them?

We give Scout compressed rawhide bones, as we heard it was harder to swallow chunks of those. She likes them a lot, but I think she liked regular rawhides better.

Sawyer choked on one. It scared us so bad we tossed them all out :eek:

I have heard too many horror stories of blockages from raw hides and no longer feed them. Haven't fed them in 15 plus years.

We gave them to our Golden we she was young and she just didn't do too well with them. I've heard other bad stories as well, so I stay away.

Are you talking about rawhide bones or pressed rawhide or both?

Choking, obstructions, diarrhea, side effects from chemicals used in curing, teaching your dog that things made out of leather are ok to chew on, there's lots of reasons not to give rawhide. It's not neccessary there are other things out there they can chew safely, nylabones (non-edible), raw bones and Kongs being highest on the list.
When people say compressed rawhide is safer, they often have the wrong idea. The kind that is safer is NOT the one that is a thin sheet folded and molded into different shapes or rolls, the one that is meant is the kind that is chopped up (you can see the little bits in it) and reformed- it often comes in weird colors. Your dog won't choke on it, and it is unlikely to cause obstruction unless they swallow a big chunk whole (always a possibility) but it also is gone in 5 minutes, and that dye can't be good for anyone.
Best to just avoid it entirely.

The first time a board members dog choked on one - it scared me, but not enough. I stopped using them for about 3 months, then went back. The second time a different board member's dog choked - we stopped cold turkey.

I don't like the compressed ones because I couldn't find any that were american made, and have heard too many horror stories about what they put in the ones made in China, or wherever. Plus, Calvin got really, really sick on one that wasn't american made before we new better.

I don't allow my dogs to have them anymore although they've both had them before & liked them a lot.

I have to be extra careful w/Fudge as he has a very sensitive stomach.

I have never had a problem in all my years of dogs (when I lived at home, and now my own). Retreiver rolls, compressed bones, and thick chips are a staple in our house.

I have never had a problem in all my years of dogs (when I lived at home, and now my own). Retreiver rolls, compressed bones, and thick chips are a staple in our house.


I'm glad for you, truly. But I just want to point out that your statement is almost EXACTLY what the two board members whose dogs choked said. They also said "I'm always right there to supervise" - and the dogs nearly choked to death with them watching. By saying "I've never had a problem" you might encourage a newcomer to ignore advice to the contrary, and give their dog rawhide chews- how will you feel if they aren't as lucky as you?
IMO, it's just not worth the risk.

We used them when Charlie was young. She swallowed chunks that were too big and would throw them back up. We were lucky she didn't choke, or have a blockage.

My opinion now: no nutritional value, plus a serious health risk.

We feed marrow bones in place of rawhide. Gives just as much entertainment to the pup, plus has nutritional value with no chance of choking/blockage.

Luckly, I've never had a problem. I didn't know about the dangers until I came here. I have CHEWERS. If anything they chew too much but they're so easy for our dogs to break them down you never know what will happen.

I still give them occasionally (don't hit me) but if you have any doughts I wouldn't.

Mixedupdog- What's the best raw bone for chewing purposes? Mine are raw fed but it doesn't last longer than 5 minutes and like I said they are chewers. Don't the bones dry out?

Well, people here have yelled about marrow bones being bad for dogs, too. You just can't win.

We haven't given Scout a marrow bone before, as we do our grocery shopping at Super Target and they don't have any. How long are they okay in the fridge?

I have heard too many horror stories of blockages from raw hides and no longer feed them. Haven't fed them in 15 plus years.

I completely agree! Toby NEVER gets rawhide! :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

I, on a very rare occasion, give compressed bones. I can find the American made ones (with no chemical treatments, etc.) at Target for rather inexpensive. The only side effect I've ever noticed is a bit of gas- but that is why I rarely give them anymore.

Choking, obstructions, diarrhea, side effects from chemicals used in curing, teaching your dog that things made out of leather are ok to chew on, there's lots of reasons not to give rawhide. It's not neccessary there are other things out there they can chew safely, nylabones (non-edible), raw bones and Kongs being highest on the list.
When people say compressed rawhide is safer, they often have the wrong idea. The kind that is safer is NOT the one that is a thin sheet folded and molded into different shapes or rolls, the one that is meant is the kind that is chopped up (you can see the little bits in it) and reformed- it often comes in weird colors. Your dog won't choke on it, and it is unlikely to cause obstruction unless they swallow a big chunk whole (always a possibility) but it also is gone in 5 minutes, and that dye can't be good for anyone.
Best to just avoid it entirely.

Yep!! They're just not good for your dog!!!

We haven't given Scout a marrow bone before, as we do our grocery shopping at Super Target and they don't have any. How long are they okay in the fridge?
Stick them in the freezer.

We usually look for, or ask for, soup bones at the grocery store. What you want is a length of leg bone, several inches long, that's filled with marrow. It can have some meaty stuff around the outside. A good one will keep Charlie busy for a few hours. We stay away from joint/knuckle bones because Charlie will break off and swallow large chunks and then puke them up later.

If you don't have luck at a grocery store, try a good pet store (not a national chain store). Often you'll find a freezer with them, although, they'll be more expensive than the "soup bones" at the grocery store.

Charlie is actuall chewing on a marrow bone (small one) right now. Thought I'd post a pic to show what it is:
http://www.picvault.info/images/537041458_Marrow%20Bone.JPG

The one in Charlie's Dad's photo is a good example of a small one, the bone in my siggy pic is called a whole femur, it's a whole leg bone. I get them at a butcher shop, the kind that still cuts their own meat. Has both "knuckle" ends still on. I freeze them solid and give them frozen, it only takes Earnest a few days to get the ends off, then they dry out and lay around the house, Earnest he'll keep gnawing on them for months.

The opposite of this :tup2: (thumb down).

Only real bones in our house too.

I think they are not worth the risk. I used to give them when Hudson was young and I was stupid and Hudson choked..while I was supervising and after I thought he never had problems so they were okay. They are not nutritional or healthy and too many dogs choke on them.

Wow.......thanks to everyone who posted. Your input basically affirmed my position. I appreciate your time.

I've given Cash rawhides before... But don't think I will again! Bully sticks are his absolute favourite so I'll be sticking with them.

My vet doesn't like rawhides but my dogs love them, so I would once in a while give them one to chew on, but throw them away when it gets too small or too soft and chunks can tear off. Always American made ones.

But I haven't bought any recently as I have found better alternatives. The dogs get bully sticks and marrow bones instead now.

Pebbles loves "Old West" chew strips. They are made of beef tendons.
Even my very picky toy poodle loves them!
These are the only type of chewie I give them.
I don't give raw hide. I have heard of too many horror stories. One of my Springer Spaniel customers died recently of bloat due to raw hide. :(

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e298/skizzorhand/oldwestchew.jpg

We used to give Puck rawhides alllll the time. He loved them. Then, out of nowhere, he started throwing up one day, all day. He was throwing up the rawhides in little pieces! Those pieces came out for two days...(the vets said not to worry as long as he was drinking water and pooing) and then it stopped. No more rawhides after that! :nono:

Mama2pebbles- Cash LOVES those!

I know a lot of people give their dogs rawhides, but mine have never had them. What's your opinion on them?

I don't give them either. I give whole leg bones and marrow bones.

Jen

Thank you for the pictures!

The Super Target people had no idea what a marrow bone is, but I don't think I requested a soup bone. It's worth a shot, but they don't seem to have a real butcher section, so I don't know how many options there will be.

Other marrow bone questions: does it smell funny? Is it okay to give them in-house or do they mess up the carpet? I've heard the marrow can be too rich for dogs their first time with them--did you find that to be the case?

We don't use rawhide with Papi either.


Other marrow bone questions: does it smell funny? Is it okay to give them in-house or do they mess up the carpet? I've heard the marrow can be too rich for dogs their first time with them--did you find that to be the case?

IMO, marrow bones don't smell after you freeze them and give them to your dog right away. I give them to him in the house and he eats them on the linoleium floor. They ones we give him aren't so meaty that they bleed all over the place so I don't notice a mess at all.

They are rich in fat, so if your dog has a sensitive tummy, it may cause some loose stools.

After the bone is hallowed out, we keep it and put two dry dog biscuits and plain nonfat yogurt in it, then we freeze it. He gets that as a treat every night. He loves that treat just as much as the raw marrow bone! We used to use peanutbutter but that has way too many calories compared to the yogurt and the yogurt is healthier.

George gets a rawhide about once/week - moderation is the key! That, and constant supervision.

My dogs love them, but they sometimes throw up and get dirrheah..
not worth it..

Lamar gets compressed rawhides. He doesn't "eat" them...he just chews on them. He's been working on the same one for a week now and it's still the same size as when I bought it...just has teeth marks all over it. As long as he isn't "eating" large pieces of it, I'm fine wtih him having them supervised.

I'm glad for you, truly. But I just want to point out that your statement is almost EXACTLY what the two board members whose dogs choked said. They also said "I'm always right there to supervise" - and the dogs nearly choked to death with them watching. By saying "I've never had a problem" you might encourage a newcomer to ignore advice to the contrary, and give their dog rawhide chews- how will you feel if they aren't as lucky as you?
IMO, it's just not worth the risk.

Valid point, but also no reason to scare every new person onto the "Scared" bandwagon and get them to avoid everything that ANY dog has EVER choked on in the world. That would mean no more tennis balls, I could never walk the dog on woodchips again, near rocks, sticks, and the list goes on. I'd be feeding strictly raw because I am afraid of every wet and dry commerical dog food because of wheat gluten, even if it's NOT in my brand. If you own a dog, have your eyes wide open. Just because X-number of dogs choked on rawhides doesn't mean every dog does. I've owned dogs for over 30 years and no problems. Does that count for nothing just because SOME dogs gulp and swallow them whole? Sure there are alternatives, and it's nice to know what they as a way to educate people but it sounds like you would rather no one tell if they use rawhides for fear that some new person will give it to their dog. Hello...Petco, Petsmart and so forth will take care of that.

Valid point, but also no reason to scare every new person onto the "Scared" bandwagon and get them to avoid everything that ANY dog has EVER choked on in the world. That would mean no more tennis balls, I could never walk the dog on woodchips again, near rocks, sticks, and the list goes on. I'd be feeding strictly raw because I am afraid of every wet and dry commerical dog food because of wheat gluten, even if it's NOT in my brand. If you own a dog, have your eyes wide open. Just because X-number of dogs choked on rawhides doesn't mean every dog does. I've owned dogs for over 30 years and no problems. Does that count for nothing just because SOME dogs gulp and swallow them whole? Sure there are alternatives, and it's nice to know what they as a way to educate people but it sounds like you would rather no one tell if they use rawhides for fear that some new person will give it to their dog. Hello...Petco, Petsmart and so forth will take care of that.
I agree with this. I think it depends on the individual dog whether they should have rawhides or not. If the dog is a chewer, then I believe that rawhides are fine...if the dog is an "eater" and will swallow the rawhide whether it's chewed up or not, then there might be a problem with rawhides there.

I have never had a problem in all my years of dogs (when I lived at home, and now my own). Retreiver rolls, compressed bones, and thick chips are a staple in our house.

FWIW I have found that the "Retreiver Rolls" sold in Sams Club to be the best. They are very tough, last forever and do not fall apart. Every other raw hide roll I have purchased elsewhere are too soft. they fall apart quickly in big chunks.

Interesting thread.

I give Jade perhaps 1 or 2 rawhides a month. Some of them are really thick so I just toss them out. She never seems to have any problems with the really thin ones.

no rawhide here.. just marrow bones and nylabones :)

Jet choked on rawhide dental chews our vet gave us :eek: I had to reach down his throat and pull the thing out. It terrified us all and we no longer give him any rawhide or cooked bones. Just bullysticks and marrow bones here.

I don't use rawhide, either, both for the choking/obstruction hazard they present and for the potential toxins used in curing them (this is particularly true for imported rawhide products).

I don't use rawhide, either, both for the choking/obstruction hazard they present and for the potential toxins used in curing them (this is particularly true for imported rawhide products).

Zen or anyone -- do you happen to know where one could find domestically produced rawhide???

Zen or anyone -- do you happen to know where one could find domestically produced rawhide???

I think I've seen "Made in the USA" on packages, but only in passing (probably Petsmart or Petco, the only close-by pet stores in my area). I never really look at them, so I'm not sure. Sorry I couldn't be more help!

I'll have to look around. We actually do give them compressed rawhide, but we hold their bones while they chew, so they don't get away with anything. We cut back on giving them, though, because we have only been able to find ones that are made in China, and Holly really misses her rawhide bones. She does this thing where she brings a Nylabone to me, drops it, gives me the big eyes, and waits for me to understand that she means she wants me to go get her a rawhide from wherever I happen to be hiding them. If I hold out the Nylabone for her to chew that, she won't take it. If I drop it on the floor, she picks it up, drops it on me again, and stares at me. She must think I am so dumb.
I hate the Nylabones because they are so hard that it's just not great for their gums, but they're the only thing that will keep Joy occupied around the house. She's a power chewer, and she kills all of the toys and Kongs. :(

Jill, Grip is a power chewer too.

I didn't read the whole thread so you may have already touched on this, but have you tried raw beef marrow bones? My guys continue chewing these daily for months, even after they are clean and dry. Every now and then I clear out all the old ones and bring in some new.

Jill, Grip is a power chewer too.

I didn't read the whole thread so you may have already touched on this, but have you tried raw beef marrow bones? My guys continue chewing these daily for months, even after they are clean and dry. Every now and then I clear out all the old ones and bring in some new.

The in-laws have on floating around their house, and each time we have been there, I had to put it up because Joy decided it was a really big deal, and she should resource guard it. :(

We were using rawhides but we stopped buying them. It wasnt because of the fear of choking or anything of that nature. But I noticed that since we started raw feeding our pups can go through a rawhide like nobodys buisness. Our gang just has more fun with frozen pig feet or soup bones. Plus their are certain rawhide companies that I dont care to support with my money. (But that is a whole other issue, and another thread!)

Other marrow bone questions: does it smell funny? Is it okay to give them in-house or do they mess up the carpet? I've heard the marrow can be too rich for dogs their first time with them--did you find that to be the case?

Huge fan of marrow bones here. I get them either at the local butcher or at the grocery store.

Yes, I do give them in the house, but I spread out an old sheet and he knows he needs to keep it on the sheet. Just don't let it sit for hours on the sheet if the blood isn't all cleaned off or it will bleed thru. I've never had an issue though and have always fed them inside on old sheets.

Stomach problems...Chase did fine his first time with them, and has never had problems digesting them - but some dogs do have stomach problems - you can dig out some of the marrow on the inside if you're worried about the fat.

Do they smell.....sometimes. I store them in the freezer and give them to him right out of the freezer. They don't smell at first. However, if your dog (or you) doesn't clean out all the marrow from the inside...if left out, THAT will smell. Not immediately...I'm talking days later. I keep all the old marrow bones because Chase will pick several of them to chew on before bed - and at that point they're not messy so i let him chew anywhere. I just make sure that if he's cleaned it out/off, and there's still marrow in it (sometimes if you get the really big ones they can't get all the marrow out in the middle) that I clean all the marrow out and there's only bone left. As long as you do that, I don't find there's much of a smell, if any! PM me if you have questions on marrow bones - it seriously saved my sanity when Chase was a puppy (and sometimes still even now)!!

Zen or anyone -- do you happen to know where one could find domestically produced rawhide???
Target carries Rawhides made in the USA

I have not had an issue with Luke when he was chewing on rawhide bones I kept an eye on him and took away the small chunks.Now at 27 months he does not care for them anymore he is really big on bully sticks and with that too when it gets small enough I throw it away.

Denis never tastes rawhide. I have read too many horrible stories. I always supervise whenever she chews beef femur bone also I often inspect the bone during chew session.

Wow, so idiot me had no clue ther were problems with certain bones. OK, so there is this thing I've been picking up from the feed store my girls love.. its called a rib in a blanket by Merrick. Here's a link to check it out: http://www.activek9.com/me-69047.html Is there something similar I can get without the rawhide around it or is the rib part bad too?
Also like a pork bone I think it was called? Its those nasty looking bones that I have seen in like every store. Are these good options? Dixie has always had rawhides but she doesn't seem to care for them much. we have tones that haven't even been slightly chewed. Both girls are in love with ribs in a blanket.