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Rawhide is a popular treat for dogs, made from the inner layer of animal hide, typically from cows. It is tough yet flexible, and provides dogs with mental stimulation and helps relieve anxiety. However, rawhide has been associated with several health risks in dogs, including choking, intestinal blockages, and digestive issues. While the risks are relatively small, they can be serious. In this article, we will explore the potential dangers of rawhide consumption in small dogs and discuss whether it can cause muscle spasms. We will also suggest some alternative chewing options for small dogs that may be safer.
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What You'll Learn
Choking hazards
Rawhide is a popular treat for dogs, satisfying their natural instinct to chew. However, rawhide chews can carry certain health risks, including choking hazards.
Rawhide is made from the inner layer of animal hide, typically from cows or horses. It is cleaned, cut or ground, and pressed into chewable treats. The manufacturing process involves several chemical treatments, including sodium sulfide, lime, chromium salts, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide. This lack of regulation in its production has raised concerns about the potential health risks of rawhide treats.
While rawhide is meant to be a long-lasting chew that breaks down into tiny, soft pieces, strong chewers may be able to break off large chunks. These chunks can pose a serious choking hazard if swallowed, particularly for dogs with aggressive chewing styles. The risk of choking is heightened if the rawhide chew is too small for the dog's size. Therefore, it is important to choose appropriately sized treats and supervise your dog while they are enjoying a rawhide treat. If the rawhide becomes small enough to swallow whole, it should be taken away from the dog.
In addition to choking hazards, rawhide can also cause intestinal blockages and other digestive issues. Large pieces of rawhide that are swallowed without adequate chewing can become lodged in the esophagus or other parts of the digestive tract. This can lead to severe abdominal pain, fluid loss, dehydration, intestinal rupture, infection, and even death. Even smaller pieces can cause blockages as rawhide swells several times its size when wet.
To minimize the risks associated with rawhide treats, it is recommended to offer appropriately sized chews for your dog's size and chewing style. Always supervise your dog while they are chewing rawhide and take it away if they are breaking it down too quickly. It is also important to rinse rawhide in water before giving it to your dog and to throw away any pieces of chewed-up rawhide to prevent swallowing. If your dog has a history of digestive issues or tends to swallow large chunks of rawhide, consider alternative chewing options such as bully sticks, dental chews, synthetic chews, or safe rubber toys.
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Intestinal blockages
Rawhide is a popular chew treat for dogs, made from the inner layer of cow or horse hides. While it can help promote dental health by scraping away plaque and tartar, rawhide also comes with certain risks.
One of the biggest risks associated with rawhide is intestinal blockage. This occurs when large chunks of rawhide are broken off and swallowed by dogs. Since rawhide is not easily digested, these chunks can cause intestinal obstructions as they pass through the digestive system. This can lead to severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, intestinal rupture, infection, and even death. The risk of intestinal blockage is higher for smaller dogs and aggressive chewers who are more likely to break off and swallow large pieces of rawhide.
To minimise the risk of intestinal blockage, it is important to supervise your dog while they are chewing rawhide and take it away if they are breaking it down too quickly. It is also recommended to offer rawhide in moderation, opt for higher-quality products, and explore alternative chew options such as natural marrow bones, hard rubber toys, or sweet potato chews. Additionally, separate your dog from other pets to prevent them from gulping down large pieces out of territorial behaviour.
While rawhide can pose a risk of intestinal blockage, it is important to note that the risks are relatively small compared to the amount of rawhide consumed by dogs each year. However, the risks can be serious, so it is important to weigh the benefits against the potential drawbacks and consult your veterinarian for personalised advice based on your dog's health and dietary requirements.
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Digestive issues
Rawhide is the hypodermic interstitial tissue, the inner layer of animal hide, typically from cows raised for meat production. While rawhide is a popular treat for dogs, it is not easily digested. Large chunks of rawhide that are swallowed whole can cause intestinal obstructions in dogs. These chunks will have to pass through the dog's digestive system without being properly digested, potentially causing swallowing or intestinal obstructions. Even if the swallowed piece is not large enough to cause an emergency, the rawhide can remain in the dog's stomach for months, leading to gastrointestinal issues or discomfort.
The safety of rawhide treats depends on several factors, including the dog's individual chewing style and health issues. Dogs that are softer chewers are generally safe with rawhide treats, as they do not easily break them down into chunks. However, for aggressive chewers, rawhide can be dangerous as they may break off large pieces, posing a choking hazard or causing intestinal blockage.
To prevent intestinal blockages, it is recommended to take the rawhide chew away from the dog once it is small enough to swallow. If your dog has a history of diarrhoea or other digestive issues after consuming rawhide, it is advisable to opt for alternative chew options. Some alternatives to rawhide include dental sticks, Kong toys, rubber chew toys, carrots, sweet potato chews, frozen fruit or veggie cubes, and frozen broth cubes.
Additionally, rawhide treats may contain harmful chemicals or preservatives used during processing, which can lead to gastrointestinal irritation, toxicity, allergic reactions, increased cancer risk, endocrine disruption, and neurological effects. Bacterial contamination is also a concern, with Salmonella and E. coli being possible contaminants.
To minimise the risks associated with rawhide treats, it is important to supervise your dog while they are enjoying one and to choose rawhide that is appropriately sized for your dog's chewing style and health considerations. It is also recommended to offer one treat at a time, especially for smaller dogs, and to separate your dog from other pets to prevent territorial behaviour.
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Harmful chemicals
Rawhide is made from the inner layer of animal hides, typically from cows, and sometimes horses, used in leather manufacturing. The outer layer is used for leather products, while the inner layer is used to make dog chews.
The process of making rawhide involves treating animal hides with a variety of harmful chemicals, including:
- Sodium sulfide
- Lime
- Chromium salts
- Bleach
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Ash-lye solution
- Formaldehyde
- Lead
- Arsenic
- Mercury
- Titanium oxide
These chemicals are used to clean, sterilize, preserve, and dye the rawhide, and some are linked to health issues in dogs and humans. For example, FD&C Red 40, a petroleum-based food dye used in rawhide, has been linked to behavioral disorders like ADHD in children.
Rawhide is also often basted with flavors, smoked, or dyed with artificial colors to make them more appealing to dogs. These additional flavorings and colorants may contain harmful additives, preservatives, and other chemicals that can pose risks to dogs.
While rawhide chews are popular treats for dogs, they can pose several risks due to the chemicals used in their production. These risks include:
- Intestinal blockages: Large chunks of rawhide that are swallowed whole can cause intestinal obstructions in dogs, leading to severe abdominal pain, fluid loss, dehydration, intestinal rupture, infection, and even death.
- Choking hazards: Smaller pieces of rawhide that are swallowed can get lodged in the esophagus or further down the digestive tract, requiring emergency surgery.
- Digestive issues: Rawhide is not easily digested and can cause gastrointestinal issues or discomfort, even if the swallowed pieces are not large enough to cause an intestinal blockage.
- Bacterial contamination: Bacterial contamination has been a frequent issue in rawhide production, leading to several major recalls by the FDA.
To minimize the risks associated with rawhide chews, dog owners can take certain precautions:
- Source rawhide from reputable manufacturers: Choose high-quality, U.S.-sourced products that are free from chemical treatments, dyes, and preservatives.
- Supervise your dog: Never leave your dog unattended with a rawhide chew. Take it away if they are breaking it down too fast or if it becomes small enough to swallow whole.
- Wash hands and chews: Rinse and dry rawhide chews thoroughly before giving them to your dog to reduce the risk of chemical exposure and bacterial contamination. Wash your hands after handling the treats.
- Consult a veterinarian: Discuss with your vet to determine if rawhide is suitable for your dog, and to explore alternative chew options if necessary.
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Allergic reactions
Although rawhide treats are popular among dogs, they can cause allergic reactions in some dogs. If your dog is allergic to rawhide, it can be the product as a whole or a specific ingredient used in its manufacture. Beef and chicken are the top food-related causes of allergies in dogs, and these are often added to rawhide treats to make them more palatable. Pork and liver are also common additions to rawhide treats, and some dogs may be allergic to these ingredients.
If your dog has an allergy to rawhide, they may exhibit typical allergy symptoms, such as a runny nose and eyes, itchy or flaky skin, hair loss, hives, ear infections, inflamed paws, and constant licking or chewing of their paws. In some cases, your dog may develop a rash or start scratching excessively.
To determine if your dog is allergic to rawhide, you can try eliminating it from their diet for at least 30 days and observing if their symptoms improve. If your dog's symptoms persist or become severe, it is important to consult your veterinarian for advice and treatment options, such as medication, topical ointments, or prescribed shampoos.
It is worth noting that rawhide treats are not the only potential source of allergies in dogs, and other types of chews or treats may also contain allergens. Additionally, some dogs may be prone to aggressive chewing or have a history of digestive issues, making them more susceptible to the risks associated with rawhide consumption, including intestinal blockages and bacterial contamination.
There are several alternatives to rawhide treats that can provide similar benefits without the associated risks. For example, trachea chews are natural, high-protein chews derived from beef airways, providing a durable and easily digestible option. Naturally shed antlers are another long-lasting option that provides a natural source of minerals and is unlikely to splinter.
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Frequently asked questions
Rawhides are not easily digestible and can cause havoc on a dog's digestive system. While the risks are relatively small, they can be serious. Dogs can develop allergic reactions to components of rawhide, resulting in gastrointestinal distress. It is best to consult your vet before giving rawhides to small dogs.
The most fatal risk of consuming rawhide is an intestinal blockage. When dogs don’t adequately chew pieces they break off of the rawhide, it may become lodged in their digestive tract. Rawhide swells several times its size when wet, so even smaller pieces can cause a blockage. This can lead to severe abdominal pain, fluid loss, dehydration, intestinal rupture, infection, and even death.
Some alternatives to rawhides include bully sticks, dental chews, and reputable synthetic chews. Safe rubber toys that can be filled with treats or peanut butter offer mental stimulation and a safe outlet for chewing. Natural fish skin chews are also a good alternative as they are safe for dogs to eat and packed with nutrients.
If your small dog is reacting badly to rawhides, they may exhibit symptoms such as itching, swelling, gastrointestinal distress, or diarrhea. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to consult your veterinarian immediately.
