So what's the verdict on rawhide bones for puppies?

[undeterred]

I had Ollie out for some exercise this morning and then I took him to Petsmart for a toy. There was a man standing in the aisle with a huge rawhide like this one, so I bought him one that was about one third of the size and gave it to him when we got home. I thought he would fall asleep anyway after all the playing, but he chewed on it for hours and the whole thing is gone already! He actually devoured it. Now I wonder if that is ok for him. :shrug:

We went to the park again and he ate his dinner- and he seems fine.

[Coyote_Bandit]

1. Rawhide

is the only traditional dog treat that I allow my renal dog to have. His vet says it is alright for him to have and it does allow him to have something to chew.

His other treats are things like raw baby carrots and apple slices.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Here are some links to opinions that show the negative side of rawhide.

Just so you know both sides of the story..

http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-dogtreats.htm

http://www.askabreeder.com/?q=node/247

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061219171656AA2fQ2R

[undeterred]

7. thanks

Well- he ate a large rawhide including both ends in a few hours yesterday and he has no ill effects from it whatsoever. He is eating and pooping normally and his energy level is fine. It seemed way too big to go away so quickly-- I really didn't see how big the pieces were, but I meant for him to chew it over the course of a week, not in one sitting! Not too easy to explain this to a puppy.

Oddly, he has no interest in milkbones or dry snacks at all. He likes to play with apples, but he doesn't eat them. He likes meat.

Anyway, some people at the park told me that the rawhide is bad for his teeth, digestion, etc. I usually give him a rawhide square every day, just one. I am going to look into meat bones, but I really don't have a butcher so I don't know how to go about it. Everything in moderation, I guess.

[roguevalley]

15. they can twist in the intestines and kill a dog. that from a vet I know.

[MadMaddie]

3. I stopped giving my dogs rawhide

they tend to swallow the remaining large pieces.

What kind of dog do you have? His color is the same as my Max's coat. Max is Viszla with a tiny bit of pit in his cheeks.

[AZBlue]

4. My parents had to start limiting when their dogs got rawhide because of that.

Now they only get it at night when they are right there to keep an eye on the size of the pieces and have to take them away when they get small enough to swallow - one of them choked on a piece one night and it got lodged in his throat, so they made a change immediately.

The other thing they are very careful about is to only use the ones that are made in the US - many are made in China and those often contain formaldehyde.

[undeterred]

5. Actually, that's not my dog- I just put up the pic to show the rawhide.

This is Ollie. Leonberger/Australian Shepherd mix 5 months old.

[MadMaddie]

6. OMG Ollie is only 5 months old!!

He is very handsome!

With him being a puppy, I would also suggest no matter what big treat you give him always be there to watch him so you can take it away if the pieces get broken off so you pick them up.

We don't give ours big treats if we are leaving, maybe small cookies but nothing like chews or anything.

He is very sweet!

[undeterred]

8. He's a 45 lb puppy!

And he eats fast.

[oregonjen]

9. Have you tried bully sticks?

I won't allow my dog to chew rawhides because he tends to swallow large pieces. Even though he's small, he's a major chewer. The bully sticks don't break off into little pieces, but I still monitor his chewing.

[undeterred]

10. I never heard of them but I will look for those.

[oregonjen]

12. I re-read what I posted and it sounds funny

Bully sticks don't break off into pieces that could harm a dog. They are sold at most pet stores, where the rawhides are.

[Coyote_Bandit]

11. My dogs LOVE those things n/t

[MiniMe]

13. As long as you realize what a bully stick really is

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bully_stick

A bully stick, also known as a "beef stick" or pizzle, is a dog treat made from the large tendon of a bull's penis and dried. They can be braided, smoked, or formed into a ring, as well as shaved to form thin strips for smaller dogs. They are favored by many people over rawhide bones for several reasons; unlike the soft skin fibers of rawhide, the tough tendon fibers of bully sticks do not soften easily; bully sticks also tend to be less messy, as only the very end will get soft when chewed excessively.

[TankLV]

20. there's nothing like with chewing on a bull's penis to brighten a day...!

[undeterred]

14. Well I asked my veterinarian about it today

and she said she has no problem with him chewing rawhide, but:

The flat squares which I get at the grocery store are better than the bones or rolled rawhide, because he is less likely to swallow a big chunk of it that way.

And she suggested two of these a day as a treat, no more.

The way he goes after a large bone rawhide- I can give it to him, but I should take it away after 15-20 minutes. Even though he was OK this time its not a good thing for him to eat so much of it.

[ehrnst]

16. Rawhide gives my pooches EDDG (Evil Demon Doggie Gas)

So they're off the menu.

[AZBlue]

17. Anyone else have this problem?

I think my parents' male dog is developing this.

[OhioChick]

18. I buy rawhide for both my dogs...

One of my dogs loves them, the other doesn't. The dog that won't touch them has a problem with a few of her molars beginning to rot. So, in my opinion....they do wonders for plaque.

I never buy rawhide that is Made in China.

[TankLV]

19. DOG FARTS...

If you don't mind them, buy your dog lots of rawhide bones - and pigs ears!!!

otherwise, I feed mine carrots, apples, brocoli and cauliflower...anything "big" and crunchy...

more apples and carrots - they eat the carrots like bones - because the brocoli & cauliflower can also cause gas...

[undeterred]

21. My dog consumes rawhide daily and he isn't gassy at all.

I think they're as different as people. If I gave one of my previous dogs veggies she would get diarreah. My mother's dog has no problem with veggies but would get diarreah from eating meat. :shrug: