Our dogs merely enjoy to chew anything they can get their furry paws on, whether it’s their preferred toy or among our slippers. So, if we can keep them far from entirely ruining our things with a rawhide treat, then why wouldn’t we?
While rawhide chews are popular amongst family pet owners, we have actually discovered Google look for the treats up 87% in the last couple of months, since as it ends up, they aren’t as healthy for our dogs as lots of pet moms and dads are led to think.
Below, Sean McCormack, Head Vet at tails.com , has actually explained why rawhide ought to be prevented by dog owners, and offered ideas on what to try to find when buying treats and bones.
What in fact is rawhide?
“There is a common misconception that rawhide is just dried meat that is made into fun shapes for your dog to chew on, but quite often this is not the case – even though they can be labelled as ‘natural’ and ‘digestible’.
“In a lot of circumstances, rawhide is the processed hide of cows and other animals, that are then preserved in chemicals and salt brine to stop them decaying, before being shaped into the treats that many dogs love.”
Why can it threaten to dogs?
Chemicals
“While it’s difficult to state whether all rawhide treats threaten for our dogs, as production procedures can vary, among the primary factors to prevent providing to your furry friend is since of the severe and poisonous chemicals that they can be protected in.
“Unfortunately, in the UK, rawhide doesn’t have to meet any requirements or health regulations, as it isn’t technically classed as food. This means our canines could be happily chewing away, none the wiser, on dried animal skins that are soaked in chemicals, which can be harmful to their digestive system.”
Choking or obstruction
“As well as chemicals and bacteria, rawhide treats can also be dangerous to your dog’s health because they aren’t easily digestible, which may lead to choking or blockages in the digestive tract.
“When our pooches swallow rawhide and it enters the stomach, it can actually swell to four times its original size! This combined with the inability to digest it properly can mean that our dogs can suffer from dangerous intestinal blockages, which can be extremely harmful to their health, and sometimes be fatal if not removed.”
Tooth Damage
“Though rawhide bones and treats are designed for chewing, and many believe they are actually good for dental health, they can actually be quite the opposite, especially if your pooch is an enthusiastic chewer.
“This is because some rawhide chews and bones can actually be hard for your dog’s teeth, and can sometimes cause fractures while they are eagerly chewing away.”
How to discover the very best treats to inhabit or captivate your dog?
“While chewing has lots of advantages for dogs, such as eliminating discomfort in puppies that are teething, or keeping monotony at bay, it is very important that our dogs are offered chews and treats that benefit their health. So, there are a couple of crucial things to remember when picking them for your family pet:
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Look for lasting natural chews
“Though rawhide treats are frequently offered to our furry buddies as treats since they are lasting, there are in fact a lot of dog chews out there that are 100% devoid of any damaging components that last simply as long.
“Next time you consider buying chews for your dog to gnaw away at, make sure to do your research. Check the ingredients thoroughly and consider where they were made before purchasing them. Though they might be a little more expensive, keeping your dog healthy and happy should be your top priority.”
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Consider a lickmat
“Instead of a rawhide bone or treat, why rule out a lickmat? Like chewing, licking can be a fantastic form of psychological stimulation for our furry good friends, which is crucial to keeping them happy.
“Lick mats also have the benefit of helping to reduce anxiety in your dog and keeping them calm. This is because licking is a good form of distraction as their focus is re-directed somewhere else, but also because it releases endorphins in our dogs which can help them to relax and feel safe.”
“For longer-lasting lick mat fun, why not try using frozen yoghurt, and see if it melts before they have finished licking it all up!”
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Look for high worth treats
“If you wish to prevent bones and chews entirely, think about high worth, natural treats rather such as tails.com ’s seriously meaty range .
“Higher worth meat treats, are frequently long-term and are a much more secure alternative for your dog, as they are jam-packed loaded with protein, and goodness that is terrific for their diet plan.”
