| Rawhide dog toys are very popular. Found in pet | | | | consumers regarding a medical problem occurring |
| stores, grocery stores, and even dollar stores, | | | | in Canada where humans had been showing signs |
| they would seem like a safe bet. But that is not | | | | of illness attributed to handling these items. The |
| the case. As the saying goes, caveat emptor | | | | FDA cautioned that “These products may |
| (buyer beware). | | | | pose a risk of bacterial infection such as |
| Rawhide treats offer many benefits. They are | | | | Salmonella infantis which can cause flu-like |
| relatively cheap, dogs enjoy them, and they help | | | | symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain |
| with overall teeth and gum health. Multiple shapes | | | | and diarrhea) in normally healthy people, but may |
| and sizes are available, so the right type can be | | | | cause far more serious - even life-threatening |
| found for any dog, toy breeds and large working | | | | injury in immune-compromised patients.” |
| dogs alike. Because of these benefits – and | | | | Arsenic based preservatives are used by some |
| the relatively low number of cases where dogs | | | | manufacturers, though it is not legal to use for |
| have been injured – many owners often give | | | | rawhide made within the U.S. |
| rawhide treats to their dogs. | | | | Assuming that the treat itself does not have any |
| If you choose to give your dogs rawhide treats, | | | | toxic chemical or bacterial traces, is it safe? Not |
| you should keep in mind that there are health | | | | necessarily. Rawhide treats pose a choking hazard |
| risks. Rawhide is dried out animal hides, typically | | | | and the risk of intestinal problems. When chewed |
| cow, horse, or bull hide. The material is cleaned up | | | | the rawhide becomes wet and slippery, allowing |
| and processed into the chunks sold as rawhide | | | | the dog to gulp down more than he can swallow |
| chew toys. The processing includes two industrial | | | | or digest. That creates choking risks as well as |
| steps, the first being to clean off the membranes, | | | | problems with GI blockage if the piece makes its |
| meat, fat, muscle, etc. from the skin. The second | | | | way to the dog’s digestive track. GI distress |
| step is to clean off the hairs on the outside. | | | | is also reported both due to digestion difficulties as |
| According to Dusti Summerbird-Lockey this | | | | well as bacteria. |
| process typically involves the use of chemical | | | | If you choose to give your dog rawhide treats, |
| solutions, with cocktails that include Ash-Lye or | | | | do so carefully. Make sure to buy products made |
| Lime and then a cleaning with a bleach solution. | | | | in the US and to carefully monitor your dog’s |
| In addition to the chemicals themselves, another | | | | chewing. Do not let him swallow large chunks of |
| issue that emerges with rawhide treats, especially | | | | rawhide. Supervision of his chew time can |
| when related chewable items like pig ears and | | | | increase his safety, but there are plenty of other |
| beef jerky treats are included, are bacterial | | | | toys that are just as fun and much safer, such as |
| infections that can be picked up from handling the | | | | Kong chew toys that can be stuffed with |
| items. In 1999, the FDA released a warning to | | | | flavorful treats even better than rawhide. |