Rawhide Treats for Dogs

As any pet owner will tell you, dogs like to chew on things. Sometimes they chew on things that they shouldn't, such as shoes and rugs. One of the most common chew treats for a dog is a piece of rawhide, or a rawhide roll. Some veterinarians, however, will say that these seemingly harmless treats aren't good for a dog. There are a number of ailments that a dog can experience from chewing on rawhide.

  1. Identification

    • Rawhide treats come in many different forms, including large, flat strips or molded into playful shapes. The treats also come in rolls, which are long, wide strips of rawhide that have been rolled up to look somewhat like a rolled up newspaper.

    Function

    • Rawhide treats are supposed to serve as a canine treat, just as a biscuit or a pig ear. They also are used to encourage the dog to chew on the rawhide rather than an owner's personal effects. These types of treats are especially used on puppies that are teething and tend to chew things up in an effort to get some relief from teething pain. Dogs of all ages, however, enjoy chewing on rawhide.

    Benefits

    • In addition to providing a puppy with something to chew on, rawhide treats promote healthy teeth and gums by keeping saliva in the dog's mouth. It's kind of like the canine version of chewing gum, except that in this case the dog is allowed to swallow the rawhide. Rawhide treats also provide hours of entertainment for a dog.

    Theories and Speculation

    • There are various Web site on the Internet that denounce giving dogs rawhide treats. In addition, some veterinarians also are against the practice. It is believed that rawhide treats, especially those made in other countries, can make dogs ill. Some of these Web sites claim that rawhide treats contain cat and dog skin, while other sites claim that the rawhide treats contain pesticides that can cause a dog to suffer from a number of afflictions including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite.

    Considerations

    • If there are any doubts as to the safety of rawhide treats, a veterinarian should be consulted. In addition, doing Internet research also may yield some insight into this topic. There are other chew treats on the market that claim to be all natural and safe for dogs. A local pet store is a good place to start researching not only rawhide treats, but also rawhide alternatives.