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Rawhide treats are a popular product, and you may have seen them in the aisles of your local supermarket or pet store. Maybe your dog enjoys them, or perhaps you are thinking of introducing them to your pet.
But first, let's slow down and see what rawhide treats actually are, what they do and why we don't recommend them.
Find everything you need to know about rawhide, including answers to common questions like "can dogs digest rawhide treats", below.
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What are rawhide treats?
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As you may have worked out, yes, they’re made out of animal hides; as bi-products of the leather industry, they aren’t even considered food.
They’re typically made from dried cow or horse hide, and they’re often shaped like bones or other fun items. They’re meant to give something for dogs to chew on to keep them occupied. Sometimes, they’re enhanced with flavours like beef or chicken, which, as you can imagine, drive our dogs wild.
So, what’s the problem with them? Why shouldn’t you give them to the dog you care so much about?
Why we don’t recommend rawhide treats
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They're just too risky. Rawhide treats carry potential problems like:
Bacterial infection
Rawhide treats carry the potential for bacterial infection, like E. coli and Salmonella. Rawhide treats have seen product recalls due to bacterial contamination, which, given their production from animal hides, makes sense.
Blockages
Dogs can't digest rawhide, since, well, it's a hide. This means if a dog eats too much or swallows a large piece (like the end from that knotted bone you saw), it can cause digestive blockages, which will need veterinary intervention to fix.
To make things more worrying, rawhide also expands when it comes into contact with moisture, meaning what was a manageable bite now becomes a problem when it expands later on.
Choking
As with blockages, large pieces of rawhide are major choking hazards. Assuming your dog eats a piece that's too big, it can easily become an issue.
Complications from processed ingredients
Rawhide uses a lot of processed ingredients during preparation, including chemicals like sodium sulphide, formaldehyde, bleach, and chromium salts.
They're also full of artificial colours, flavourings and preservatives, which also not especially healthy for your pup. These ingredients have no real place is a balanced dog's diet.
Dental damage
Rawhide is made for a dog to chew on, and dogs can become quite obsessed with it. The trouble is that rawhide can be quite tough and doesn’t always give under pressure, leading to damaged gums and broken teeth. So, contrary to popular belief, rawhide treats are not good for a dog’s teeth.
Digestive problems
Since rawhide is impossible to digest, a dog who eats some may experience issues like diarrhoea and vomiting.
Can dogs eat rawhide treats?
No, dogs can't digest rawhide properly. It's one of the key reasons why many vets don't recommend them. Since they're made from treated animal hides, their digestive system can't break them down properly, leading to issues like blockages and digestive problems.
For this reason, rawhide chews offer next to nothing nutritionally, and it's why you should try other treat options.
Can puppies eat rawhide treats?
No. Puppies should never have rawhide treats. The risks of blockages or choking happening are much higher in puppies, and dental fractures are also common.
Dogs can't fully digest rawhide anyway, but in the case of puppies, their developing digestive system will really struggle.
Never give your puppy a rawhide treat.
Are rawhide treats good for dogs?
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No, not really. It may seem like your dog really enjoys rawhide treats, but this is mostly due to the artificially added scent and smells manufacturers use. They'd be equally as happy with a safer alternative.
Even if your dog hasn't had a problem up until now, it's important to remember the risk is still there and a problem could occur next time.
When changing to a new treat, however, make sure to observe your dog closely - a lot of dog treats are still choking hazards, especially if your dog likes to wolf things down. Finding a new, safer chew may take a little bit of time.
Help! My dog's eaten rawhide - what are the signs something's gone wrong?
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Signs that your dog is struggling with rawhide they've eaten include:
Blockage warning signs
Bloated, swollen abdomen
Drooling
Gagging
Inability to poop or diarrhoea
Lack of appetite
Lethargy or signs of weakness
Repeated retching or vomiting
Signs of pain, like aggression when touched, pacing, crying or whining
Digestive issue warning signs
Appetite loss (minor)
Burping
Diarrhoea
Gurgling
Increased flatulence
Signs of discomfort
Please contact your vet or an emergency vet immediately if you suspect there's a blockage - it's a serious condition.
What should you use instead?
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There are lots of alternatives to rawhide treats, like:
Bully sticks or dried meat strips
Some pet parents like these due to the high protein content.
Dental chews
Most of these are safe, but check they aren't too big or small for your dog first. We'd recommend checking the ingredients, too, to make sure there's nothing nasty hidden in them.
Unlike rawhide treats, they can help your dog's teeth, too.
Homemade treats
You can try making your own homemade treats out of pet-safe ingredients yourself, and our homemade treats guide can give you some starting ideas.
Natural food
Sometimes, the best treat can just be a small amount of food. Some good, natural treats you can try include:
Banana - cut into small, easy-to-eat pieces.
Carrots - baby carrots or sliced into small pieces.
Cooked, plain chicken.
Cucumber - cut into fingers or small pieces
Small apple slices - cut to a size suitable for your dog.
Watermelon - only in moderation, with no seeds or rind.
Oh, and remember to check if something's safe before feeding it to your dog for the first time. Our food safety guide can help with that:
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No-hide chews
These look and are designed like rawhide chews, but aren't made of animal hide, meaning they don't carry as many risks.
As with any treat, make sure to observe your dog when they have them, just in case.
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