Many very well-meaning dog owners are giving their dog’s extremely unhealthy and unsafe dog bones and chews. These dog owners may not have asked their vet about the use of rawhide chews or thought to check up on the reputation of these dog bones online.
Rawhide is not what most people think. Many people assume it is cowhide which has been carefully prepared to offer a safe, healthy chew alternative to raw bones. In fact, rawhide is just the very inner layer of the hide. It is actually a byproduct of the tanning process and, if not used for dog chews, it is a waste product.
This means there is no nutritional value in rawhide. Choosing no rawhide dog bones made with healthy ingredients such as chicken, pork skin, milk and peanut butter not only gives your dogs a healthy chew but one they will actually love.
Processing of Rawhide
Premium types of no rawhide dog bones are made in GFSI certified facilities. GFSI certification ensures the plants meet the requirements and standards by the Global Food Safety Initiative, which are also used for processing of human food items as well.
Rawhide bones are largely made outside of the United States in plants with no regulatory requirements. In the past few years, multiple recalls have occurred due to contaminants in the rawhide bones, some which included contamination with quaternary ammonia compounds which made some dogs very sick.
Digestibility and Safety
The choice of no rawhide dog bones means chews which are fully digested within 24 hours. Rawhide bones are only 85% digested in the same amount of time. The residual lumps and masses of rawhide in the digestive tract pose a risk for obstructions and blockages which may require surgery.
Choosing healthy, safe dog bones and chews is important for the health of your dog. Read the label and make sure the product contains no rawhide to eliminate these safety issues.
