When shopping for dog treats and chews, do you find the number of options overwhelming? One of the most common chews seen in pet shops are rawhide chews. But you may have heard that many vets don’t recommend rawhide for dogs, and that rawhide might even be bad for them. Why is this? What are the dangers of rawhide? Are there any alternatives? 

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What is Rawhide?

Raw hide is animal skin (hide) that has not been tanned to turn it to leather. Many rawhide chews are made from cattle skin. But they can be made from pig, buffalo, deer or other animal skins. The process of making rawhide varies depending on the eventual use; but commonly involves removing the hair and fat from the skin, stretching it out and leaving it to dry. Depending on the process, various cleaning detergents and other chemicals are used to produce the rawhide. The rawhide can be left in its natural state, or compressed into shapes like bones. Unlike leather, rawhide is not naturally waterproof and will quickly rehydrate and deform when wetted. 

It is important to note that the digestibility (how much of the rawhide can be broken down and converted into energy by the body) is likely to be very poor. Though this may vary depending on how processed the skin was. The nutrition content of rawhide is low regardless, so your dog will absorb little to none of this should rawhide be ingested. 

What Are the Purported Benefits?

Pet owners, pet food manufacturers and even some vets give various reasons why rawhide can be a benefit to dogs. Let’s list some now.

The main reported reason for giving a dog rawhide to chew is for entertainment

Many dogs like to chew things and owners might want to use rawhide to provide for this need. Chewing can alleviate boredom which would otherwise lead to agitation, destructive behaviour or even aggression in some cases. Young puppies often chew to soothe their aching gums as their teeth grow, so rawhide may be given for this. If a dog develops a habit of chewing things they shouldn’t, such as furniture, shoes or other objects, rawhide might be considered a better replacement. 

People often claim that rawhide also helps keep dogs’ teeth clean

There is some truth to this, as by chewing a dog will produce saliva that helps wash away bacteria that would otherwise remain in the mouth to form plaque. Rawhide may also physically remove pieces of food stuck in the teeth, as well as hardened calculus (mineralised bacterial colonies). Both of these factors may reduce the risk of dental disease. There have been some studies into dental chews (not rawhide-based) that demonstrated some effectiveness at removing calculus, but these studies were limited and further testing is needed. One study even found that wild dogs, who chew on hard bones regularly, still showed signs of periodontal disease, meaning pet dogs chewing hard food, including rawhide, will not be fully protected from dental disease anyway.

Finally, rawhide can simply be given as a treat

Many of us consider dogs as members of the family and want to gift them treats as rewards for good behaviour. Rawhide may be one of the treats you grab on a trip to the pet shop. However, as we will now explain, you should think twice before purchasing rawhide for your dog. 

What Are the Risks of Chewing Rawhide?

Damage to Teeth and Gums

Despite some preliminary evidence that chewing can reduce the build-up of bacteria in the mouth, hard chews can also cause oral damage. This includes cuts or bruises to the soft tissue, as well as fractures of the teeth – smaller dogs, or those with already diseased mouths, may be at a greater risk of tooth fracture. A broken tooth exposes the living tissue of the tooth (the pulp) which is highly sensitive. This causes pain when eating and may allow bacteria to enter the tooth root and cause infection. A broken tooth almost always requires extraction of the remaining tooth under general anaesthetic (though artificial capping can occur in certain situations, mainly for broken canines).

Most studies indicate that ‘bones and hard chews’ are the most common cause of dental injuries in dogs, but very dry rawhide may cause similar problems, again more so in smaller dogs. It is important to note, however, that as the rawhide is chewed it will soften and the risk of damage may be reduced.

Choking Risk

For certain dogs that either cannot or do not chew their food into small pieces, swallowing large pieces of rawhide can lead to obstruction of the oesophagus. This can lead to gagging, drooling, pain, a lack of oxygen and even death if left untreated – a foreign body blockage of the airways is considered a veterinary emergency. Very rarely, perforation of the oesophagus can occur as well, causing emphysema (pockets of air under the skin). Removal of these objects may require sedation or a general anaesthetic, and then manual, endoscopic or surgical removal. Even once the object has been removed, damage to the oesophagus can result in permanent chronic narrowing and discomfort. A dog chewing rawhide should be supervised at all times. Any broken off pieces of the chew should be removed immediately, to prevent obstruction. 

Foreign Body Blockage or Perforation

As mentioned above, the digestibility of rawhide seems to be low. This means that swallowed pieces of rawhide will travel through the gastrointestinal tract mostly unaltered. Many parts of the gastrointestinal tract are quite narrow (such as the exit of the stomach, parts of the small intestine, and the junction between the small and large intestines) and large objects can cause blockages. This prevents a dog emptying their GI tract, leading to a build-up of digestive contents, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation, inappetence, pain, septicaemia, collapse and sometimes death. Depending on the type of blockage, the object may have to be removed endoscopically or via surgery. Again, the risk of blockage is greater in smaller dogs. In some situations, objects can get stuck in the GI tract without causing an obstruction. This can lead to chronic irritation, causing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, pain and anorexia. 

Furthermore, any foreign body travelling down the gastrointestinal tract can cause damage to the walls, even resulting in perforation. This can lead to leakage of intestinal contents and bacteria into the abdomen, causing peritonitis. This condition can be incredibly painful, resulting in sickness and even death if left untreated. If well chewed, rawhide is unlikely to be sharp, but semi-chewed or non-chewed rawhide can be enough to lacerate tissue. Furthermore, if the intestines are already quite inflamed, for example because of a chronic inflammatory bowel disease or concurrent foreign body, they are more likely to become damaged. Even if a dog swallows pieces small enough to be pooped out, the pieces can cause irritation on the way out.

Contamination

Another concern raised by vets about rawhide is the potential for contamination. Most rawhide production requires the use of harsh detergents and chemicals to produce it. And there is concern that these chemicals remain on the rawhide after being sold, meaning your dog could ingest it. It is difficult without in-depth knowledge of rawhide production for dogs to determine this risk, but there have been cases of chemical contamination. In 2017, batches of rawhide products were recalled in the USA due to contamination with chemicals used to clean food processing equipment. It was reported the products had an unpleasant odour, and some diarrhoea and vomiting did occur. 

However, this sort of recall can (and does) occur in many different products. And it is not necessarily because the chews were specifically rawhide. From the report, it seems likely that cleaning chemicals were accidentally contaminating the final product, rather than the chemicals normally found on the product being harmful. Nevertheless, it does indicate that the risk is there, and that less processed chews might be safer.

Many websites also claim that rawhide carries a risk of bacterial contamination, including E. coli and Salmonella, both bugs that cause gastrointestinal symptoms in dogs and humans. We have not found any reports of this specifically occurring in rawhide products. But other dog foods, such as raw meat products and bully sticks, are known to harbour bacteria. We cannot comment on rawhide specifically, but it may be another consideration for you, particularly if there are young, elderly or immunocompromised humans or pets in the household. 

What’s the Verdict?

Overall, though the evidence is limited specifically on rawhide chews, anecdotal evidence and studies of similar products indicate that rawhide will not effectively clean teeth and can even lead to damage in the mouth, is a choking risk, can cause gastrointestinal blockages, and may even be a chemical and biological risk to pets and humans. With this in mind, and the huge variety of alternative products out there, we would not recommend rawhide chews for dogs.

What Can Dogs Chew Instead?

As discussed above, many dogs love to chew. And we don’t want to stop dogs from doing so in a healthy and safe way. We thus have some alternative recommendations you might want to consider. 

Other Commercial Chews

There are many dog chews you can purchase that are safer than rawhide. These include bully sticks, collagen chews, dried fish skins, processed biscuit treats and more. We would recommend avoiding any raw meat products, bones (as these carry the same risks of dental and GI problems as rawhide) and antlers and horns (risk of breaking teeth). Bear in mind that all of the above treats can be high in calories, and can still run the risk of causing blockages or choking, so monitor your dog closely when feeding. As before, remove all small broken pieces of chew quickly to prevent swallowing. 

Vegetables

Vegetables are a great healthy alternative to rawhide,and when uncooked can provide the same pleasure to chew, but are much more digestible so carry less risk of blockage. Good choices include carrots, broccoli, sweet potato, celery and peppers. These vegetables can be sugary, so keep them in moderation. Avoid corn on the cob (sweetcorn off the cob is fine), any alliums like garlic or onions, and excessive amounts of fruit. 

Non-Edible Chews

Remember that dog chews don’t have to be eaten! There are many different kinds of dog chews out there that can provide hours of entertainment without being swallowed. These can be made of rubber, plastic, fabric or other synthetic materials. Some of these toys can still be broken by especially destructive dogs; running the same risks of blockages as rawhide, so monitor them closely. Conversely, a good rule of thumb to avoid the toy being hard enough to break teeth is being able to make an impression in it with your thumbnail. If you cannot, it is likely too hard for your dog’s teeth. Some of these toys can have edible treats added to them, which increases the entertainment value. 

Replacements for Dental Hygiene

If you were intending to use rawhide to assist with dental hygiene, then consider some alternatives instead. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) has a list of products they deem effective in slowing down bacterial growth in a dog’s mouth, so some of these products may suit you. A few caveats however – these products are not necessarily suitable for all dogs, are not guaranteed to be safe in other ways by the VOHC, and can often be high in calories. 

There are also additives you can purchase that are added to a dog’s food or water, which claim to reduce dental disease. Again, their effectiveness may be limited (check the VOHC’s website to see what they say), but can slow down dental problems without adding calories or risk damaging teeth.

However, if you want to do the best you can for your dog’s oral hygiene, then there is no replacement for brushing their teeth. A dog’s teeth should be brushed every 1-3 days with either a doggy toothbrush, or a soft-bristled human brush. Using just plain water is fine, though there are toothpastes that can aid brushing. Only brushing daily will remove plaque from the gumline where most bacteria live, ensuring your dog’s teeth remain healthy for longer. Brushing can be tricky at first, so take it slow and ask your vet for some advice on how to brush a dog’s teeth. 

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