Rawhide

[gratanter]

Hi!

I've heard lots of stories of dogs having problems with chewing rawhides - namely, of the dog swallowing a large piece and having to have it surgically, etc., removed somehow.

Has anyone here had trouble with this? I've always had large dogs, and I'm not sure if maybe smaller dogs might have more trouble with this? (Though I'm sure my corgi would try to convince you that he could eat anything.)

Thanks.

-Caitlin

[Michael Romanos]

Hi Catlin
Dogs can get into trouble throug all kinds of food and things they pick up with their mouths. Perhaps the risk is worth while. It's a bit like children's playgrounds. They have made them so safe and boring these days, that kids rather do other things. I keep Taylor away from bones so the tasty and interesting alternatives are things like beef etc hides and pigs etc ears. I usually get the beef hides that are shaped like cigars. But Taylor has one of those humungus rawhide bones that he returns to every so often and it is now two years old and still somewhat intact. Corgis have powerful jaws and a strong set of purpose -built teeth, so hides don't pose a problem. But no one can guarantee that Corgis and any other breed of dog won't mistakenly choke on anything they get their mouths onto.

[tandemgal]

Caitlin,

Someone posted a week or two ago about "greenies". There was a piece on Dateline (or a similar show) that said several dogs had died and others had to have surgery after swallowing large pieces. That has made me worry about buying things like that - my Emma has tummy troubles anyway.

We had a Golden Retriever b4 her and when she was around 1 1/2 we found a large knot on her side and was going to take her to the Vet the next morning. Long story short - she passed a sock that night! Forever after that her nick name was Tawney the Sock Monster LOL

[darci]

I use bully sticks for darci.
As far as I have researched raw bones and bully sticks are the safest.