Raw Hide Sticks

[cj-b]

I was wondering if the Pork Raw Hide Chew Stick things you can get, are enough alone to maintain good teeth and gum health?

My boy doesn't like chewing on bones, he just prefers to play with them by moving them all over the backyard, never chewing on them. Tried Chix necks, lamb flaps, marrow bones, you name it, we've tried it.

He does eat a little Kibble, but his diet is about 75% raw, in the form of Dr B's premade patties, which he also loves. So I don't think the kibble is enough alone to clean his teeth.

But, he absolutely loves these Pork Raw Hide Sticks I buy from Big W, that are filled with Chix Liver. And I mean love them, he will knaw on one all day. Do you think this enough to clean his teeth along with the small amound of kibble he gets?

[W Sibs]

I don't know, have considered brushing his teeth?

I don't think giving those treats everyday is good for a dog... have you consider giving him a carrot? not sure if they will clean his teeth, but it's healthier than raw hide stick

[Sandra777]

What sized dog are you talking about? Personally I wouldn't give those rawhide things more than as a very occasional treat - if ever - a lot of them come from very dodgy places and frankly if you buy them from Big W they're probably not the most expensively produced/carefully sourced product.

Have you tried simply not feeding him his patty and giving him a meaty bone instead? Unless they have underlying health issues, dogs will not starve themselves.

I have noticed that if my lot get a lot of easily swallowed food (chunks of meat, mince, scraps etc) they will just play with their meaty bones, obviously not hungry enough to put in any effort.

[OSoSwift]

I don't use rawhides, I get dried beef tendons, roo tendons and other things from here

http://www.australianpettreatcompany.com.au/

Some are quite hard and do help with teeth cleaning.

One of my dogs does not tolerate raw bones and meat evry well but has these no worries.

[VJB]

I give my dog venison ears.... 99% fat free and she loves them. We give her one a day. Sheep ears are smaller, but just as good.

[cj-b]

Thanks for the ideas.

The ingredients are all natural being Porkhide, Chicken Liver, Rice Flour, Whey Protein and Vegetables. I like the idea of tendons, I think he would love them. Oh and I forgot to say at the start, he also has a pig or lamb ear once over so often as well. The stick thing I do give him, will last about a week, he just chews any at it. I might ask the local vet and see.

He is a small dog as well, about 7kg and 6 months old.

He currently gets, Nutro and Raw mixed together twice a day, with some extra Omega Oils added.

[WreckitWhippet]

Try not feeding him for a day and give him a chicken wing , carcass, a 1/4 of a rabbit or soemthing along those lines. If he's hungry, he'll eat it and give his teeth and jaws a work out in the process.

Pig ears and all that rawhide stuff is horrid

[shazzcatz]

Just interested to know why raw hide isn't a good thing? Just curious - my dog won't go near them anyway!

[wire]

VJB< can I ask you where you get the venison ears from? I've tried several places but they are always out of stock. Ta

[Sandra777]

Just interested to know why raw hide isn't a good thing? Just curious - my dog won't go near them anyway!

Rawhide is technically untreated leather. However rawhide chews as sold for dogs, if from less than wonderful can have all sorts of chemicals and crud added to it. A lot of it is made from mashed up who-knows-what rolled and dried into shapes. Consider the "bones" made of rolled up sheets tied at each end - wet one, untie the knots and you have a flat sheet of soft material which a medium/large dog is perfectly capable of trying to swallow whole, but because it's soggy and floppy it's all too easy for it to get stuck half way and choke a dog.

The chemicals, the fact it can be swallowed in large lumps and the fact it can kill a dog are big no nos to me

[cj-b]

Just interested to know why raw hide isn't a good thing? Just curious - my dog won't go near them anyway!

Rawhide is technically untreated leather. However rawhide chews as sold for dogs, if from less than wonderful can have all sorts of chemicals and crud added to it. A lot of it is made from mashed up who-knows-what rolled and dried into shapes. Consider the "bones" made of rolled up sheets tied at each end - wet one, untie the knots and you have a flat sheet of soft material which a medium/large dog is perfectly capable of trying to swallow whole, but because it's soggy and floppy it's all too easy for it to get stuck half way and choke a dog.

The chemicals, the fact it can be swallowed in large lumps and the fact it can kill a dog are big no nos to me

I guess it might depend on which Rawhide you choose to buy. There are some available that have no chemicals, colours, flavors or preservatives. And as far as the choking goes, not sure how this could happen with the twisted stick kind. But my dog is only small though. So maybe a bigger dog could be able to break a part off, not sure, I can only go by own my dog, who has not a chance of breaking a chunk away. He can only knaw away at the end, which takes him a good week or two to get through. And then he doesn't eat the whole thing, I take it away, when I think it's too short, incase he does try to smallow it.

I spoke to my local vet about them. And she said they are a great alternative to fresh bones to keep teeth clean and gums healthy. My boy loves them, so I think I will continue to use them.

Just wanted to add, I think the whole thing about Rawhide being able to kill a dog, is crazy. It's just like RMB, supervision is the key to avoid such accidents.

Edited August 12, 2010 by cj-b

[Sandra777]

And as far as the choking goes, not sure how this could happen with the twisted stick kind. But my dog is only small though.

My 14-17kg dogs chew things like that once through the middle to bend it then give the swallowing whole a good old go. Bit like sword swallowing

[Remarkabull]

Why do we need to give our dogs rawhide, schmackos and all those other things? I often hear people say 'my dog loves schmackos', well they would also love a piece of fresh meat or a bone or even a carrot. We are the ones that love to give them all this 'shit' because we think that they need a treat or something different. Dogs are not people, they don't think like us and we should stop pretending that they do. I don't care how 'fussy' your dog is, let them go a day or so without food and I bet that they will start to eat bones and fresh meat. One of my dogs is 3.5kg and he devours bones happily, I am sure if given the option he would also eat rawhide, schmackos and other things but he dosn't get that option, he dosn't need that crap.

Sorry guys, rant over

[Sandra777]

I often hear people say 'my dog loves schmackos', well they would also love a piece of fresh meat or a bone or even a carrot.

And I often reply "your kid likes Maccas too doesn't he" - so that makes Maccas a suitable diet for a child?

[cj-b]

And as far as the choking goes, not sure how this could happen with the twisted stick kind. But my dog is only small though.

My 14-17kg dogs chew things like that once through the middle to bend it then give the swallowing whole a good old go. Bit like sword swallowing

A houdini, that's very scarey. My boy is only 6.7kg, and really wouldn't have a chance of doing that, well not yet anyhow

[cj-b]

I often hear people say 'my dog loves schmackos', well they would also love a piece of fresh meat or a bone or even a carrot.

And I often reply "your kid likes Maccas too doesn't he" - so that makes Maccas a suitable diet for a child?

Diet no, treat yes. Same as the Rawhide, it's not part of his diet, only an extra to give him someting to chew on, and to also keep his teeth and gums in good condition.

[meluchja]

Why do we need to give our dogs rawhide, schmackos and all those other things? I often hear people say 'my dog loves schmackos', well they would also love a piece of fresh meat or a bone or even a carrot. We are the ones that love to give them all this 'shit' because we think that they need a treat or something different. Dogs are not people, they don't think like us and we should stop pretending that they do. I don't care how 'fussy' your dog is, let them go a day or so without food and I bet that they will start to eat bones and fresh meat. One of my dogs is 3.5kg and he devours bones happily, I am sure if given the option he would also eat rawhide, schmackos and other things but he dosn't get that option, he dosn't need that crap.

Sorry guys, rant over

I'm glad your rant is over, although I agree RMB would be a better option. Some people choose to give their dogs Rawhide or Schmakos or whatever, for their own personal reasons. Just because YOU believe that a piece of meat is better or a RMB is better, doesn't mean everyone else has to agree. My parents dog can't have raw meat as it doesnt agree with her dog anymore. So does that make them bad owners as THEY CHOOSE to give their dog rawhide for dental health, or as you put it CRAP. Get a life and stop worrying about so much as to what other people choose to do.

[Remarkabull]

Why do we need to give our dogs rawhide, schmackos and all those other things? I often hear people say 'my dog loves schmackos', well they would also love a piece of fresh meat or a bone or even a carrot. We are the ones that love to give them all this 'shit' because we think that they need a treat or something different. Dogs are not people, they don't think like us and we should stop pretending that they do. I don't care how 'fussy' your dog is, let them go a day or so without food and I bet that they will start to eat bones and fresh meat. One of my dogs is 3.5kg and he devours bones happily, I am sure if given the option he would also eat rawhide, schmackos and other things but he dosn't get that option, he dosn't need that crap.

Sorry guys, rant over

I'm glad your rant is over, although I agree RMB would be a better option. Some people choose to give their dogs Rawhide or Schmakos or whatever, for their own personal reasons. Just because YOU believe that a piece of meat is better or a RMB is better, doesn't mean everyone else has to agree. My parents dog can't have raw meat as it doesnt agree with her dog anymore. So does that make them bad owners as THEY CHOOSE to give their dog rawhide for dental health, or as you put it CRAP. Get a life and stop worrying about so much as to what other people choose to do.

It's not just what I believe, it's a fact that alot of the so called 'treats' contain ingredients that have no nutritional benefit and in fact are bad for our pets to consume. For the people that have dogs with an allergy to raw meat and bones then by all means find something else that works for them, but seeing as this is a public forum where people give their opinions, I just gave mine and am not suggesting that you or anyone else has to agree with me.