Rawhide chews - Dogs

[Rosi1]

Hi everyone, I have an article about rawhide chews that I thought might be of interest to dog owners out there.

Cutting a long story very short, I went to see a dog who was getting repeated throat infections, and after asking the dog to tell me what the problem was, he certainly did. It was the rawhide chews.

I then found out that they aren't very good for dogs. If you'd like the information, please email me and I'll forward it on.

Love and light
Rosi X

[Majtam]

Thanks for posting this. i have a very large airedale terrier and he has been coughing a bit this week. i wondered why but i gave him a large rawhide chew the other day as he loves them. the thing is there is always mess and dribble when he finishes chewing it, he spends hours just sitting there but just this week he has started to cough, not done it before, it might be a bad batch of chews! thanks for posting anyway it put my mind at rest.

Tammy

[xmasfairy]

I stopped giving my dog these after i came across this piece of disgusting information:

Rawhide chew sticks are a dog’s favourite treat. But chew sticks from Thailand contain bits of skin from a variety of animals - including domestic dogs. These products are sold in retail stores throughout the United Kingdom"

For more information on this please visit www.voice4dogs.org but i warn you it is very disturbing and upsetting.:(

XF sends love for all these poor defenceless animals. xx

[Rossymaglossy]

The experience we have had with rawhide chews is that the dogs sometimes bite off quite a large piece and swallow it whole. Unfortunately, it doesn't digest very well in the stomach and can lead to all sorts of problems. Since my friend's shepherd sadly died of a gastric torsion which the vet put down to the fact she had had one of those chews within 12 hours of the symptoms starting, I haven't bought them since and try to educate new members into our dog club on the effects these chews can have.

I took a look at the website and couldn't believe what I saw. [sm=mecry.gif] My thoughts go out to those poor creatures.

Rossymaglossy

[Rosi1]

Here is the full article about rawhide chews, as it was sent to me. 'It's a little long, but everyone who owns a dog, should be aware of the dangers.

Love and light
Rosi X

Here is some info sent to me on Rawhide and other dog treats. It is as I
received it (for informational purposes), it has not been edited:

> Besides causing blockages, rawhide chews contain an enormous amount of
chemicals, bleaches and dyes. I would not personally feed these products.
>
>
> Another thing to note is the whiteness of the rawhide. In foreign
countries they use lye to bleach the hides to give them a nice white
appearance as well as arsenic to preserve them.
>
>
> WHAT IS RAWHIDE?
>
> Rawhide is literally the outside of a cow - the skin. It provides dogs
with a satisfying chewing experience plus it's cheap and easy to find. So
how can it be dangerous? Here's the Problem...
>
>
> Hidden Dangers
>
> Dr. John Wedeking, an Iowa veterinarian, remembers hearing about rawhide
in the news.
>
> "Reports of arsenic contamination popped up in papers once," he says, but
adds that it came from another country.
>
> Since rawhide is not regulated in any way, it could happen again. These
foreign hides may also contain other detrimental things such as antibiotics,
lead, or insecticides that could adversely affect your dog's health.
>
> Wedeking adds that dogs can easily choke on it when the original large
rawhide object is chewed down to a smaller piece.
>
> 'Choking is a hazard, and rawhide can cause gastric irritation when dogs
chew on it often," he says. Wedeking adds that gastric irritation can also
cause vomiting and extreme discomfort in dogs.
>
>
> Rawhides, Cow Hooves and Pigs' Ears
>
> "These well-liked dog treats are purchased in large numbers, especially
around holidays, by well-meaning dog owners hoping to give their pets
something special. These toys are favourites for many dogs and are popular
with owners because they keep their pets occupied and supposedly out of
trouble during holiday activities. There are definite risks associated with
these treats, however. All three types are supposedly made of digestible
animal products. However, they are digested quite slowly and, if consumed
rapidly, can cause either vomiting or diarrhoea from the many pieces still
sitting undigested in the GI tract. If the treats are swallowed whole or in
large chunks, there are additional dangers. Rawhide chews can lodge in the
throat and cause choking, or a large piece may be swallowed, scraping and
irritating the throat and oesophagus on the way down. Once in the stomach
or intestinal tract, a large piece of rawhide can also create a physical
obstruction. An additional danger that is less widely known is the
practice, in some countries, of using an arsenic-based preservative in the
processing of rawhide toys.
>
> "Cow hooves are even more dangerous than rawhides. They are hard enough
that a dog can actually break a tooth on one. They can also be chewed up
into sharp fragments which may cause a partial intestinal obstruction.
Partial obstructions are often difficult to diagnose until the point at
which the fragment is ready to perforate the wall of the bowel from pressure
against the sharp edges. If perforation has occurred, the infection that
ensues from leakage of intestinal contents can be fatal.
>
>
> "Pigs' ears can cause GI upset if overeaten, similar to the situation with
rawhides, although obstructions are less common because the ears are not
usually shaped into solid chunks. There is, however, a less widely known
danger associated with pig ears: A recent FDA advisory published by the U.S.
Dept. of Health and Human services on Oct.1, 1999, stated that there is "a
nationwide public health warning alerting consumers about a number of recent
cases in Canada of "human" illnesses apparently r

[alli]

We bought a puppy a couple of weeks ago and since we got him home has has had diarrhoea, the vet checked him over and said it was a bowel infection, prescribed antibiotics and a special diet, he has now been on them for a week and still no better, I'm wondering if it is anything to do with these chews, I'm taking him back to vets tomorrow, so hopefully will find out more
Alli

[Rosi1]

Hi Alli, I would take your puppy off the chews immediately, it's not as if puppies need them. Also, there is a subsitute.

What You Can Do

Substitute fresh marrow bones from the grocery store. Always supervise your dog and NEVER leave unattended while chewing a bone.

Let us know how you get on.

Love and light
Rosi X

[Jintie]

I am really pleased that this informative thread has been posted. I have never liked rawhide chews (I don't mean that I eat them btw) ;) but have always considered them as a huge potential risk for choking. Once they get soggy and in smaller lumps the dog often trys to swallow it. Unfortunately, they are nearly always contained in the Christmas pack's that people buy for their dogs.

I didn't know the other details about the bleach and arsenic, or that dog and cat skin from abroad was used. I'll make certain that I ask relatives never to buy gifts that contain these lethal so called treats :(

[Tamlamb]

err ok guys we get the jist of it! my dog had to be taken to the vet last night because of these chews, why is it that some Eastern people are so barbaric, they need to come into the 21st century. They need to look at what dog is spelt backwards.....sick individuals. that off my chest - no more rawhide for my dog! he is far too preciousxx it will be carrot sticks from now on!!!![:o]

Tammy

[xmasfairy]

Hi

Im glad to hear that you wont be giving these to your dogs anymore. Please be sure to tell your friends and family too, if people stop buying them hopefully it will bring about some change and help those poor animals.

XF xxx

[Tamlamb]

sorry if i was a bit sharp with my earlier post, i was so annoyed with the chews, and that goes for tripe chews too they can stick them where the monkey hides his nuts, i had to watch while the vet felt my dogs abdomen, and she was looking for a blockage! i was so anxious and wizz, my dog looked at me as if to say "i was only chewing my chew mommy! i felt awful, he now cant eat for 3 days whilst the antibiotics settle his tum, my dog is my child, for some thats sad but i get a lot of love and no hassle from him and i love him dearly, to have to sit and watch him being injected is awful and i felt so guilty. his stomach is still not right and his bum is like yellow dye from pooing! poor mite, anyway i have asked the canine spirit world to help him, he seems a bit better today.

Its amazing the things people will do to make money!!

with love

tammyx[:o]

[xmasfairy]

Hi Tammy

Please do not be so hard on yourself, all dogs love the rawhide chews if they didnt like them they wouldnt eat them. Im sure your dog thanks you very much for trying to make him better by taking him to the vets (thinks of all the neglected dogs that don't get proper treatment).

All my animals are like my children so no i do not think you are sad - i would rather have a pet than a child anyday!!

Hope Wizz feels better soon *sends healing thoughts*

XF xx

[Rosi1]

Yes, the lady I went to see kept saying how much her dog liked them, I agreed that he did, but that didn't mean that just because he liked them, that they were good for him. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, and I love the idea of a carrot, hard to chew on but full of goodness.

The most important thing is that now that we know the dangers, we can spread the word, and also refuse to buy them for our animals. So don't feel bad Tamlamb, it isn't your fault at all, just be thankful that you're now aware.

Love and light
Rosi X

[Tamlamb]

Just got back from vets, well 3pm this avey! he is much better wizz,although had to have another injection to stop his stomach spasms, and orange poo spurting out! poor thing. he has colitis! golly! but is sleeping now. he knows i look after him, and he is curled up in the hallway as we speak.

thank god for dogs, i love em


with love
tammyx

[Rosi1]

Hi Tamlamb, Do you have any crystals? Moonstone will help Wizz as this crystal is good for blockages in the sacral and solar plexus areas chakras, and problems relating to the digestive system and abdominal region.

I would place the moonstone near to where he likes to sit, or sleep, that will help him recover.

Love and light
Rosi X

[nora_bee]

WOW, what an interesting post.

I never knew all of that about rawhide chews, i will NEVER feed a dog one again. And i will let everyone know about it too.[:@]

Thanks HP family, What would i do without you!!:D