Healthy Alternatives to Rawhide

Rawhide Chews are DANGEROUS!

Rawhide chew toys are one of the most popular items for pet parents to buy, and they can be found almost everywhere including grocery stores, pet stores, and even the dollar store. Unfortunately, the majority of dog owners have no idea how DANGEROUS rawhide really is!

Rawhide is typically made from cow hides, which are cleaned with industrial strength cleaners, and coated in deadly preservatives not approved for human consumption. Manufacturers use bleach and formaldehyde to whiten and disinfect the product, before putting it together with glue, artificial flavors and artificial colors.

Rawhides are a byproduct of leather, and the chemicals and additives used in manufacturing these chews are extremely toxic to living  creatures. Due to the glue they use to bind the hide and make it last longer, rawhides are infamous for killing dogs via choking or intestinal blockages. Rawhide is indigestible!

There are absolutely NO safe rawhide chews to give to your dogs, but thankfully there are a ton of healthy and safe alternatives! Here are some of the most popular healthy alternative to rawhide chews.

Healthy Alternatives to Rawhide that are SAFE!

Raw meaty bones are nature's toothbrush! The ideal bones for recreational chewing include rib bones, knuckle bones, femur bones, marrow bones, and neck bones. Recreational bones are not meant to be eaten completely, so monitor your dog! You can also give FULLY EDIBLE raw meaty bones like turkey necks, lamb ribs, chicken necks, chicken feet, or turkey wings. These light weight, easily digestible bones are safe to feed in their entirety. Never feed cooked bones!

Bully sticks are 100% pure protein, dehydrated beef pizzle. They are long lasting and easily digestible. They are also high in the important amino acid, taurine! They are very flavorful, which is the reason dogs tend to love them so much.

 Beef tendons are a healthy, long lasting chew that are easy to digest and gentle on a dog's stomach. They are high protein and low in fat, and the tough texture is great for scraping your dog's teeth clean.

Dehydrated trachea are a fantastic crunchy, hollow chew rich in glucosamine and chondroitin, which make this chew good for your dog's joint health joint health! The combination of crunchiness and chewiness makes it ideal for cleaning your dog's teeth and providing an interesting texture and chewing experience.

An alternative to meat protein, Sweet Potato chews are a healthy vegetable snack that lasts longer than you would think! The best part is that they are easy and inexpensive to make right at home! Click here to read my blog article on homemade sweet potato chews. They are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals and contain antioxidants!

Himalayan Yak Cheese Chews are a tasty, chewy, long lasting treat full of delicious flavor. You may think they are soft, but these cheese chews are actually very durable and take awhile to consume. This hard cheese snack is a favorite among many dogs, and is fully digestible.

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