Rawhide is for Shoes

More and more people ask me what they can give their dogs for chew toys other than rawhide. I know I have had to dislodge a piece from my dogs throat more than once. That was before I found better chew toys for them. My dog's favorite chew toys now are moo tubes. These are cow trachea that have been smoked and dehydrated. What makes these so great is that they are completely natural, 100% digestible, and chocked full of Glucosamine and Chondroitin, which is great for hips and joints. These are gentler on the tummy than rawhide too. Make sure you buy FDA and USDA inspected, made in the USA moo tubes.

Here are some tips for safe chewing:

• Rawhide is the same product your leather shoes and couches are made of. It’s durable, NOT digestible.
• If consumed too rapidly rawhide can cause vomiting or diarrhea.
• Large chunks of rawhide can cause intestinal blockages, as it swells up to 4 times its dry state size.
• Rawhide produced outside the United States may contain arsenic and/or formaldehyde.
• Greenies have been surgically removed from the intestinal tracts of many dogs because they are not fully digestible. (They are currently reformulating Greenies).
• Cow hooves can cause teeth to break. They can also splinter, causing obstructions or in worst case scenarios, perforations of the intestines.
• Pig ears imported from Chile were recently recalled due to Salmonella outbreaks.
• The best chews can be consumed in one sitting because this prevents bacterial infections including salmonella.
• Always wash your hands after handling any of your dog’s chews, to prevent potential salmonella or e. coli infection.
• Always monitor your dog while he is chewing, to prevent choking.

Moo tubes are relatively new, so i don't know if they are counted in the same statistic, but Bullysticks are the only chew treat without any documented complications like rawhide or greenies.

For dogs that are allergic to beef or pork products, they do make lamb ears and bones. These are also not as messy as the pig counterparts, if you are worried about your carpet. I have not tried the ostrich bones yet. I am slightly afraid they would splinter like turkey bones.

Another chew toy that is good if you are looking for something to last for an aggressive chewer are deer antlers. These last a long time, they are digestible, do not splinter, do not make a mess on the carpet, and dogs seem to love chewing them. I am planning on testing these out, and I will post later if they live up to their reputation.