Can Puppies Have Rawhide Chews & Bones?
Rawhide dog bones and treats have held somewhat of a bad reputation for quite some time now. But why? Can Puppies have rawhide bones? Are rawhide treats really bad for dogs? These are just a few of the questions and concerns many unknowing pet parents have that we’ll cover here.
As a puppy or dog owner, it is not wrong for you to care about what your dog is eating and putting into their digestive systems each and every day, especially when it comes to the infamous rawhide bones and treats.
Rawhide for puppies has been the topic of discussion amongst active members of the dog community for years.
So, what exactly is rawhide? Is rawhide safe for dogs? Can puppies have rawhide and rawhide bones?
These questions and so many others are what I’ll be answering for you today. By the end of this article you will know all about the mysteries of rawhide and if you stick around long enough, you’ll get 5 of the best rawhide treats recommended by us.
What is Rawhide?
Rawhide is one of the more common exports of the South American country known as Brazil.
Rawhide comes from the leathery, inner layer of cattle, horses, or sometimes even deer.
Rawhide is the end result of skinning the chosen animal of any fat, membrane, or muscle that was previously attached to it, soaking it in water to remove any unwanted hair, stretching it tightly for several days, and left to let dry.
The entire rawhide-making process can take anywhere from 4-5 days to 2-3 weeks.
The amount of time and labor involved in the process does also plays a huge role in which why the material is so sought after.
Can puppies have rawhide chews and rawhide bones?
Simple answer, yes. Puppies can have rawhide. There are many benefits of rawhide for puppies. Some of which can include:
- It is a tasty treat your puppy will enjoy.
- Can be extremely long lasting.
- A very good source of protein for puppies and dogs
- Promotes dental hygiene by reducing tartar buildup
- A simple way to satisfy most urges to bite and chew that puppies get when they are teething
There is a ton of nutritional value that can come from rawhide for puppies.
Another semi-related benefit is the fact that it’ll give your puppy something to chew on that aren’t your shoes or furniture.
Trust me, I’ve been there. I’ve been to both places actually.
Rawhide treats can come in an extremely wide variety.
There are rawhide bones, rawhide kabobs, rawhide sticks (which are many dog’s personal favorites), rawhide ribs, chips, braids, cookies, etc.
There is virtually a limitless amount of rawhide treats that your puppy can learn to love and enjoy.
Though, if considering getting some rawhide treats for your puppy, you must take your puppy’s size into consideration.
For younger puppies or smaller dogs, whole rawhide treats may be too much for them to handle.
Cutting or breaking the rawhide treat in half for your puppy is recommended to avoid them from not being able to enjoy it.
It’s like eating a really big hamburger, sure it is tasty, but it sucks when it’s hard to even get your mouth around it.
Another reason breaking the rawhide treat into more manageable amounts for smaller puppies is because rawhide treats can be extremely long-lasting and can offer a large amount of durability that may be too much for dogs with a weaker bite.
What Age Can Puppies Have Rawhide?
Puppies can have rawhide from 8 weeks old. Probably even sooner. Once a puppy begins to ween off of their mothers’ milk they should begin using rawhide treats and bones.
Rawhide has the potential to strengthen your puppies’ teeth.
Are Rawhide Good For Teething Puppies?
Rawhide is especially good for teething puppies. When a puppy is teething is the time in their lives that they are most likely to chew on everything, you own.
The need to chew, for puppies, is an instinctual trait developed from their canine ancestors. Puppies chew on things to help relieve them of any gum pain they may be suffering from.
Rawhide can act as the perfect chew toy (well, besides a chew toy) for any teething puppy.
The Best Rawhide Bones and Treats For Puppies
Before buying rawhide treats for a puppy, you should know who are the safest rawhide treat producers to buy these from.
Many companies have actually been blacklisted and suffered harsh boycotting consequences because they weren’t 100% positive that the rawhide treats they sold to their customers were safe for their puppies to consume.
These treats were either incorrectly packaged for consumption, contained large and unsafe amounts of arsenic which can cause liver disease in puppies, or contained very rough surfaces with sharp, splintered edges that resulted in many splinters being lodged in the gums of dogs.
I try to purchase reputable rawhide products like Bully Slices by Redbarn (link to Amazon).
I hope that this article has been informative and helpful.