Why Elliotspetwarehouse do not sell rawhide chews for dogs.

Most dogs and puppies love to chew and for very different reasons. Puppies chew to relieve pains caused by new teeth coming through. Its also their way of exploring the world around them. Older dogs chew to keep jaws strong and also to maintain their dental health. Chewing is also a way for dogs to stop boredom and a relief from anxieties. One cheap way to keep your dog chewing away is to give them rawhide but how safe is it?

Well rawhide chews are made from the soft inner hide or skin of an animal. As they are going through the manufacturing process the rawhide is cleaned and then cut or ground before being pressed and shaped into what we see as the end product a rawhide dog chew.Differnet animals can be used for rawhide from cows, sheep, horses and even pigs. Most rawhide treats start dry and soften as the dogs saliva  interacts during the chewing process. Eventually they become soft enough for pieces to break off. At this stage the chew becomes a major choking hazard.

Many dog owners still believe that rawhide chews are good for their dogs dental hygiene and wrongly believe that the chews are some sort of dried meat product. What the rawhide actually is ,is a byproduct of the leather industry..Animal hides are shipped to tanneries for processing. At the tannery they are treated to a chemical bath to help slow the decay of the hide.  The tannery soaks and treats the hides with either an ash-lye solution or a highly toxic sodium sulphide liming.This strips hair and fat that may be attached to the hide. More chemicals are then used to help puff the hide to make it easier to split into layers.  Outer layers are used for items like car seats, shoes, purses and clothing amongst other applications, the inner layer of the hide makes rawhide dog chews  gelatine, cosmetics and glue

Next the rawhide is wahed and whitened using a solution of hydrogen peroxide and or bleach. The process also rids the hide of the smelling of rotten or putrid leather. Other chemicals could also be used at this stage if the bleach isnt proved strong enough.

Next the rawhide gets a makeover , it gets basted, smoked and even coloured. The rawhide can even be coated with titanium oxide to make it ultra white and appealing on a stores shelves

Omce purchased for your dog you have a choking hazard on your hands. If left alone and large enough  pieces of rawhide break off in your dogs mouth  whilst your dog chews 

 it can lead to a choking hazard in the esophagus or other parts of the digestive tract. SOmetimes this can lead to abdminal surgery or even death.if the blockage goes unnoticed in time.

Testing of rawhide chews have also shown traces of lead, arsenic mercury , chromium salts , formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals . All these can lead to long term low level poisoning of your pet. Cheaper often imported rawhide chews have also been shown to contain small levels of harmful chemicals that include insecticides, antibiotics and even arsenic. Synptoms in your dog if ingested  are diarrhoea, vomiting, and dehydration.. The possibilities of salmonella or e coli contamination are also worth thinking about.

With so many alternatives availble these days . many of the alternatives being natural and healthy is it really worth risking your dogs helath for a cheap chew?