Turtleheadfred
03-29-2005, 02:16 AM
Okay Furry Moms & Dads - this is new to me too so again - I had to share. I'm accustomed to doing training with the Kong balls, etc., but was unaware of the hazards of chewies. Here's part of an article I've summarized for you....
The reason rawhide chewies are not recommended are many. First, the majority are processed with lye, something your dog does not need in his/her stomach. Also, they are not digestible and can lay in the stomach or intestines and not pass through, causing an obstruction or causing pathogenic bacteria to grow. Something we do not need with animals that are prone to bloat and gastric torsion is encouraging pathogenic (bad) bacteria to develop in the gut. They are also a very serious choking hazard. So to be on the safe side, for nutritional and safety reasons, we suggest something other than rawhide chewies.
As for pig ears/snouts/cow snouts and cow hooves. There are two reasons for not using these, Salmonella (bad bacteria) and the fact that the ears/snouts will splinter and can puncture an intestine and the same is for the cow hooves. Frequently, vets are removing them because they cause an obstruction.
So what is safe? Nylabones! Do not use imitations or cheaper brands! You do not need your animals gut cut up from pieces of plastic which is not safe to eat. Their website is located at http://www.tfh.com. Also Kong toys. Their website is located at http://www.kongcompany.com. They have Kong stuffing recipes located at http://www.kongcompany.com/how2use.html. BE SURE TO BUY THE APPROPRIATE SIZE FOR YOUR PUPPY. These are easy to find at most pet stores or online pet supply businesses.
The reason rawhide chewies are not recommended are many. First, the majority are processed with lye, something your dog does not need in his/her stomach. Also, they are not digestible and can lay in the stomach or intestines and not pass through, causing an obstruction or causing pathogenic bacteria to grow. Something we do not need with animals that are prone to bloat and gastric torsion is encouraging pathogenic (bad) bacteria to develop in the gut. They are also a very serious choking hazard. So to be on the safe side, for nutritional and safety reasons, we suggest something other than rawhide chewies.
As for pig ears/snouts/cow snouts and cow hooves. There are two reasons for not using these, Salmonella (bad bacteria) and the fact that the ears/snouts will splinter and can puncture an intestine and the same is for the cow hooves. Frequently, vets are removing them because they cause an obstruction.
So what is safe? Nylabones! Do not use imitations or cheaper brands! You do not need your animals gut cut up from pieces of plastic which is not safe to eat. Their website is located at http://www.tfh.com. Also Kong toys. Their website is located at http://www.kongcompany.com. They have Kong stuffing recipes located at http://www.kongcompany.com/how2use.html. BE SURE TO BUY THE APPROPRIATE SIZE FOR YOUR PUPPY. These are easy to find at most pet stores or online pet supply businesses.