Hi,

We just got our new chi puppy, Bane today!!! I gave him a rawhide and took some pictures for my family. My sister saw a picture and said that rawhides aren't good for puppies.

Is this true? Should I avoid giving him rawhides?

Any advice?

Thanks!

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Hi, I wouldn't give rawhide as dogs can't digest it very well and it may cause blockages in your pups digestive system.

I personally give bully sticks (which are more easily digested and harder to chew AND don't get as slimy and slick as rawhides) BUT when they get too small, I throw them away.

Other good chews are venison trachea, bull tendons, raw frozen pigs ears, chicken necks etc x


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Thank you! I will look into ordering some of those.

Are regular pig ears that you can buy at most pet stores okay?

He barely made a dent in the one I gave him, so I'm sure he'll be okay. I figured the rawhide sticks were fine for puppies because the breeder for my first chi gave rawhides to her puppies.

Are they bad for adults too? Chloe (my 4-year-old chi) has them once in a while as a bonus treat.

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Regular pigs ears are ok - i give Honey one maybe one a month as she loves them! But she has frozen strips of pigs ears every other day - they last ages and are cheap!

I think its the same principle for pups and adult dogs in regards to blocking up their insides. But saying that, a hell of a lot of people do give rawhide with no problems. If your dogs are power chewers and literally bite off more than they can chew, then i would imagine you would have more problems than if they just gently chew on them and never break bits off.

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He is supercute!
Rawhide is more dangerous than most people realize. They are not digestible and can swell after being swallowed and cause choking and blockages.
We buy bully sticks at Pet Suppliesiscount Puppy Pads,Bully Sticks|Value Pet Supplies and kneecaps at Jeffers - Pet Supplies, Equine Supplies, Livestock Supplies
I also feed chicken feet, lamb lung, turkey livers... All sorts of grossities!

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Dee
www.AgilityNovice.com

I just googled Bully Sticks...lovely animal parts!

I had no idea they were dangerous! I've been giving them to Chloe for years. Bane was just gnawing on his stick gently for a few minutes. Chloe usually makes her sticks fully wet and slobbery and small pieces will fall off. I usually throw it away whole because it's just wet and gross! She does not bite of large pieces.

I live in Canada's Arctic, so our resources are slim for buying pet supplies. I will have to see what I can get shipped here.

I still can't believe I've been feeding them something that is dangerous! Why do they sell them if they can affect their digestive system?

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Haha i know, but they are so good for dogs - just pure protein and great for the teeth!

Yeah i would have a look on the internet, i know there are a few members of CP who live in Canada, and they get theirs shipped out?

Companies sell all sorts of c**p lol, just look at all this dog food with 'meat and animal deriatives' and lots of 'soya, cereals and grain' and they are selling them as a healthy, nutritious, complete dog food! Yuck!

Dont feel bad hun, i thought i knew everything about dogs, but i came on this site and i have learnt so much!

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Honestly your mileage may vary with this, all my dogs have always had rawhides here and there and we've never had issues, I offer them once in a while, if your dog does not devour things and bite pieces off they are ok in moderation I feel. But each to their own, you have to monitor your dog, I don't let my dogs chew that stuff unattended.

If you do offer them! make sure they are not the ones made in China. I've noticed many breeders do offer them as well.

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