Rawhide bones are great chewy toys for your dog rawhide but what exactly are they made of?
Dog rawhide is a hide or animal skin that has not yet been exposed to tanning, the process of making leather. Usually dog rawhide is made of the skin from a buffalo, elk, cattle or deer and is developed into a hard, translucent material that allows rawhide dog to chew on for hours.
Most of us believe that there are no differences in dog rawhide bones - one fits all sizes! There is however a difference in color, size and shape and even what went into the dog rawhide when processed.
Let's start by having a look at the appearance of the various dog rawhide bones
Many manufactures bleach the bones with various chemicals only to make the bone look whiter. Up until today, there are no known health issues that developed in dogs due to chewing bleached rawhide bones however the bleaching process does take away some of the bone's natural flavor. I believe that we can all agree that our dog rawhide surely doesn't bother if the bone is bleach white or in the more naturally ocher color.
You'll also notice that there are various shapes and sizes available. When comparing same sized bones, you'll might notice a difference in the weight. Heavier dog rawhide bones are usually wrapped tighter and have more dog rawhide per bone than others. The lighter version can also be easily identified as the bone's ends are usually loosely tied and they are less thick. Pay a couple of cents extra for the heavier version and your dog rawhide will chew on it for hours and hours!
What goes into a dog rawhide bone?
As already mentioned, dog rawhide bones are made of animal skin. The animal's skin is made of an outer and inner layer. The outer layer is usually tough and is used for further leather production.
The inner layer is soft and gets cut into the various shapes for dog rawhide chews.
It is therefore important to know, where the cattle came from and what it was fed on? We usually recommend to buy dog rawhide bones from cattle that was corn-fed. Usually bones made in the USA are of better quality. In less developed countries the manufacturer usually requires the use of preservatives to get the skins from the outlying areas to the industrial areas where the processing plants are situated.
Why use dog rawhide bones for my dog rawhide?
There are two major benefits for any dog owner to invest in dog rawhide bones.
One is the dental benefit as various infections and disease can result when poor dental health gives bacteria an environment to enter. When your dog rawhide chews the rawhide it gest moistened and wraps around the teeth and brushes off plaque.
There is also a positive behavior benefit as dogs have a natural desire to chew, especially puppies. An excessive chewing habit can be a sign of lack of exercise or a vitamin deficiency, but it is most often a normal desire to chew.
So what dog rawhide bone should I get for my dog rawhide?
We already mentioned that the bones come in various shapes and sizes. Chose a bone big enough for your dog rawhide to ensure that the chew be large and thick enough to avoid the dog swallowing a large piece or swallow the entire bone. We highly recommend the dog rawhide chips made available through "No More Fleas Please". The chips come in various sizes, shapes and flavors. Buy them online on www.nomorefleasplease" and you safe costs when buying in bulk!
Keep in mind, when buying dog rawhide bones, buy from a source that you trust! It will not only satisfy your dog's natural urge to chew but it will also keep him healthy.
