Rawhide chews may be dangerous for your dog My dog Shula is a Brittany with an unusual obsession: She eats paper. She doesn't just chew it - she eats it. When I come in the house, she'll actually try to snatch the mail out of my hand, hoping I'll let her enjoy a Publishers Clearinghouse treat. And leaving the cover off the paper- recycling bin is like an invitation to feast. No doubt, paper is not good for the digestive tract. But neither is rawhide - a chew prize for dogs that's very common and more dangerous than most people imagine. - A friend recently reminded me about some of the problems with rawhide chews:
- Partially chewed rawhide pieces are a choking hazard
- Rawhide is non-digestible, so large pieces can create intestinal blockage
- Vomiting and diarrhea may occur if dogs consume rawhide too rapidly or too often
- Some countries use an arsenic-based preservative in rawhide treats
- Salmonella has also been detected in some rawhide products
And, while not a health issue, rawhide gives your dog a taste for leather, so shoes, pocketbooks and sofas…watch out! In 2006, the ASPCA received nearly 4,000 reports about health problems caused by rawhide products for dogs. And cow hooves are even more dangerous because sharp fragments can prompt dangerous and painful intestinal blockage. Try either natural bones or Bully Sticks if you're looking for a safe option that will keep your dog occupied and happy. Please share this tip with your friends and family members who own dogs. | 
