Avoid the Most Dangerous Dog Gift This Holiday Season
You may have heard us say it before and it's definitely a message we share multiple times over the holidays, which is just how dangerous Rawhide is for our furry families. We tend to talk about it during the holidays, because more Rawhide is bought for furry guys over the holidays then any other time of the year! Unsuspecting, well intentioned gift givers want to pamper our furry families and they gravitate to a Rawhide bone, because what furry guy wouldn't want a bone Christmas morning? 🦴
The manufacturers who continue to make Rawhide today know this and they play on our emotions by decorating Rawhide in the colors of the season, or by putting bows on them so we see it and think "oh yeah, I need a gift for the host's dog at this weekend's holiday party" and the cycle continues! So let's take a look at just what makes Rawhide one of the most dangerous products on the market for our pets! 👇
Rawhide might look like a harmless treat for your floof, but its journey from factory to shelf tells a much darker story. Rawhide is NOT a by-product of the meat industry—it’s a by-product of the leather industry. The scraps of hide not good enough to make a belt or shoes become one of the most dangerous products on the market. Let’s take a closer look at how rawhide is made and why it’s so harmful. 🚫
Rawhide begins as the leftover scraps of cowhide from slaughterhouses. These scraps, unsuitable for leather production, are shipped to tanneries to be processed into products like dog chews.
The hide is stripped into layers. The tough outer layer is reserved for leather goods like belts or handbags. The soft inner layer—the rawhide—is separated out and set aside for alternative uses, including dangerous pet products.
The rawhide is soaked in a bath of harsh chemicals, including lime solutions and lye, to remove hair, fat, and tissue. These erosive substances break down organic material but leave behind harmful chemical residues.
To preserve the rawhide and make it look clean and fresh, manufacturers often treat it with formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. The rawhide is then bleached to give it a white, "clean" appearance.
To make rawhide more appealing to pet owners, it’s dyed in bright colours or given a shiny finish. These “dyes” are actual paint, leaving behind toxic substances your dog may ingest as they chew.
The rawhide is shaped into bones, twists, and rolls using glues and other adhesives to hold it together. These adhesives are not regulated for pet safety and can break apart into dangerous pieces as your dog chews. We all learned at a young age, "not to eat glue" and the same is true for our furry family!
Finally, rawhide is treated with chemical coatings to increase shelf life and sprayed with artificial flavourings to make it attractive to dogs. These coatings contain preservatives and additives that pose significant risks to your pet’s health.
🚫 Toxic Chemicals: The manufacturing process leaves behind harmful residues like formaldehyde, lime, and bleach. When ingested, these chemicals can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, or even long-term organ damage.
🚫 Artificial Dyes and Paints: The paints and artificial dyes used on rawhide are not pet-safe. These substances can cause allergic reactions, gastrointestinal issues, and toxicity.
🚫 Digestive Issues and Allergies: Difficult to digest, rawhide can cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Additionally, artificial flavourings and coatings may trigger allergic reactions such as itching, swelling, or rashes.
✅ Vegetable-Based Chews: Dental chews made from sweet potatoes or other natural ingredients are gentle on your dog’s stomach.
✅ Raw Meaty Bones: Mother Nature's toothbrush and a very healthy addition to any furry guy's diet.
✅ Frozen Treats: Freeze carrots, apples, or even dog-safe broth into ice cubes for a refreshing chew option.
By choosing natural alternatives, you’re not only protecting your furry family's health but also giving them a treat they’ll enjoy without worry. We all want to make sure the furry guys have a safe and happy Christmas! Rawhides should never be gifted to your own pet or others! When unsuspecting gift-givers with the best intentions bring your baby a bow covered rawhide, now you know to thank them for thinking of your furry guy and put the rawhide immediately into the trash!
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