In lieu of the difficult job of brushing a dog’s teeth, conscientious owners keep their dogs’ teeth clean with dog bones. The chewing helps to clean off debris and tartar from their teeth. Not only do they provide your dog some good activity, but dogs love all the different varieties.
Dog rawhide, for example, is a dog treat that can be dangerous. Dogs love the fact that it tastes like meat, but face a choking hazard as pieces of rawhide separate from the treat. Hard rawhide pieces can also scrape your dog’s esophagus or throat when he swallows. Rawhide can become an obstruction in your dog’s intestines. If you’ve ever checked out a partially eaten rawhide dog chew, you’ll find that it’s gummy and wet. So it’s kind of like you or I swallowing chewing gum — not that great.
Cow hooves are another dog treat that your little friend will love, but they can cause some of the same problems as rawhide. In addition to those perils, they are sometimes so hard that they can crack your dog’s teeth. Uneven, sharp pieces of cow hoof can tear a bowel wall if swallowed. Infection and often death can be the result. It’s just not worth the chance.
Not only can pig ears cause digestive tract blockages, they can also contain salmonella. Rather than running the risk of hurting your dog, it’s better to go with safer kinds of dog treats.
There are safer dog bones for your furry friend to enjoy. Especially in this age of all-natural products, you can find many different kinds of dog treats that are healthy for your dog and that don’t pose so many potential risks.
Nylabones are made from nylon, as their name would imply. They’re quite strong. They will not, unlike rawhide, break into chunks or splinter. The whole bone is digestible, and even aggressive chewers will have a good time with a nylon bone. When the Nylabone is down to a little stump, pitch it and get your dog a new one.
Better than Ears are fake pig ears that are very digestible, and low in fat. Healthy ingredients like wheat bran and soy flour make them better than pig’s ears. Dogs adore Better than Ears. They just don’t last!
There are some times to give your dog bones as chews, and times to avoid it. Never give your dog chicken bones. They can become lodged in your dog’s throat or even splinter.
Compressed rawhide, on the other hand, is not dangerous like regular rawhide. Compressed dog rawhide is made by putting together beef hide layers, and this makes the bone dense. They can last up to five times longer than regular rawhide dog bones.
Check the ingredients and take a look at the bones when you’re buying dog treats for your little buddy. If they’re greasy-looking, they are not healthy for your dog. When you give your dog a new bone to chew on, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out. Throw it away if you notice that it has splintered or looks like it may be dangerous for your dog. Don’t take a chance with the health and safety of your best friend.
For more dog treat information and advice please visit me at Dogs Love Dog Treats .
