Rawhides?

[Kim]

I am probably the hugest anti- rawhide person out there.

Levi, our dachshund was a veteran rawhide chewer. An addict, if you will. Well one day he was chewing and I heard a gagging noise. I thought that he was going to be sick so I ran to him to put him on the linoleum, at least. When I got to him his tongue was out mouth wide open, eyes bulging. I look in his mouth only to find a slimy rawhide jammed in the rooftop and partially down his throat. He was choking. I immediately start to cry and frantically, desperately try to pull the rawhide out, but it was too slippery. My first instinct (I don't know why) was to grab a fork and luckily I was able to pop it out. I have NEVER allowed them in my house since.

Just wondering if anyone out there feels that same way or whether I'm just a paranoid mommy?

[Ozie]

Hi Kim!

I love rawhide and mummy buys me some on a regular basis if i'm only allowed to chew it under her supervision. The moment it looks like it's going soft ... That's my rawhide away. Magnadoodles and i both love our rawhide and you;re right if not supervised we might go as far as eating some of it if ... Our mummies keep an eye on us so no danger there. However i have an addiction to socks! I;m not really allowed socks if i find them when mummy's not looking and i practically choked over one of my daddy's working socks one day! Mummy had to pull it out! It felt awful and i puked all over it. Daddy moaned that he needed his sock cleaned quickly and mummy told him to clean it himself and keep it (And the rest of them out of my way). I haven' choked on a sock since but then i've learnt my lesson! i don't attempt to eat them anymore if i love grabbing them off the laundry and throw them about. i do the same with pegs, especially when, on a good day, mummy can put the washing out to dry. Don't try and eat pegs either, just like to make her chase me for them!

[Amy]

I share your paranoia about rawhides and other chewies. My Lab would get a rawhide soft by chewing it and then try to gulp the whole thing. She choked on them several times until I banned them, too. She also had problems with Greenies. The best things for chewing and her teeth are beef bones - you can get them from your grocery store or butcher.

Amy
Pet Health Focus

[BabyBruno]

Rawhides don't digest properly. Exactly what happened to your pet is a prime example as well on why pets shouldn't be given these. They make much better, safer and tastier treats now for your pets. I am sorry you had to go through that horrible situation.

[Jenn & Nick]

Rawhides can cause huge problems in dogs! Rawhides not only can make your dog choke but when bigger pieces are swallowed they can swell inside of the G.I. tract and cause an impaction (an obstruction). This is a huge problem because many times you will need to put your dog through surgery to get it out. One option is to buy a single layered rawhide. This does not nessesarily prevent choking but it does prevent impaction because it does not swell in the G.I. tract. Beef bones from the butcher are not only dangerous but disgusting (they stink). They also can get lodged around your pets mouth and then they will have to go under anesthesia to have it sawed off. I am sorry for your misfortune and I am glad that Levi is OK!

[All things Parrot]

Beware!!! Dogs have choked to death before with this.

Most dogs do love them, and it does keep them entertained, but must use with great caution