Rawhide

[xoCourtney]

Why is rawhide bad for Yorkies?

[TxVicki]

Originally Posted by xoCourtney

Why is rawhide bad for Yorkies?

Because it can't be digested properly and it can cause an obstruction.

[MandiesMom]

It's actually bad for all dog breeds. Not just Yorkies. As mentioned above, it is not digestable very well (if at all) and can break off and become a choking hazard (especially in small breeds). Ask your vet. I've yet to find a vet that actually approved of rawhides.

[lovespandp]

Contamination. As with pet toys, rawhide chews can contain trace amounts of toxic chemicals. And, as with other pet (or human) foods, Salmonella or E. coli contamination is possible. Even humans can be at risk when coming into contact with these bacteria on rawhide treats.

Digestive irritation. Some dogs are simply sensitive or allergic to rawhide or other substances used in their manufacture. This can cause problems, including diarrhea.

Choking or blockages. Rawhide bones and other edible chews can pose a choking and blockage risk. In fact, this is a much bigger risk than contamination or digestive irritation. If your dog swallows large pieces of rawhide, the rawhide can get stuck in the esophagus or other parts of the digestive tract

Depending on its size and where it is located, a vet may be able to remove these pieces fairly easily through the throat. But sometimes, abdominal surgery is needed to remove them from the stomach or intestines. If it isn’t resolved, a blockage can lead to death.

[xoCourtney]

Okay thank you! Miley had a play date today and the yorkie had rawhide treats. Miley chewed on it for a few but she didn't bite anything off. Will she be okay?

[rubymoon2072]

yes i am sure she will be ok......i would just suggest not using it for the reasons stated above. just be sure she is eating drinking and pooping normally....

[cindersellie]

She should be fine if nothing came off it. Mine chewed on a few that she shouldn't have. I watched her for any change in behavior, but she just acted normal.

[xoCourtney]

Okay got it! I didn't realize it was rawhide until I saw the package and I was like OMG rawhide...yorkie talk...bad! Haha

[chachi]

Have you seen rawhide once its been chewed it becomes this goo that can expand in the stomach and cause blockages it is nasty so is greenies dont give those either for the same reason

[MyDearSam]

If you ever had to fish a slimy, gross glob of soggy rawhide out of a choking pup's mouth/throat, you wouldn't even have to think twice about not giving them. They are 100% n-a-s-t-y.

[Lovetodream88]

Its not good for any dogs. It leather and its not digestible at all and some can also expand when in the stomach. Being it doesn't digest a big wad can get stuck in the intestines or anywhere else and then they need surgery to get it out. It also gets gummy when chewed on and can be a big choking hazard. Things that are hard like rawhide, bully sticks, and antlers can also break teeth.

[Bellabean]

I think it's bad for all dogs! They can't digest it.

[yorkietalkjilly]

My little Jilly was chewing her rawhide chew with a knot at each end and chewed through the rawhide and tried to swallow the knot whole. It stuck in her throat and she could barely breathe, started going wildly in circles and finally fell over gasping so hard. Her chest was heaving! I grabbed her up and breathed some air into her nose, called the vet who was still in the office and started for his clinic at 9:55 pm in my gown and robe, driving with one hand and holding her and breathing some air into her nose as she could barely get any air past the huge knot that her throat was now swelling closed around. Eventually it did close off and she went limp in my arm. I almost died, was praying and still breathing for her, ran a red light and in 7 minutes or so we rolled up into the vet's parking lot, Still breathing for her and raced in, put her on his table and she perked up, even stood up. I fell back into the chair bawling. He examined her throat and she had finally swallowed it on down and it was in her stomach. He said the adrenaline she felt from my rushing her to the vet out into the cold night air and her struggle to breathe, her saliva and the surface of the rawhide softening and breaking down in her saliva back in her throat eventually worked its magic to allow her body to pass it. He laughed and said the praying hard didn't hurt either! He'd told me on the phone to try to press against it on down her throat when I first got hold of him but it only seemed to cut off her breathing even more and it stuck tighter but it was just to tight in there to pull out, which I'd already tried to do. She essentially died on the way to the vet when she went limp but getting the air to her allowed her to stay alive and somehow her heart kept beating! I was praying so hard out loud all the way there when I wasn't breathing for her I think she got all pumped up by my naked fear and excitement and struggling so to breath past that huge lump and that adrenaline helped her in that circumstance.

Needless to say, I took up all her chewies after that and only would let her chew on one end of a single skinny chew stick as I held the other end. It wasn't all that satisfying to her not to get it to herself but I wasn't about to go through the hell of a choking dog ever ever ever again. If you let your tiny dog chew these things, hold onto the other end while they chew it.