reminder, dont use raw hide
 

I know we all know this, but i just wanted to restate it.

My mother bought my yorkie a pack of raw hide bones for a gift. It was very cute and her heart was in the right place. My friends and family had been laughing at me for being over protective about things like raw hide so i (sadly) caved in.

I didn't think anything of it, weeks passed.

Tonight the puppy was hanging out on the floor chewing, what i thought, was one of her toys. She comes over to me (i was on the couch) and hops up. I figure its nap time and wait while she tries to find a place to sleep. She keeps turning and walking and just can't get comfortable... then she made a 'whimper'.

Of note, my dog never whimpers - ever. I assumed then that she just had to go out *REALLY* bad so i rush her to the door. She takes one step out then comes back and and whimpers again and is just looking at me and her eyes are pleading for understanding.

I notice a white 'thing' in her mouth. Just a flash of something sitting there (maybe a chunk of paper she found). I reach down and out comes HALF of a raw hide 'bone'. The 'knuckle' end was stuck in her mouth and the entire 'length' of it was jammed down her throat.

I grabbed every freaking little chunk of raw hide i could find and threw them in the garbage. She is doing just fine but i'm so upset with myself. I crumbled under pressure to not do what i KNEW to be right. :'(

So just a warning, dont let people tell you whats right for your dog - you KNOW whats right.

Omg - I'm glad she's OK!

Hi Smoop,

I'm not on this yorkietalk alot, so i'm not sure of the things I should be watching out for when it comes to our pups. I just read your thread and it shocked me a little that we should know not to give our dogs rawhide bones because I didn't know that! I actually give my baby rawhides about once a week usually when i'm gone for a few hours to keep them occupied. My puppies (one's a maltese and another is a yorkie) loves the rawhides and they always fight for eachothers. I do notice that sometimes she pukes but i'm not sure what causes her to puke and she does do that choking/coughing noise but when I usually call her name, she stops. Could this be because of the rawhides? Is there a reason why we should not feed them rawhides so I can stop giving it to them? Thanks so much!

Tammy:animal-pa

Rawhides are dangerous because they are not digestible and can get stuck in the intestinal tract and it causes a very expensive and painful surgery. A safer (and slightly more expensive) alternative is bully sticks. It is all natural and digestible. I've never heard of a dog not liking them though! I would also not give them any type of chew unattended because of choking hazards. Instead give them a kong with treats or peanut butter inside.

Another option for those who do not want to use rawhide are Sam's Yams. Max LOVES them (and their Bichon Fries too). All natural dried sweet potatoes/yams. :thumbup:

Where do you get them?

I'm glad she's OK!

Good thing you know your yorkie's actions and thought quickly. Never have like rawhide, anything like it or like these little fake "drum stick" that sig other likes to give to the guys. I will definitely show her this tread.

I get them at the natural pet food stores near me.
You can order them directly from the company though.

Front Porch Pets

I like this company's yams the best. The Veggie Rawhide ones and Bichon Fries.
For example there are some out there but they look like they are uncolored and all the vitamins are "sucked" out of them. These are the ones usually sold at retail stores like Petsmart.
Sam's yams look like something I would make at home myself. Bright orange and "healty" looking.
Max has been eatting these the past 7 months of his 10 month puppy life :animal36

http://www.frontporchpets.com/buy/po...a4c63971e0fa17

I am so glad she is ok. I always feel bad that they can't have rawhide to chew on because they love it and it keeps them busy ,but I know how dangerous it can be. Thanks for the reminder.

I never knew rawhide was bad until I found this site.I had been giving them to Sydney for over two years .Then someone told me rawhide can make them sick ( I had posted a question about her diarrhea and vomiting) and they also said rawhide can get stuck inside them and swell. :eek: I NEVER knew that !

Chloe and Sydney both love them , but I tossed them all , I wouldn't want to take the chance. I consider myself lucky that nothing happened to Syd. I'm glad your baby is O.k. That is a very scary thing to go through!