Follow-up on Pig Ears vs Rawhide Chews

purplelori · 05-03-2011, 08:57 AM

So-I have heard that rawhide is bad for dogs (thanks Doreen!) even if it comes from a 'good' place. Are pig ears considered rawhide, or is it just those rectangular slabs that get all gooey and nasty that are dangerous?

Erin251 · 05-03-2011, 09:36 AM

i personally dont do rawhide. mostly because all my dogs have been big chewers and eat it too fast and end up trying to swallow a huge chunk..but if you dog is a calmer chewer as long as you are right there watching him, and throw it out when it gets too gooey or small... pig ears are not as bad, but you still have to watch them closely.....i personally only give bo raw beef knuckles and shanks. they last longer and are less dangerous, but may give them the runs at first

Doreen · 05-03-2011, 10:10 AM

I don't give my dogs anything that gets soft and goes into their tummies except real food. So I have no idea about anything else. I just remember a vet telling me years ago not to give dogs rawhide.

Spyglass Sally · 05-03-2011, 01:32 PM

No rawhide here either. Either the Everlasting Treat toy, or bully sticks.

Scooby · 05-03-2011, 04:12 PM

I'm a big fan of rawhides, they're like puppy pacifiers! I'm always sure to keep an eye on the dog if they have one that's getting small, because they will try to swallow it whole. Scooby always did and it was gross pulling a gooey hunk out of his jaws, yuck! Pig ears I love too. They aren't anything like rawhides; they crumble real easily and don't get gummy like rawhides.
I've always been hesitant about giving the dog's real bones, I'm worried they'll flake off bone shards and that would do some damage. Since rawhides are real flexible, they don't have a problem passing through the system and heading out.

Erin251 · 05-03-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scooby

I've always been hesitant about giving the dog's real bones, I'm worried they'll flake off bone shards and that would do some damage. Since rawhides are real flexible, they don't have a problem passing through the system and heading out.

real bones are only bad if they are cooked at all.... i get actually raw bones from our butcher, still has the marrow it in and all, bo has had one for like 6 months and it hasnt broken at all, he got all the extra meat and marrow of it very fast and now i put peanut butter in it which he loves

Doreen · 05-03-2011, 06:49 PM

I don't do real bones either...... just because it grosses me out, LOL LOL LOL.

KeeperBoy · 05-03-2011, 08:05 PM

We LOVE bully sticks, lamb eats and sheep trachea. Pig ears are too greasy and rawhide scares me.

Erin251 · 05-04-2011, 03:26 PM

sheep trachea? i have never heard of that as a dog treat?i see you live in michigan, where do you get them?

KeeperBoy · 05-04-2011, 05:50 PM

Lots of our holistic type pet stores have them, we've found the ones you buy individually are better quality than the ones in bags. We are in Ann Arbor and get them at greenpaws. We've gotten both sheep and cow online before too.