Well, it is baffling, isn’t it that we ask this question to you? Rawhide is considered as one of the most popular chew sticks on earth. Dogs love it, and dog parents give them as best dog training treats to their canine friends.
Dogs seem to take a great liking to chew on rawhide for ages, and not only does it keep them occupied, but it also lasts forever. However, everything that seems good on the outside isn’t usually good for our pets on the inside as well.
Another big horror is that some pet parents, mostly newbie parents, think that this rawhide is nothing but a stick made from some sort of dehydrated or dried meat. They cannot be farther from the truth because this isn’t a product of the meat industry; rather, it is a product of the leather industry.
Many dogs had to go to the ER after chewing on the rawhide. Did you know that? Well, if this thing scared you a little bit, let us enlighten you with some more facts which will scare you a little bit more but will help keep your canine friend safe, sound, and healthy!
Let us now learn how rawhide is made.
Making:
Step 1: Tannery
Cattle hides, after being bathed in a chemical bath for preservation and to prevent spoilage, are shipped from slaughterhouses. They reach their destination, unspoiled, which is the tannery. The hides are then soaked and treated with highly dangerous chemical substances so as to remove the hair and fat which are attached to the hides.
Another chemical substance is used, and then the hide is puffed up so that it can be easier to divide the hide into layers. These layers are used for the making of various things, and the innermost layer, which we are most concerned about today, is used to make rawhide.
Step 2: Cleaning
Hydrogen Peroxide or bleach is used to clean this hide so that the putrid smell is removed from the hide. Suppose the bleach used here isn’t strong enough, the tanneries might use other chemicals to whiten the hide so as to make it look visually appealing.
Step 3: Appeal
Now is the time to make this whitened hide to look delicious. Here is when the painting comes in! It is basted and coated and tinted with various flavors and dyes so as to make it flavorful and delectable.
Now is the time for final touches…
Step 4: Making it Last!
Arsenic, Lead, Chromium, Mercury, and other toxic chemicals have been detected in rawhides. Glues are also used in rawhides. After packaging, labels are the most interesting thing we have found in the market.
Some of the rawhide labels say that if large pieces of rawhide are swallowed by your dog, it can get stuck in the esophagus and can also result in an abdominal surgery being necessary. Sometimes, it might also cause death. Choking and blockages can also be caused.
Now that you know rawhides are so dangerous for your canine friend, be more open to explore new options. Another important thing to remember is that you should not let your dog chew on things unsupervised because they might choke themselves. Happy petting!
