If you're a puppy lover, chances are you've given your dog a rawhide bone before. And if you're a new puppy owner, you may be wondering if it's ok to give your pup one of these bones. Well, I'm here to tell you that the answer is no.

Before you go out and buy your pup his or her next Rawhide bone, you should read this blog post. Here are six reasons why you shouldn't buy rawhide bones for puppies.  

What is a Rawhide Bone?

Rawhide is pretty much what it sounds like -  It is untanned skin, typically from cows who have been fed only free-range grass.

Rawhide is chemically processed before being cleansed in water, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide and dried to create dog treats of different shapes and sizes. Do you really want your dog swallowing hazardous chemicals like bleach? They are occasionally smoked to improve flavor to make them more appealing. 

Rawhides are meant to be long-lasting chews that break down into tiny, soft pieces over time.

Rawhide is bad for puppies for a number of reasons.

6 Reasons Not to Buy Rawhide Bones for Puppies

1) They can cause choking hazards

Strong chewers can often break off substantial chunks, which can pose a serious choking hazard and even represent a threat to life.

This poses a considerably greater risk than contamination or stomach discomfort. Large bits of rawhide can become lodged in the esophagus or other areas of the digestive tract if your dog ingests them. A veterinarian might be able to remove these fragments through the throat quite readily, depending on their size and location. 

However, there are situations when removing them from the stomach or intestines requires abdominal surgery.

2) Rawhide bones can cause gastrointestinal blockages, which can be fatal

Rawhide does not dissolve in the dog’s stomach. In fact, the opposite is true — the rawhide swells up.

A foreign body in the digestive tract is an extremely serious, possibly fatal issue. In addition to food being unable to pass through to be digested, a large enough rawhide chunk could harm the gut wall, leading to tissue death and severe sepsis.

3) Puppies can chew through rawhide bones very quickly, leading to sharp pieces that an injure their mouth

Puppies are notoriously energetic chewers, and their razor-sharp teeth can make short work of even the toughest rawhide bones.

Unfortunately, this can lead to serious problems if the bones are not properly monitored. Rawhide bones are often filled with sharp edges that can injure a puppy's mouth or digestive tract.

In addition, puppies can easily choke on small pieces of bone, so it is important to supervise them closely while they are chewing. While rawhide bones can provide an enjoyable chewing experience for puppies, it is important to use them safely and responsibly.

4) Most rawhide bones cause digestive irritation for some puppies are allergic to cattle products

Most people don't realize that rawhide bones are made from cow skin. If you have a puppy with allergies, this is something to keep in mind. Some puppies are allergic to cattle products, so it's important to check with your vet before giving your pup a rawhide bone.

The young kidneys of puppies that are still developing are particularly susceptible, and early chemical exposure may harm them.

Some dogs simply react negatively or allergically to rawhide or other ingredients used in its production. There may be issues, such as diarrhea, as a result.

5) Rawhide bones can contain harmful chemicals and toxins 

Rawhide bones are often treated with chemicals and toxins that can be harmful to your pup. In fact, some of these chemicals have been linked to cancer.

2017 saw the FDA issue a recall for rawhide chews made in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. They had been treated with a mixture of quaternary ammonium compounds, an anti-microbial agent allowed for cleaning food processing equipment but not for the manufacture of rawhide chews in the US.

There are a lot of rawhide bones that are dyed with food coloring as well. They could have titanium oxide coated on them, for that white appearance.

Toxic substances like FD&C Red 40, a petroleum-based food color associated to allergies, migraines, and behavioral issues like ADHD in children, may be used in this process.

6) Rawhide bones don't provide any real nutritional value for puppies

While rawhide bones may be a favorite treat, they don't actually provide much nutritional value. In fact, they may even be harmful to dogs.

There is almost no nutritional benefit in rawhide. Some dogs may feel overstuffed after consuming too many rawhide bones and may not want to consume enough of their usual meal.

Safe and fun alternatives to rawhide bones available for puppies

With these six reasons, you might prefer to switch to safer rawhide alternatives. There are plenty of safe and fun toys that your puppy will love just as much as a rawhide bone.

When it comes to dog chews, there are plenty of options available for puppies. Many pet stores carry safe and fun alternatives to rawhide bones, such as Salmon skin bones, bully sticks, and BetterBone.

BetterBone is hypoallergenic and has all the benefits of safe dog bones making it safe for even for puppies!