Let’s discuss the “C” word, yes that’s right, Christmas! With it only being a couple of months away, we are starting to see some Christmas themed treats and gifts for our furry companions in stores. If you’re thinking of getting your dogs a present from Santa paws, please be mindful of what you are buying.
Did you know, although rawhide products are widely available in most pet stores in the UK, your dog could end up with a trip to the vets?
They can be a choking hazard, and cause internal blockages as they are not easily digested. Rawhide is the skin of animals such as cows or horses, that has been dried out. The drying out, colouring and preserving of rawhide is very aggressive, involving numerous chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, arsenic, formaldehyde, mercury, and so on – making rawhide dangerous for consumption.
So, what can you offer instead? Chewing has so many benefits for dogs, it helps to relive stress and boredom, it is great for oral hygiene, and for puppies it is a good way to relieve the pain from teething. Therefore, looking for safe products to chew on is so important.
Instead of gifting raw hide treats for your dog this Christmas, you could treat them to a selection of natural treats. We recommend items such as pigs ears, feet, pizzles, fish flatties, etc. Or you could buy dog-safe wood, antlers and yaks milk chews. You will be able to source these at local pet stores, or there are also a lot of online companies where you can order from too.
Please always remember, when your dog has a chew treat to always supervise.