Rawhide chews

Is it ok to give a small rawhide chew to a 4 month old puppy?

People have recommend them to me for teething but I've read that they set like cement in a dogs belly so I just wondered what all you experts think?

Thanks

We have always given them to milly.She as always been fine with them

i always gave them to sasha,but i heard like you that they set like cement in their tums so wont be given them again.

I don't give my two rawhide as it can be dangerous if they pull of large pieces and swallow them

I think rawhide chews are a bit much for a 4 month old, although my Harry loves them. He likes to throw them around until he decides they are well and truely dead !!
He never takes big lumps but will chew them until they are soggy. Then I have to hold them for him while he pulls off tiny pieces and contentedly chew and chew until there is nothing left to do but swallow.
I could never gives these to my boxers, they would swallow them whole!!

Harry has a 'box of chews' He looks through it like a child with a toy box, he decides which one he wants to try to break the TV screen or ornaments with, throw it around for a while and then settles down fo a chew.
He loves it if we hold one end and he can try to outpull us. When he wins, he doesn't feel victorious, he just puts it back in our hands for more fun.

I can see why some staffies shoudn't have them, I think it depends on the individual dog.

*Karen* wrote:Is it ok to give a small rawhide chew to a 4 month old puppy?

People have recommend them to me for teething but I've read that they set like cement in a dogs belly so I just wondered what all you experts think?

Thanks

Absolutely not! Rawhide swells in the stomach, and swells quite considerably! If a pup bites off a largish piece & swallows it, it could swell & cause a blockage very quickly. In fact I won't give them to any dog of any age.

I was at a show once & a staff on the bench next to mine started to make some funny noises. When I looked, he had a piece of rawhide chew sticking out of his mouth & he was choking. Luckily it was a staff & was quite happy for me to grab the end of the chew & pull it out.

I won't touch em.

I'm with Caryll on this one, would most definately not give to my dog. Rawhide is a very dangerous chew and Vets frequently have to deal with the problems it creates causing blockages and choking is a big risk too. Better to be safe than sorry.

We don't give Vlad rawhide as we heard that it can create problems, we do give him roo (as in kangaroo) sticks and pork sticks which are more like a teething rusk a baby has. The pork ones last and you end up throwing them out, but Vlad loves them. The roo sticks are more like a salami for dogs. We get both of these from a pet supply store. Best thing is, we took him to the Vet for his final needle the other day and the vet said he looked and felt lovely and healthy and his teeth we starting to look good (he's big ones are all coming through now!) We use products with no additives and are suitable for this breed of dog

I wouldn't advise rawhide either. We use kangaroo or bully sticks. For teething I recommend a frozen Kong with treats inside. Also helps them to adjust to seperation anxiety since they will be preoccupied.

Thanks guys we have been giving her ice cubes and frozen kong I was just looking for something that would last a bit longer but I'll see about trying to get some pork sticks for her!