Rawhide has been one of the most popular dog chews for decades, and it also gets a lot of questions. Here are straight answers to the most common ones, along with how Canine Chews are made and how to keep chew time safe.
What is rawhide made of?
Rawhide is made from the inner layer of cattle hide. Leather comes from the outer layer, so rawhide is not "leather." Canine Chews rawhide is a single-ingredient chew made from premium beefhide, with no preservatives.
Myth: "Rawhide is made in China with harsh chemicals"
Some rawhide on the market is, which is why where it's made matters. Canine Chews are never made in China. Our beefhide is sourced from the United States and Mexico (some products use only U.S. hides) and made in our family-owned facility in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Our factories hold GFSI and HACCP food safety certifications, only natural products are used to process the hides, and wastewater is filtered and recycled.
Myth: "Rawhide is full of bacteria"
Food safety specialists, including those at the USDA, classify rawhide as a low-risk item for bacteria. We test each batch of Canine Chews rawhide for salmonella and E. coli, and hides are tested for trace chemicals and heavy metals.
Myth: "Dogs can't digest rawhide"
Rawhide softens as a dog chews, letting them gnaw off pieces gradually. The real risk with any chew, rawhide or not, is a dog swallowing a large piece whole. That's why choosing the right size and supervising your dog matter more than the type of chew.
Who should skip rawhide?
Rawhide is 100% beef, so dogs with a beef allergy shouldn't have it. Like any treat, too much can upset a dog's stomach, so follow the feeding instructions. If your dog has health issues or a history of swallowing large pieces, ask your vet first.
Safe chewing tips
- Pick the right size. A chew that's too small for your dog is a choking risk. See our size guide.
- Always supervise chew time.
- Keep fresh water available before, during and after chewing.
- Take away small leftover pieces once a chew gets small enough to swallow.
- Treat it as a treat. Rawhide supplements your dog's diet; it doesn't replace their food.
The benefits
Used sensibly, rawhide offers real benefits: it lasts a long time, satisfies the natural urge to chew (sparing your furniture), helps scrape away plaque and tartar, and is odor-free and won't stain rugs. Browse our retriever rolls, rawhide bones and twist sticks to find the right chew for your dog.
