Rawhides, Cow Hooves, Pig Ears, Greenies, Nylabones, Bully Sticks...What is Safe for My Dog?

While not necessarily all toxic, items in this group consists of objects that  could pose a choking hazard, risk for intestinal obstruction, or other physical injury, and in 2006, the number of physical hazard calls grew a staggering 460 percent to over 3,800 says the ASPCA®.

Any dog owner knows how much puppies and adult dogs chew. They chew on slippers, carpet, furniture, walls, etc. To prevent the ultimate destruction of their homes, they run out and buy gobs of chew toys for their dogs. A large percentage of what they buy will be rawhide.

These well-liked dog treats are purchased in large numbers, especially around holidays, by well-meaning dog owners hoping to give their pets something special. These toys are favorites for many dogs and are popular with owners because they keep their pets occupied and supposedly out of trouble during holiday activities.

There are definite risks associated with these treats, however. All three types are supposedly made of digestible animal products. However, they are digested quite slowly and, if consumed rapidly, can cause either vomiting or diarrhea from the many pieces still sitting undigested in the GI tract. If the treats are swallowed whole or in large chunks, there are additional dangers. Rawhide chews can lodge in the throat and cause choking, or a large piece may be swallowed, scraping and irritating the throat and esophagus on the way down.

Once in the stomach or intestinal tract, a large piece of rawhide can also create a physical obstruction. An additional danger that is less widely known is the practice, in some countries, of using an arsenic-based preservative in the processing of rawhide toys. We recommend that, if you do purchase these products, stick to brands processed in the U.S.

There has also been an FDA alert about the risk of Salmonella associated with dog chew products made from pork or beef-derived materials: refer to the FDA advisory or call 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332).

What is Rawhide? Rawhide is literally the outside of a cow – the skin. It provides dogs with a satisfying chewing experience and it’s cheap and easy to find. So how can it be dangerous?

Hidden Dangers: Dr. John Wedeking, an Iowa veterinarian, remembers hearing about rawhide in the news. “Reports of arsenic contamination popped up in papers once,” he says, but adds that it came from another country. Since rawhide is not regulated in any way, it could happen again. These foreign hides may also contain other detrimental things such as antibiotics, lead, or insecticides that could adversely affect the health of your dog.

Wedeking adds that dogs can easily choke on it when the original large rawhide object is chewed down to a smaller piece. “Choking is a hazard, and rawhide can cause gastric irritation when dogs chew on it often,” he says. Wedeking adds that gastric irritation can also cause vomiting and extreme discomfort in dogs. 'Tests on imported pet products made from animal hides by UK health authorities revealed many carried the salmonella bug, a common cause of gastro-intestinal infections in humans." "They found that one in three batches imported from Thailand and one in eight from China contained salmonellas that had survived processing and manufacturing"

Greenies - The company who makes Greenies claim they are 85% digestible. Some dogs have died as a direct result of eating Greenies. The company says the number of complaints it has received is very low in relation to the vast numbers of treats sold, and CNN spoke with several vets who recommended Greenies. "If it is your dog who suffers the consequences of an undigested Greenie, the number of complaints the Greenies company receives is irrelevant"-- mel@k911.biz

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/14/dangerous.dogtreat/

Our office removed a large 1.5" X 1.5" part of an undigested canine Greenie yesterday from a 60 lb. lab's small intestine. I am now clear that this product has a potential adverse effect, causing an intestinal obstruction.

The canine Greenie will be discontinued at our practices and this message will be put as an alert on our web site. We initially felt we removed a Nylabone from this dog's small intestine. We do not recommend Nylabone as a dental cleaning agent for dogs. Nylabone, which can be ingested entirely or in pieces, have been known for many years to be potentially dangerous to dogs, causing a foreign body obstruction in the stomach and small intestine as they are indigestible. We also do not recommend marrow bones and rope toys for the same reasons.

We are still recommending the feline form of Greenies and feel this is a safe product, as its composition is totally different.

I am very concerned about the manufacturer's ethics and responsibility in producing a product that is not 100% digestible. In the package's small print, there are new warnings about making sure your pet "thoroughly chews" up the bone. The old verbiage "The large print giveth and the fine print taketh away" is in fact true.

Below, is the e-mail from the owner of Zoe.

"While our family is very appreciative of the care Zoe received on 1/3/2006 to remove a partial obstruction at the Hickory Ridge facility by Drs Tayman and Graham I have a nagging question now as to whether greenies are truly safe. When looking over the pill bottle containing the culprit it is clearly a Greenie and not a Nylabone. Only recently over the holiday season did we start giving them to Zoe as a treat and for the teeth cleaning benefits - in large part because they were vet recommended and we've seen them sold in the Hickory Ridge office. In fact while waiting for her to be brought out I now read the fine print on one of the bags in the office "As with any edible product monitor your dog to ensure the treat is adequately chewed. Gulping any item can be harmful or even fatal to a dog" -this is easier said than done with Zoe and I'm guessing Labs and some other breeds in general so my question is are greenies truly safe? And if they're not why do you continue to sell them? After coming home a Google search turned up some interesting links with stories similar to Zoe's.

Thanks again we truly do appreciate the quality care Columbia Animal Hospitals provides for Zoe."

Another of several articles found on line:

Just wanted to post an overall warning so everyone can pass along to small dog owners. For the second time in 2 years I have seen a esophageal foreign body as a result of a greenie ingestion. I know that this can happen with any chewable treat but wanted to pass it along as this was a rough case with a horrible outcome.

4 year old female spayed Yorkshire terrier weighing five pounds 12 hour history of anorexia and dysphagia according to owner. DVM did a plain film and barium swallow to confirm esophageal foreign body. Foreign body in distal esophagus caudal to heart. Patient taken to surgery. Through gastronomy, Greenie was broken into pieces and extracted from distal esophagus by surgeon. Endoscopy of esophagus revealed 2 cm esophageal tear. Owner distraught, agreed to thoracotomy and esophageal suturing to repair, warned of complications. PEG tube placed, chest tube placed, patient recovering ok. Suddenly owner elects for euthanasia because she does not want to see her Yorkie suffer with the possibility of complications. Reluctantly I complied with her wishes.

I spoke with the company. The DVM would not get into specifics as to how often it occurs but that it can. Recommended supervision and little bits to small dogs less than 10 pounds.

We have pulled them from the shelf in our hospital as this is the second case I have seen. The company does have this info on their website, www.greenies.com/html/product/product.html

Just thought I'd pass it along as FYI
Dr. Roberts

If you want to see graphic photos of what greenies can do to a dogs intestines, visit this website: http://quikonnex.com/channel/item/15008

Nylabones can become sticky and lodge in the back of the throat causing an obstruction. The clear ones usually cannot be detected upon x-ray, so the vet may not know that there is a blockage without doing an exploratory. They are also hard on a teeth so be certain to check the overall condition of your dogs mouth prior to giving him anything this inflexible to chew.

Cow Hooves are even more dangerous than rawhides. They are hard enough that a dog can actually break a tooth on one. They can also be chewed up into sharp fragments which may cause a partial intestinal obstruction. Partial obstructions are often difficult to diagnose until the point at which the fragment is ready to perforate the wall of the bowel from pressure against the sharp edges. If perforation has occurred, the infection that ensues from leakage of intestinal contents can be fatal.  

Pig Ears can cause GI upset if overeaten, similar to the situation with rawhides, although obstructions are less common because the ears are not usually shaped into solid chunks. More Internet investigations turned up this information regarding pig ears: A CTCA member (Coton de Tulearre) lost her three-and-a-half month old puppy to a massive intestinal bacterial infection. The bacteria noticed on autopsy were Escherichia coli, a common gut bacteria which, in proper balance, is essential for the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the mammalian gut. Too many E. coli, or E. coli in the wrong place (like the lungs) can cause serious disease. The attending veterinarian and the owner suspect that bacteria inadvertently introduced by a pig ear was the cause of death. While alternative explanations are possible, pig ears are not entirely safe, especially for pups (who need chewies the most). Another vet pointed out the possibility of bacterial contamination also of pig ear chews. All chewie objects can potentially cause injury but pig ears, the most avidly chewed treat of all, can potentially introduce bacteria.

An FDA advisory published by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human services on Oct.1, 1999, stated that there is "a nationwide public health warning alerting consumers about a number of recent cases in Canada of human illnesses apparently related to contact with dog chew products made from pork or beef-derived materials (e.g., pigs ears, beef jerky treats, smoked hooves, pigs skins, etc.)... FDA is urging pet owners... to handle them carefully. Anyone who comes in contact with these treats should wash their hands with hot water and soap. Initial reports of illnesses came from Canada and involved Canadian products, but subsequent examination of similar products produced in the U.S. indicate that all pet chew products of this type may pose a risk...."

Bully Sticks also known as Bully's, beef stick or pizzles, are a dog treat made from a dried bull's penis. Since it is all beef, these are 100% digestible. There have been no known reports of  bully's producing problems which are often associated with rawhide, cow's hooves and other chewy treats, such as choking or bowel obstruction.

As with any edible treat given to your dog, use your discretion and always be present when your pets are consuming them.

See also: Toxic Dog Treats and Why Bones Can Harm Your Dog