How old can my puppy be when I can give him a rawhide chew stick?

As long as you give a chew that is too large for your pup to swallow and you don't leave him unattended, make it a real big one that will last and he will become used to it, you can do it from weaning. It is good to let your pup have things that they are allowed to chew, and if you have to stop inappropriate chewing offer the hide chew instead and praise when your pup settles to gnaw the offered chew. remove any large bits that he has bitten off, and remove it when it becomes small enough to swallow. I find the large cigars are a good size, avoid the boots and balls as they are easy for the pup to unravel.

I never give my dogs any kind of rawhide as I was told it is very difficult for them to digest. Anyone heard anything different ?

Thanks.

I think the problems arise when the dogs manage to chew pieces off.The hide chew and pigs ears tend to soften back to there natural pre~dried state. They bacome slimy and pliable and this is when they tend to get wedged in the dogs palate or throat. Thus becoming very dangerous.My dogs all love the chews, but having had to retrieve them from throats of very destressed dogs on a couple of occassions they now have to make do with Nylabones.

Leigh

I don't give my dogs any kind of rawhide or pigs ear now, I used to, until one got stuck in a puppys throat and I could not get a grip of it (arthritic hands) the puppy was starting to panic. eventually we managed to get it out, one very relieved owner and one very relieved pup, I give winalot puppy trainers, as titbits, I use a kong stuffed with goodies, especially when I go out, or at bedtime to settle them in a cage. I have been looking at nylobones but have never used them myself are they good? as long as pups cant swallow them. !!!

nylabones are excellent. I've been using them for 5 yrs with no problems.

I think that they are excellent too and have used them for over 13 years. They are not cheap but last for years sometimes, so are a worthwhile investment. They can chew tiny tiny bits off, but this does not seem to cause any long term damage and maybe its just my dogs, but they never fight over them
If you do get one and your dogs seem to ignore it, don't panic! Sometimes my lot will ignore it for months and then they all want it on the same day :rolleyes: I also have a suitably sized one wedged in a kong, that keeps them happy and stops them destroying the kong.

Leigh

Edited: I only use the largest bone, all the other "shapes" and "ribbed" ones are eaten within minutes of getting them!

I use Nylabone Plackattack and Hurcurles (sorry about spelling) but find my lot will chew of large pieces so would not allow their having them if I'm not around to watch what what is happening just as I do with the hide chews. I've never had a problem with hide but it must be large, if it does not appear too large for the dog don't use it, and as I've said before remove when it becomes too small. I have tried the smooth Nylabone Wolf but they just bit the end straight off, and as it is hard and would have stuck in the throat I have not tried again.

My dogs would kill for a nylabone. Very occasionally my older dog Nell may bite off small pieces of the bone but she just spits them out and carries on chewing. Puppy just sucks and chews his, he loves them and funnily enough always wants the one Nell has :rolleyes:

I just wish they would bring out some more new shapes and flavours as my lot have them all. Oh and they last for ages.

One last important point, they really should issue a warning with these bones, my lot throw them up in the air, put their paws on them and slide along the timber floors and have so much fun that after they have battered me with them, wrecked my house they then ignore me for hours

Hi, I dont give rawhide bones or pigs ears any more after hearing about various disasters posters have had with them. Mine have Rasks and non-filled cows heels, and beggin' strips for training or general treats, bacon flavour is the best, they say!
I did buy a nylabone once, and it was completely ignored by all the dogs! I have heard that smoked bones are a great favourite,Imust try them out.

Thank you all for your help... guess the Nylabone is the big YEY for my puppy.... and bones/rawhides are not really good unless you like to take your doggie to the vet a lot to get rawhide/bone out from their mouth/throat.

Hi sarah,

I had to to do exactly that with my westie when his rawhide chew was swallowed and became stuck in his throat. I then had an emergency 2 hour car drive to a specialist for an emergency op on his throat. Steer well clear of them now.

Hi all

Yes I have heard of problems with rawhide, my friend Pam who bred my pupppy says that they can stick to the stomach which sounds awful.

Kongs are great, also Excelpet Funball which holds the small marrowbone rolls, an d I am a HUGE fan of the smoked bones Westie lover mentioned, they kept my dogs' teeth sparklng clean for years, and occasionally crumble but not into sharp splinters. As a precaution I remove them once they are about half thier original length, just in case.

I want to try the sterilised bones, stuffed, they are supposed to be good.too.