Rawhides

Rawhides are a great option for many dogs, but not for all.  If your dog is not an active or aggressive chewer, and only chews for a few minutes, than they are perfectly fine.  However, if you have a more active chewer, who treats raw hide like food, then you should think twice about this type of treat.  It is not the material that can make it dangerous, but rather the shape.  If the dog eats the knot from a raw hide bone the dog could have an impaction or obstruction in their digestive tract, which could require surgery to remove it.

If you do choose raw hides they are a very economically treat, consider using a straight raw hide from one continuous sheet of raw hide.  Do not give your dog perfectly formed bones that have a brownish and yellowish color.  Typically these are made in China and are the lowest quality and most dangerous of all raw hides.  There made with some sort of glue that hold the pieces together and congeals into a bone shape.