Rawhide is a vet bill waiting to happen for your dogs, which is too bad since it’s a great chew for a dog – long lasting and they love it. Luckily, the more people realize how bad rawhide is, the more companies are coming up with rawhide alternatives. And while none of these chews probably last quite as long as rawhide, they are a lot safer.
#1 – Bully Sticks Are an Excellent Rawhide Alternative!
We’ve previously written about why bully sticks are the most popular safe alternative to raw hide. Dogs go absolutely crazy for them. We recommend using them only outdoors as they can have quite an odor (which is why dogs love them so!) and the odor free varieties have usually been treated with chemicals. These bully sticks are our favorites!
#2 – Earth Animal No Hide Chews
These are an amazing rawhide alternative – made from American, farm-raised chicken with no added hormones, steroids or chemicals, they are 100% digestible. Unlike rawhide, these contain no chemicals, additives, bleaches, or formaldehydes. EarthAnimal.com
#3 – Fruitables BioActive Raw Hide Alternative Chews
These amazing NEW chews from Fruitables have all the goodness you expect from Fruitables in a dental chew that is good for your dog. Made in the USA with Icelandic Kelp, these are going to be a big hit for dogs! Available this fall. Fruitablespetfood.com
#4 – Puppy Milky Chew Sticks
If you have a puppy than these Australian made chews are just for you. They are all-natural, gentle on puppy tummies and have grooves to massage puppy gums and teeth. Come in strawberry, vanilla and honey flavors. Coming soon. 26barsandaband.com
#5 – Smartbones Butcher’s Cut Rawhide Alternative
These long-lasting chews are made to be a rawhide replacement! They are grain-free and 99% digestible. They are made from vegetables and real chicken along with vitamin and mineral enrichments to provide nutritional value. Smartbones.com
#6 – Simply Nourish Long-lasting Dog Treat
I have dogs with sensitive tummies, which adds to the trouble of finding a chew they can have. These have worked great for me. The ingredients are good and they don’t bother their tummies. Plus, they only cost about $1 a bone, which is pretty good when you have four dogs to treat! However, they don’t take too long for a dog to chew through – they are similar to a Greenie is length of chew. Petsmart.com
#7 – Whimzees Raw hide alternative
Another favorite for my dogs are the Whimzees. All natural, gluten free and vegetarian, they come in several different shapes and probably last a bit longer than the Simply Nourish ones. They are fairly easy on the tummy, though my one ultra-sensitive pup can only have half of a one. Whimzees.com
#8 – Salmon Skin Bones – great alternative to rawhide
Another product I personally use, these bones are great for dog’s with allergies to other proteins, but turn their noses up at fruits or veggie flavors. Because it’s 100% salmon skin, they are great for the coat and also very chewy, they take a fairly decent amount of time for a medium sized dog. However, I would not leave my dog alone with them! Because the skin is like jerky, it can be tough for them to chew through and if you have a dog that is more prone to “gulping” they may try to swallow it whole instead of chewing it hroughly, which would could cause choking. EntirelyPets.com
#9 –DreamBone raw hide alternative
From the makers of the SmartBone, these dental chews are highly digestible and are made with real vegetables, chicken as well as chlorophyll, kelp and parsley seed for dental health. Dreambone.com
#10 – Benebone – An ultra durable rawhide alternative
These bones are made of natural nylon and real, human-grade flavor – bacon, peanut or chicken. They are made and sourced in the USA. And while not edible, these bones are far safer for your dog to chew on than rawhide – just monitor your pup while he is enjoying his chew. Benebone.com
#11 – Cooper’s Classics
Copper’s Classics products are minimally processed, single ingredient chews that are made with no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Program products are exclusively sourced from animals born and raised in the U.S. and are produced and packaged solely in U.S. plants that uphold the highest standards in food safety. They make a variety of treats including beef pizzlies, tracheas and beef and pork ears. JBSSA.com
Image source: JBS
Toledo, United States.
