DOG BONES - all about pressed rawhide dog bones, compressed rawhide and dog chew treats

Pressed Rawhide Bone Chew Treats

Dogs have a natural instint to chew. Chewing cleans their teeth, strengthens their gums, and regulates their digestive juices.

Dogs are carnivorous creatures. In the wild, they would consume entire animals, including skin and bone.

Compressed rawhide, or "pressed rawhide", purchased from a reputable manufacturer is a natural product which contains nothing but bits of rawhide pressed into the desired shape.

Compressed rawhide is a good chew treat choice for dogs who are aggressive chewers. Compressed rawhide bones last longer and deter dogs from biting off and swallowing small bits of rawhide. Compressed rawhide lasts three to five times longer than regular rawhide.

All about pressed rawhide chew treats

*The following information is provided coutesy of Pet Factory, manufacturer of USA rawhide dog treat products. Please do not reprint without permission.

What is pressed rawhide?

Rawhide is the inner layer of the hide of any cleft-hoofed bovine livestock. Pressed, or "compressed" rawhide is bits of rawhide, compressed under high pressure, into shapes.

What is compressed rawhide made from?

When manufactured by a reputable manufacturer, compressed rawhide contains only rawhide pieces. The rawhide used in generally the lower grade, less consistently light colored skins.

What makes compressed Rawhide so tough?

Collagen fibers bind the chopped rawhide pieces together into the desired shape. Dogs who tend to bite off and gulp pieces of regular rawhide bones are less likely to be able to do so with pressed products. This is because the dog's saliva can't saturate the dense compression.

Where does Rawhide come from?

The quality of rawhide is often related to its country of origin:

American Beef-hide: Pressed rawhide products are NOT manufactured in the USA.

Oriental Water-Buffalo: Raised to work in the fields of countries like China, Korea and Thailand, they are a common source of imported rawhide.

South American Range Cows: These animals are fed on grass and typically have little fat and a rough, fibrous consistency. They are warm weather animals with a thinner skin.

How is pressed Rawhide processed?

To make pressed treats, rawhide is chopped and ground into a granulated substance, moistened, and pressed by machine, under high pressure, into desired shapes.

Will my dog chew such a hard rawhide?

When collagen in the skin dries out, it becomes stiff. As your dog chews, the saliva moistens and softens the rawhide. Because of the dense consistency of pressed rawhide, the smooth shiny areas are a sign of heat breakdown indicating an extremely hard area that the dog may not be able to soften.

How can chews help my dog?

Natural tendencies of wild canines and their predecessors was to sink their teeth into their prey and pull away on the hides stripping the skin and meat. Inherent in this feeding processes was the beneficial action of the tugging and pressure on the teeth and gums which served to toughen the gums and clean the teeth for a continuously healthy mouth. Chews offer two valuable benefits to your dog.

Dental Benefits
Infections, kidney and heart disease can result when poor dental health gives bacteria an environment to enter your dog's body. Bacteria in the dog's mouth breaks down food particles and converts them to plaque and excess acid. The plaque can become mineralized to form a hard deposit on the tooth surface called "calculus." The excess acid damages the gums resulting in gingivitis. Unchecked gingivitis results in periodontitis, the leading cause of tooth loss. As rawhide is chewed and moistened, it wraps around the teeth and rubs off plaque and calculi.

Behavior Benefits
All dogs have an inherent desire to chew, especially puppies. Aberrant chewing can be a sign of lack of exercise or a vitamin deficiency, but it is most often a normal desire to chew. This drive can exhibit itself on furniture and clothing items. Beef-hide offers a dog a safe chewing outlet.

How do I tell Country of Origin?

Country of Origin is required packaging information. Look closely for indications of imitations of U.S. Beef-hide such as "Made from U.S. Beef-hide in China or Mexico" or "Product of S America." This is a further indication that even the importers recognize the value of U.S. Beef-hide.

How often should I feed chews?

Rawhide is not a food, but a safe chewable toy that can be, and most often is, consumed. It is 80-85% protein, 10-12% fiber and moisture, and 1-2% fat. High in protein, low in fat, especially compared to pig ears and other pork skin products, and fewer calories per ounce than a typical dog biscuit. One or two hours of daily chewing is sufficient.

Which size and shape should I chose?

Fortunately, chews come in every size and shape imaginable. It is important that the chew be large enough and thick enough that your dog cannot easily chew off and swallow a large piece or the whole chew. Rawhide that requires more than 7 days to chew should be replaced due to dirt and bacteria buildup.

Which dogs should not have chews?

If your dog has gastrointestinal disease or is eating a therapeutic diet, you should seek a veterinarian's approval before feeding any chews. Dogs with beef allergies or that consistently swallow bones whole should probably not receive chews unattended.

Are there any dangers in pressed rawhide products?

Buy ONLY from reputable manufacturers. Poorer grade, cheaper treats tend to be too dry and can break off into smaller, sharp slivers, which can hurt your dog.

The lowest prices on PRESSED RAWHIDE products are on the internet at www.i-pets.com

Since 1998 Internet Pet Supplies has sold high quality, made in the USA rawhide dog bones, dogs chew and treat items for your companion animal.