Looking for a chew bone for your dog? Before you reach for one, it's worth taking a closer look, because not every chew bone is a good choice. Many classic chew bones are made from pressed cowhide, and there are a few things to bear in mind.
What are chew bones for dogs?
Chew bones are usually shaped chews made from pressed or rolled cowhide, more rarely real bones. They're meant to keep the dog occupied for a long time. The problem: pressed rawhide swells up in the stomach, is hard to digest, and large swallowed pieces can lead to constipation or, in the worst case, a blockage. Real, hard long bones, in turn, carry a risk of broken teeth and splinters.
Do chew bones make sense for dogs?
For pure chewing enjoyment, there are much safer options. A chew bone made from pressed rawhide is exactly what many vets tend to advise against. Natural chews that are fully digestible and don't swell up dangerously while being chewed make more sense.
Our recommendation: natural, easily digestible chews
If you want to give your dog a long, healthy chewing occupation, at kauliebe we deliberately rely on single-protein natural meat chews. The classic is the bully stick: tough, long-lasting, fully digestible and made from just one ingredient. We explain exactly what a bully stick is and why it's so popular in our guide Bully sticks for dogs. If you're after some variety, you'll find plenty more varieties in our natural chews, from beef to horse to goat, all air-dried and free from additives.
A rawhide chew bone or a natural chew? The honest comparison
To help you weigh things up better, here are the key differences between a hard chew such as a rawhide chew bone and a natural meat chew:
- Digestibility: Meat chews are digested by the dog, whereas hard wood and pressed rawhide are not, or only poorly. Swallowed pieces can cause problems.
- Risk of injury: Very hard materials can damage teeth or splinter. A tough but yielding meat chew is gentler here.
- Nutritional value: A natural meat chew provides protein and is itself a small contribution to the diet. Wood and rawhide provide nothing.
- Ingredients: At kauliebe, every chew contains just one single, clearly declared type of meat, with no grain, sugar or artificial additives.
What to look out for with a chew
Whichever chew you choose: always pick a size your dog can't swallow whole, and keep an eye on them while they chew, especially with the small leftover piece. Provide fresh water, as dried chews are thirst-inducing. And look out for a short, honest ingredients list. The more natural and digestible, the safer the chewing fun. This is exactly the principle behind how we put together our natural chews, from the long-lasting bully stick to rare varieties for sensitive dogs.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a dog chew at a time?
A good chewing session can easily last anywhere from a few minutes to a good quarter of an hour. Keep an eye on your dog while they do, especially with the last small leftover piece.
How do I recognise a good chew?
By a short, honest ingredients list made up of a single type of meat, with no grain, sugar or artificial additives, and by gentle drying. Fresh water should always be available while chewing.
