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| Our trained staff at Pet Factory
have received and answered numerous questions from concerned
pet owners and pet product distributors. Listed below are some
of the most frequent inquiries we have received.
If you do not see the answer to your question,
feel free to call 1-800-468-3315 toll free, or send
us an e-mail.
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What is rawhide?
What is Rawhide made from?
What makes Rawhide so tough?
Where does Rawhide come from?
How is Rawhide processed?
Will my dog chew such a hard rawhide?
How can chews help my dog?
How do I tell Country of Origin?
What do I need to know about basted rawhide?
Are basted items non-staining?
How often should I feed chews?
Which size and shape should I chose?
Which dogs should not have chews? |
| What
is Rawhide? |
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Rawhide is the inner layer of the
hide of any cleft-hoofed bovine livestock. Beef-Hide
is premium rawhide made from cows raised for consumption. American
Beef-Hide is derived from corn-fed cows within U.S. borders. |
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What
is Rawhide made from?
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The animal's skin is split into inner
and outer layers. The tough outer layer is used for leather
shoes, garments, and upholstery, while the softer inner layer
is cut and formed into different shapes for dog chews. |
| What
makes Rawhide so tough? |
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Collagen fibers link to make the
animal's hide tough yet flexible. Human skin has the same basic
structure but is much thinner. |
| Where
does Rawhide come from? |
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The quality of rawhide is often related
to its country of origin: |
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American Beef-hide: Corn-fed
beef raised in the U.S. supply a thick, palatable and high quality
chew. American beef-hide is considered "The Source" of choice
for premium chews |
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Oriental Water-Buffalo: Raised
to work in the fields of countries like China, Korea and Thailand,
they are a common source of imported rawhide. |
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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 Rawhide processed? |
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The animal's hide is transported
to processing plants where it is split, washed, and cleaned.
The hides are then cut, formed and dried into many varieties
of rawhide you see in the stores. In less developed countries
a lack of modern roads and refrigeration trucks often requires
the use of preservatives to get skins from outer-lying areas
to processing plants. In the U.S. fresh beef-hides are refrigerated
during shipping to prevent degradation , spoilage, fouling and
the need for chemical additives |
| Will
my dog chew such a hard rawhide? |
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When collagen in the skin dries out,
it becomes stiff. As your dog chews, the saliva moistens and
softens the rawhide. Foreign rawhide is often sun parched while
U.S. beef-hide is oven dried to prevent over drying. Smooth
shiny areas on a chew are a sign of heat breakdown indicating
an extremely hard area that the dog may not be able to soften. |
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How
can chews help my dog?
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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. |
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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.
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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? |
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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. |
| What
do I need to know about basted rawhide? |
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Basting ingredients are procured
from flavor producing companies that cater to the food industry.
USDA and other governmental requirements ensure the quality
for U.S. goods. Foreign imported rawhide must use U.S. made
basting products or a U.S. approved basted products. |
| Are
basted items non-staining? |
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Some basted rawhide claims to be
non-staining. Generally, the food colors used are water soluble
and once wet can run and will most likely stain. Clear
Basted American Beef-hide has the flavor your dog wants
and is safe for your carpets and upholstery leaving only faint
indications of any staining if any at all. |
| How
often should I feed chews? |
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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? |
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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? |
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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. |
