Consumption of compressed dental or durable chews should be slow and deliberate. When choosing an appropriate chew, they should avoid products that their pets can consume in significant pieces. The ASPCA encourages pet guardians to understand the chewing habits and preferences of their individual dogs. Excessively small products or products that fragment should not be offered as pet toys to any dog, as intestinal blockage requiring surgical removal can occur. Rubber or hard plastic toys are not designed for consumption and should not fragment into smaller pieces that can be swallowed. Inappropriately small chews may also be swallowed whole, resulting in choking or blockage. Overly aggressive chewers may consume large chunks, leading to intestinal obstruction requiring surgical intervention. Pet parents should match these products with appropriate moderate to light chewers. Although these products differ in specific formulation, their purpose is for extended chewing followed by consumption of small pieces. Guardians should discard these chews before they become excessively worn.Įdible compressed chews have gained popularity because of their attractive taste and advertised dental benefits. Dogs who find these chews desirable will slowly wear down the ends of the chews, resulting in thin sections that can be broken off and swallowed. Pet parents should choose a product size consistent with their pet’s size and chewing habits. These products are well suited for aggressive chewers. Obstruction may be more likely to occur in smaller dogs.ĭurable chew products typically are manufactured from plastics, including nylon and other synthetic polymers impregnated with flavorings. Pet parents should limit the amount of rawhide consumed at any given time and discourage consumption of significant pieces that could cause choking or gastrointestinal obstruction. Most dogs find rawhide chews highly palatable and often consume an entire chew during a single session. Rawhide chews are available in many sizes, shapes and flavors, as well as in compressed or natural form. Rawhide chews are manufactured from animal hides. Small, bite-sized treats are appropriate as a reward for any dog as long as the amount provided is adjusted to remain nutritionally appropriate, neither providing too many calories nor causing the overall diet to become unbalanced. Larger, durable products are appropriate for large breeds and/or aggressive/frenzied chewers who might otherwise quickly consume the toy or treat object. In addition, chewing may provide dental health benefits.Īnimal product manufacturers typically design edible flavored or dental chews, rawhide and other toys for puppies and dogs who are average or moderate chewers. Others use chew toys and treats to reward their dogs for desired responses during training. Adult dogs appear to find chewing a pleasurable way to pass the time when they are bored or restless many guardians avoid destructive chewing of home furnishings by providing their dogs with appropriate chew toys when they must leave them alone. Virtually all puppies chew objects as they explore the world with their mouths and while they are teething, presumably to relieve discomfort in their gums. The ASPCA recognizes that chewing is a natural behavior in canines.

Rawhide bones bad for dogs