My ridgeback puppy (13 weeks) has just swallowed a piece of raw hide chew - it was about the size of an old 50p - i went to grab it when i saw he'd chewed it off the main one - unfortunately he was quicker than i was.  I'm really worried as i've read plenty of horror stories of them getting stuck in airwaves/intestines.  I guess the airwaves issue is ok as its been well and truly swallowed however i'm worried about the stomach lining etc.  What action would anyone advise or should i wait and see if he becomes in distress, drinking loads, constipated etc?? 

If you've heard the horror stories why give them to him?

I'm sorry but I wouldn't personally let any dog have raw hide and where I work don't advise puppies under 6 months having it.

I would just say keep an eye on the dog, if he starts looking/acting poorly then get him to the vets ASAP but most of the time it will most likely just come out the other end.

I've heard the horror stories SINCE him swallowing it.  I was concerned that he'd swallowed it so thought i'd check to see if others had similar experiences.  I spoke the breeder before buying anything for him and was advised that they the big bone shaped ones were fine but to avoid strips and dyed ones.

Sorry - pressed Post to soon.  Thanks for your prompt response and advise.  He seems fine now but i will certainly keep a close eye on him.  Thanks again.

Ahh sorry didn't relise it was after the incident you found this out.

Any rawhide (no matter what shape or colour) is goign to come off in small, soft peices.  Unfortantly you can never quite always get to the peices before they do! but the size he swallowed was small and is less likely to cause any problems.

Maybe in future, especially whist he is younger, stick to treats rather then chews.  If you want to keep him occupied do you know about kongs or nylabones?

Hi Winston3
I'm sure he'll be fine.  I expect thousands of people give their dogs rawhide chews every day with no problems, but, as ice_queen suggests, there are alternatives.  Have you thought of giving real bones - raw of course.  I'm sure your pup would love it - my lot certainly do!

Feel free to pm if you want to talk Ridgies - there are a few of us on here!
Carina

Hi Ridgie lover - Thanks for your response.  I have avoided real bones as my vet advised that it can trigger food guarding - altho having said that - he shows no signs of that.  I dont ever remove his food after giving it to him but he is fine about me taking his rawhide bone and being close to him when eating etc.  Its really hard to know what is best practice as there is so much conflicting advice around!  This is my first puppy - although my family has always had dogs.  We always had wire haired dachunds and they had bones, rawhide chews etc and all lived till 16 and 17 - with no chockings etc.  Now i have a puppy of my own, i'm trying to do it all by the book - e.g he's crate trained, going to classes etc etc but its hard to know what the best practices are!  THe internet is great but sometimes there is just too much information!!  I realise this is unrelated to Dog Health so not sure if i can post this question here but what would you advise as a general day collar?  He currently is just about to outgrow his puppy nylon one.  I was going to replace this with a nylon half check collar?  Would you think this is suitable?  Apologies if i should be posting this elsewhere on the site.

I have a couple of Kongs - which he isn't massively interested in - i've tried putting the special kong bisuits in the end however he just snaps off the bit he can easily get to and then leaves the bit inside - i've also tried the paste and peanut butter but still not much interest!  I feed him nutro which comes in small biscuits so i've stuck them into the grooves of his dental kong - that keeps him quiet for 2 seconds!  I was just about to go out and get a nylabone when my OH forwarded me the following linkhttp://www.dooyoo.co.uk/pets-and-animals/nylabone-dental-chew-toys/437978/ - telling of the dangers of nylabone!  It seems nothing is safe!  He loves to chew so i'm a bit stumped as to what to give him now.  i found the following link http://www.companyofanimals.co.uk/kongrecipe.php  which has some rather odd kong stuffing recipies - i will give some of these a try and see if they can spark some interest in his Kong.  Its a shame about the rawhide - although i never left him alone with it - i would frequently let him chew away whilst i worked on the pc next to his pen - unfortunately as you say - they can move at the speed of light when required!!  If you know of any other products i would be very interested.  I'm assuming that the real bones you can get (they come as either stuffed or not) are equally dodgy as bits could splinter off? 

I'm assuming that the real bones you can get (they come as either stuffed or not) are equally dodgy as bits could splinter off? 

I personally wouldn't use the bones you mention as they are cooked and yes cooked bones do splinter. I give our dog raw bones ( he is raw fed anyway). You could try your dog with a raw (never cooked) marrow bone from the butcher - but as he is so young I would extract as much of the marrow bone as possible to begin with in order to prevent a loose tum. As he gets more used to them you can leave more of the marrow in them.

Even at 13 weeks old you could give him a raw marrow bone, much safer than the raw hide chews and much better for him too.  Remove some of the marrow as this could give him the runs.  Don't be tempted to give him any of those cooked bones you find in pet shops as these can splinter!

My dogs, and the dogs before them, and the ones before them have been eating all sorts of shapes and colours of rawhide chews and I've never had a problem. I don't lift them up -sometimes they swallow huge soggy bits of them. They also eat raw bones - which they actually can break bits off and even raw straight leg bones can splinter but again they've never had a problem. They've also eaten cooked marrow bones - no problem. :)

mine too chaumsong, they have rawhide all the time - never had a problem. they love them and all the other types of treat just dont last long enough to let them get a good chew.  :-)

Personally, I think that the choice whether to give rawhide or not is up to each individual and I would neither recommend it or advise against it. I have given it a few times but can't rest or take my eyes off the dog for the whole time they have it. The last time Harvey had one he swallowed a big chunk and I worried myself sick so I have chose not to give it again. Personal choice really - are you prepared to take the risk.