Are You Still Feeding Raw Hide Chews To Your Dogs?

Commercial Preparation Of Raw Hide Chews

Have you ever wondered how rawhides are prepared? Rawhides are the most popular form of dog chews across the world. Raw Hide Chews that are prepared and manufactured from rawhides last long and can entertain your pet for hours. However, there has always been a ton of questions and apprehensions concerning rawhides. While it is important to provide your dogs with something to chew on, as chewing is vital for a dog’s health, you should also consider the quality of your dog chews. Rawhide is basically a by-product of the leather industry that is used in the production of dog chews. That is why rawhides are leather chews. Read on to know what goes into the commercial preparation of rawhides, which are the most widely accepted form of dog chews. This will help you decide how good these chews are to your pet.  

Step 1: The Tannery

Cattle hides from various slaughterhouses are shipped to tanneries to undergo processing. At the tannery, the hides are treated with a chemical bath to help preserve and avoid spoilage of the product during transportation to various places. What exactly happens in the tannery? The hides are soaked and treated with a toxic chemical- sodium sulfite liming. Sometimes, the ash-lye solution too is used. This process ensures the removal of hair and fat that are attached as layers to the hides. The process isn’t over yet. The hides are then treated with chemicals that help in the splitting of the hide into layers.

Step 2: Post-Tannery Chemical Processing

After the completion of the first step, the inner layer of the hide will be obtained. During the post-tannery step, the hides will be whitened after washing them by using a solution of hydrogen peroxide or bleach. What will this accomplish? The removal of the foul and moldy smell of the leather. If the hydrogen peroxide or bleach used aren’t concentrated, a ton of other chemicals too will be used. In some countries where there are permissions to do so, arsenic and formaldehyde are used. 

Step 3: Refining The Look

This is where the hides are dressed up to look pretty and taste appetizing. Artificial dyes, flavors are added to make the chews white and beautiful looking. Some experts suggest that titanium oxide is painted to make the chews pretty. The hides are cut into different shapes, using molds and are baked and smoked at a suitable temperature. An extensive process of decorative tinting happens during this phase. 

Step 4: The Preservation And Packaging

It’s time for preserving and packaging the chews! Various chemicals like Lead, Formaldehyde, Arsenic, and Chromium are used to preserve the final product and have a longer shelf life. In addition, preservatives like sodium benzoate are also used to ensure that the chews don’t go through any form of spoilage and they stay glued and in shape. The chews are finally ready to be shipped to all the pet stores.

Most of the dog chews that are available in the market, apart from the all-natural dog chews, undergo a lot of chemical processing as we discussed above. Pick chews that will aid in the growth and the overall development of your pet. After all, your dog is your best friend!