7 Safe Rawhide Alternatives

Dogs love to chew! It’s a way for them to keep busy, enhance their mood, strengthen their jaw, and help scrape off plaque/tartar that’s forming on their teeth. While on the hunt for an appropriate dog chew, you’ll find A LOT of options on the market. It can be hard to decide which chews are the safest and healthiest for your dog. While we always recommend consulting with your veterinarian to discover the best chew for your dog, here are some things to watch for and our recommendations!


Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Dog Chews

It’s important to note: No dog chew is without risk. However, some options are healthier than others.

  • Ingredients: Opt for digestible chews that are made with limited ingredients. Pass on hard plastic or nylon chews, which are non-digestible and can cause GI obstruction or damage if chunks are bitten off and swallowed.
  • Size: Chews that are too small for your dog are considered a choking hazard. As a general rule, your dog shouldn’t be able to fit the entire chew in their mouth at once.
  • Density: Gnawing on extremely hard chews can lead to tooth fractures or other oral injuries. Antlers are one example of a super hard chew that many dogs have walked away from with broken teeth.
  • Avoid Cooked Bones: Before you toss your store-bought rotisserie chicken carcass, it may be tempting to toss your pup a bone. But, cooked bones like these are very brittle, making them dangerous for your dogs. Some potential dangers include splintering of the bones, cuts and/or scrapes in your dog’s mouth, choking hazard, intestinal blockage, and GI bleeding.
  • Pass on Rawhides: First things first: These bones are loaded with chemicals, dyes, and glues. According to Dogs Naturally Magazine, “Once rawhide chews have been made, they’re preserved with various chemicals, which may include formaldehyde or chromium salts. When rawhide chews have been tested, they’ve shown things like lead, arsenic, mercury and other toxic metals as well.” Along with the chemicals, rawhides are linked to choking, airway obstruction, esophageal blockages, and intestinal blockages. 

If you have any questions or concerns about chews for your dog, consult with your veterinarian.


Chew Options to Consider

1. Himalayan Yak Chews

Himalayan Yak Chews are a favorite amongst many dog parents because they’re long-lasting, easily digestible, and made of natural ingredients. These protein-rich chews are made from a mixture of yak and cow milk, salt, and lime juice. The ingredients are mixed, shaped, dried, and slowly baked to harden. While they’re made with dairy products, you’ll be happy to find out the lactose content is low. That’s thanks to the cooking process!

Are these chews still a little too hard for your liking? Or, are you looking for a safe way for your dog to enjoy the last bits after he’s whittled it down from chewing? Here’s a hack! Place your yak chew in a bowl of warm water for about 10 minutes. Then, dry it off and pop it into the microwave for 30-45 seconds. It’ll puff into a crunchy treat. Once it cools, your dog is left with a fun cheese puff!

The brand Native Pet makes a great yak chew. Their ingredients are well sourced, don’t include any fillers, and are certified organic.


2. Bully Sticks

Bully sticks are a single-ingredient chew made of beef pizzle (yes, beef penis). Traditionally, bully sticks are long straight sticks, but they come in a variety of forms. You’ll also find braided bully sticks (which are great for more aggressive chewers), rings, and twirly bully sticks. These popular chews are pretty long-lasting (depending on your dog, of course). The biggest con in our book is the smell!

When providing a bully stick for your dog to gnaw on, make sure to clip a protective holder to one end. Not only does the holder makes it easier for your pooch to hold onto the chew, but it’s a safety tool. It prevents your dog from whittling down their chew stick to an unsafe size and swallowing the last piece whole. Ultimately, this reduces the risk of choking and stomach blockage. We personally use a brand called Bully Grip and I never let my dogs chew on bully sticks without it!


3. Collagen Sticks

These sort of look like bully sticks, but they’re made from the deepest inner layer of a beef’s skin, which is extremely elastic and contains a lot of collagen. Just as it would for us, collagen benefits your dog’s skin, coat, bones, and joints. The brand Pawstruck makes well-sourced collagen chews, using free-range and grass-fed cattle. Just like with bully sticks, we highly recommend clipping on a protective holder to the bottom of your dog’s collagen stick before they engage in a chew session.


4. Beef Tracheas

Beef tracheas are a natural, protein-rich chew made from the windpipe of cows (AKA the cartilage tube that leads from the mouth to the lungs). They’re a favorite among dog parents because of their nutrients. They contain both glucosamine and chondroitin, which benefits joints and mobility. Beef trachea chews come in several different lengths. Make sure you size appropriately for your dog.


5. Cod Skins

As the name implies, these one-ingredient crunchy chews are made of dehydrated cod skin. That’s it! They’re high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for your dog’s skin, coat, and joints. There are a bunch of brands that make cod skin dog chews. We love The Honest Kitchen brand. They use 100% wild-caught, sustainably-sourced cod. This is a product of Europe and packed in the USA. All of their products are made with human-grade ingredients and produced in a human food facility. 


6. Wolffish Skins

Here’s another one-ingredient fish chew: Wolffish Skins. If you’ve never heard of a wolffish, it’s a long and slender fish that’s native to the colder parts of the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic ocean. Its skin is thick and hearty, making it perfect for a dog chew! Like other fish, the wolffish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and various other nutrients. This is another product we turn to The Honest Kitchen brand for! These chews are made in the U.S.A. in a factory that meets the FDA requirements for human-grade products, and it’s non-GMO project verified.


7. Sweet Potato Chews

If you want to go with something that isn’t animal-based then you can try sweet potato chews. We like Dr. Harvey’s Sweet Potatoe’r Chews. They’re made from 100% real dehydrated sweet potatoes, grown and dried in the USA. And the only ingredient? You guessed it – just sweet potatoes. No preservatives, no dyes, no by-products, no added salt or sugar–absolutely nothing artificial.


BONUS: Frozen Carrots

Soak a large carrot in some bone broth and pop it in the freezer for a few hours! Sure, these won’t last as long as some of the other chews on this list. However, you can breathe easy knowing they’re 100% digestible and low-fat!


Again, if you have any questions or concerns, consult with your local veterinarian to discover which chews are best for your pup! Also, always monitor your dog when gnawing on any type of chew.