An Alternative to Rawhide?

It's not news that dogs are considered full-fledged family members in many households today. Pet owners increasingly value high-quality care for their loyal companions, leading to a rising demand for nutritious food and healthy treats. This trend seems to clash with the traditional sale of rawhide. Why are dog owners starting to question this treat, and what are the healthy and safe alternatives to rawhide? Find out in this article.

A well-known treat to satisfy a dog's chewing needs is dried skin snacks, also known as 'rawhide.' However, more and more pet owners are consciously opting out of this choice. In the US, Petco, one of the country's largest pet store chains with 1500 locations, even decided to completely halt the sale of rawhide in 2021. They made this choice because nearly three-quarters of their customers expressed concerns about poor digestibility, risks of choking and obstruction, and the processing of ingredients related to rawhide. We are also now aware that a French retail chain is planning to discontinue the sale of rawhide, clearly indicating that this awareness is also growing in Europe.

Digestibility

Rawhide is generally indeed poorly digestible (average digestibility of 40-50%). By chewing on it extensively, the dried skin becomes soft and stretchy, allowing a dog to sometimes pull or bite off large pieces. These large, tough pieces can pose risks of choking and obstruction. Such a piece can get stuck in the throat or esophagus, but due to its low digestibility, it can also get lodged in the stomach or intestines.

Snacking & Chewing

Knowing that consumers are looking for alternatives to dried skin snacks, what do you offer to your customers? Based on consumer trends and market developments, we see roughly two alternatives: on one hand, there are safe and healthy chew treats, and on the other hand, there is sturdy and durable chew toys. Warmako has therefore carefully considered options in both areas and made a selection of responsible and high-quality products.

Nothin’ To Hide

Nothin’ To Hide is an innovative alternative to dried skin snacks. These premium chew treats are made from beef collagen and have very high digestibility (96.7%). With this, Nothin’ To Hide offers a solution to the risks associated with traditional rawhide. The treats are oven-baked and then coated with a layer of real chicken or beef (no artificial flavors), ensuring optimal acceptance.

The chew treats from Nothin’ To Hide are made with a base of collagen, a substance naturally found in tissues. Collagen is obtained naturally by extracting it from the hides and bones of cattle. Dogs not only find this incredibly tasty, but it's also very healthy, aligning with the growing demand for delicious and nutritious snacks. Collagen has many proven health benefits for animals, such as reducing joint pain, improving skin and coat, and enhancing digestion.

Strong & Durable Chew Toys

For some dogs, a regular chew treat is sufficient to meet their chewing needs, but there are also dogs that want to chew more. To prevent frustration, stress, and destructive behavior, it's important to meet this need while not allowing the dog to snack all day. In that case, offer strong and durable chew toys that the dog can sink its teeth into, without consuming unlimited calories. Think of West Paw's chew toys like the Hurley or Rumpus, or our new Bam-Bones with a tasty flavor.

Bam-Bones

Bam-Bones combines the natural strength of bamboo fibers with nylon fibers, resulting in extra strong and durable chew toys that are suitable for strong chewers. The delicious beef or chicken flavor entices the dog to sink its teeth into this chew bone even more. Bam-Bones is available in an Easy Grip variant that can be easily held stable due to its ergonomic shape, and in a wood and bamboo stick variant.

Interested in Nothin’ To Hide or Bam-Bones? Order easily online or inquire with your advisor: Denny Vermulm (tel. 06 57 12 24 45) or Tim van Westerveld (tel. 06 13 55 66 61).