Natural chew bones vs. rawhide: which is healthiest for your dog?

Most dog owners have seen it: the calm that comes over the dog when it has something to work with properly between its teeth. Chewing provides mental relaxation, engages the jaw muscles and can support dental hygiene . The question is not whether dogs should chew, but what they should chew on. Here the choice between natural chewing bones and rawhide becomes relevant.

Let's cut through the myths and look at nutrition, dental care, digestion and safety. And how to choose wisely in practice.

What do we mean by “natural chew bones” and “rawhide”?

“Natural chews” are often used to refer to pure, animal-based raw materials without additives. These can include goat skin, air-dried skin strips, elk or reindeer antlers , and raw or heat-treated bones . Some varieties are tougher, others more brittle. The common denominator is that they primarily consist of collagen, minerals, and a little fat from marrow or excess tissue.

Rawhide is also an animal by-product, typically from beef. It is the collagen-rich layer of skin that is dried and formed into rolls, sticks or chips. Some rawhide products are just dried skin, others are treated to give color, flavor or longer shelf life. EU-produced varieties often state 100 percent skin with no added chemicals, while imports from outside the EU can vary in quality and process.

Both categories can be good when well-made and given sensibly. They differ mainly in texture, digestibility and risk of swallowing large lumps.

Nutrition: protein, fat and minerals

Natural chew bones and rawhide consist almost entirely of protein and minerals, with very little or no carbohydrates. Protein comes mainly from collagen, while bones and antlers are highly mineralized, not least in calcium and phosphorus.

• Goatskin often has a higher fat content than beef rawhide.
• Antlers and bones are naturally rich in calcium and phosphorus and contain trace elements such as zinc and magnesium.
• Rawhide can be quite lean, but is hard and difficult to break down.

The nutritional value is not as a meal, but as a snack. It belongs in the category of activation and dental care, not as a complete food.

Quick overview of types and content

The numbers vary between manufacturers. Always check the product's analytical components on the label.

Dental care: effective scrubbing effect, but choose hardness wisely

Chewing can act as mechanical dental cleaning. The rough, dry surface of bones and antlers helps scrape away plaque and incipient tartar, especially on the molars. The same goes for tough hides that create friction as the dog works through them.

At the same time, it is precisely the hardness that can be the problem. If the chew does not give way when the dog bites, the force is transferred to the tooth. Very hard objects can, in the worst case, cause fractures, especially in dogs that chew aggressively or bite directly with their molars. The main rule is simple: a chew bone that cannot be bent or broken slightly by the dog's jaws is too hard for many dogs.

Practically, this means that full-hard antlers and compact, immobile chews may be too ambitious for small dogs or dogs with previous dental problems. Some large dogs do fine with them. Others need softer alternatives, as well as frequent replacement when edges become sharp.

Digestion: how safely does it pass through?

Skins and rawhides break down relatively slowly in the stomach. Rawhides are known for their wide variability in solubility. What may be fine for one dog and cause problems for another if large, moist flakes are swallowed and not sufficiently softened. Bones are a special case: they are only partially digested and can cause hard, calcified stools, especially if ingested in large quantities.

The key is the size of the pieces that end up in the stomach. Large, compact lumps increase the risk of blockage further down the intestine. The dog should be allowed to chew, not swallow.

A small, often overlooked point: drinking water. Water makes chewing safer, softens the skin and helps the stomach work. Ensure fresh water access every time a chew bone is served.

What does this mean in practice for your dog?

The choice is about matching the dog's size, chewing behavior, dental status and any allergies. Natural chew bones are not one thing, but a spectrum of hardness, fat content and digestibility. Rawhide is one format, but comes in many qualities, thicknesses and origins.

Smaller dogs often benefit from softer pieces of fur, dried ears , or puppy-specific varieties. Large, strong chewers can handle thicker, tougher pieces and sturdy bones, but they still need something that gradually gives way.

Allergies narrow down the choices. If your dog reacts to beef, switch to goat or venison. Single protein sources make it manageable.

When natural chews make the most sense

There are clear advantages to pure, European products without added colors and flavors. They are transparent in the ingredient list and utilize the whole animal, which many choose for both animal welfare and environmental reasons. Antlers, bones and skin meet the dog's need to chew, can support dental hygiene and contain useful nutrients.

Rawhide can be a great choice when the quality is high and the size is right. It provides a long chewing time for few calories. But keep an eye on whether the dog forms large, soft flakes that are swallowed in one piece. This is where the risk begins.

FjeldgaardShop's approach: quality, EU selection and well-thought-out fit

At Fjeldgaardshop.dk, the selection is handpicked and tested in everyday life with our own animals, so that only the natural varieties we can vouch for end up in the store. We prioritize EU production, precisely to ensure stable processes and avoid unwanted chemicals in the processing. This applies to both rawhide and natural chewing bones in the broad sense.

We divide the range by dog ​​size and chewing power. Puppies and small breeds get more pliable alternatives and smaller formats. And yes, we focus on snacks being snacks: they are not meals.

It sounds simple, but it makes a real difference to safety. Not least in families on North Funen and the rest of Denmark, where everyday life has to function and the dog is allowed to be active without drama.

Safety: the smart routines when chewing bones

A short list that most people can follow without changing their entire daily routine:

• Server under supervision
• Choose size with margin
• Provide fresh water
• Replace when edges become sharp
• Count it into your daily calories.

After a few weeks, you'll have a good sense of what your dog does with a particular type of chew. Adjust accordingly.

When should you be extra careful?

After this introduction, it makes sense to highlight probable danger signals. They are rare, but they deserve a systematic look after the first trial period.

• Swallows large pieces
• Swallows hard, without chewing
• Signs of toothache
• Very hard stool
• Repeated vomiting shortly after chewing

If this happens, go down a notch in hardness, switch to smaller pieces, or choose a different protein source. And if in doubt, talk to your vet.

Natural or rawhide: what suits your dog best?

Both can work, but with different strengths. Here is a simple practical framework you can use when you are faced with two products in hand:

• Dental care via friction: Choose antlers or rough bones with structure, but match the hardness to the dog's jaw.
• Long chewing time with low fat: Rawhide of good EU quality, in a thickness that the dog cannot tear into large pieces.
• Allergy considerations: Change protein source. Goatskin and deer products use different proteins than beef.
• Calorie-conscious: Choose lean varieties and count the snack into your daily ration.
• Sensitive stomach: Avoid large lumps. Go for smaller, more pliable pieces and give water.

A short “shopping with care” guide from the store

After a brief introduction to dog chewing habits, it is realistic to make the right choice on your first purchase. Use this mini-guide as a checklist when shopping with us.

• Size: Choose a chew that is longer than the distance between your dog's molars so it is not swallowed whole.
• Hardness: Test with your fingers. If you can bend it a little, it is often more tooth-friendly for most dogs.
• Origin: EU production provides traceability and typically fewer additives.
• Ingredient list: One animal, one ingredient. This makes allergy management simple.
• Purpose: Activation and dental care. Not a meal.

What do the stomach, teeth and circulatory system say about calories?

Although the calories in chew bones are often lower per gram than whole food, they do count. Goat skin in particular can be high in fat compared to rawhide. If you have a dog who gains weight easily, prioritize lean varieties and reduce treats from other sources on the same day. It all adds up when you make a little adjustment here and there.

Two practical points of observation in everyday life: stool consistency and chewing pace. Both are good indicators of whether you've hit the right note.

Frequently Asked Questions

After helping many customers in the store, we encounter the same questions over and over again.

• How often can my dog ​​chew bones? : As a rule of thumb, a couple of times a week for the hard varieties and shorter sessions with chewy skins. Keep an eye on their teeth, stomach and appetite.
• Can puppies have chew bones? : Yes, but choose softer and smaller formats, and avoid extremely hard materials in the early teething phase.
• Do natural rugs smell? : Some do. Goatskin can smell more than rawhide. Air drying the room and using a washable underlay will solve most of the problems.
• Is antler good for everyone? : Not necessarily. Antlers are hard. Choose wisely, especially for small dogs and dogs with known dental problems.
• How do I know if a piece is used up? : When it becomes so small that the dog can swallow it whole, or if the edges become sharp. Remove it.

The short recommendation

For most families, a mix works well: a few times a week a structured, relatively hard chew for the dental care effect, and in between, tough, more pliable skins that provide long-term employment without challenging the teeth. Good EU-quality rawhide can easily be included, but watch out for flakes and swallowing.

At Fjeldgaardshop.dk we curate the range with that balance in mind, and we test with our own animals. Our experience is that the right fit beats everything else: correct size, appropriate hardness, clean ingredient list and safe origin. This gives peace of mind, nicer teeth and a satisfied dog that is allowed to use its instinct in a safe way.