Bully Sticks Vs. Rawhide:  The Great Debate
Author: Avrum Elmakis

As more and more pet owners search for treats and chews that
their pets will enjoy and are good for them at the same time,
the debate between two popular types of dog treats is raised
once again. Which is better – bully sticks or rawhide? While
each dog treat has supporters and detractors, a more in depth
look at both may help to make the decision easier when you're
looking at both in the aisles of your local pet supply store.

Rawhide

Rawhide treats and chews have been around seemingly forever.
Lining the aisles of pet supply stores, rawhide chews are
available in a huge variety of sizes for both puppies and larger
dogs, shapes that range from bones to twists and ties, and
flavors including chicken, beef, lamb and duck.

The biggest appeal of rawhide is how affordable it is.
Available both individually and in bulk, rawhide dog treats can
cost less than a dollar a piece, while lasting for weeks and
sometimes even months at a time. Considered suitable for dogs
both small and large, compressed rawhide is generally reserved
for smaller breeds as it can become a choking hazard for larger
dogs when they attempt to swallow pieces of it whole.

Rawhide dog treats are often criticized for a number of
different reasons, not the least of which is the choking hazard
they can present if broken into smaller pieces through use and
the inability of most dogs to actually digest the rawhide they
do ingest, instead having pass through their digestive tract
where it can cause damage if there are sharp ridges on the
ingested piece. Because of this, more and more dog owners are
turning to dog treats that don't present a choking hazard and
that can be digested by their pets as they would their food.

Bully Sticks

With the panic caused by contaminated pet food in 2007, there
grew a huge demand for all natural dog chews and treats. Because
of that, bully sticks have grown in popularity with pet owners
all over the country in search of dog treats that they feel
comfortable with and that their dogs will enjoy.

Unlike rawhide treats, bully sticks are made from the beef of
the cow, not the hide, allowing for it to be digested and
processed by the dog as it would their food instead of passing
it through their system like rawhide. Much like rawhide, bully
sticks are available in numerous sizes, from just a few inches
for smaller breeds to nearly a yard long for larger dogs, styles
including braided bully sticks as a way to work the teeth and
jaw muscles, and flavors that include chicken treats for dogs
and lamb treats for dogs among others.

Much like rawhide treats, bully sticks can last from a few days
to a few weeks, depending on the size of the treat given to the
dog, and while with larger breeds and rawhide you have to be
wary of the choking hazard from broken pieces, bully sticks are
easily digested by breeds both large and small and won't chip
and break to present a choking hazard like rawhide.

Which One to Choose

While technically neither choice is incorrect, when it really
comes down to it, the trend of dog treats and chews seems to be
moving more towards bully sticks simply because of their status
as an all natural treat that can be digested just like food
without any worry of contamination. With plenty of flavors,
sizes, and styles to suit every size and type of dog, bully
sticks are quickly taking the place of rawhide on the aisles of
pet supply stores around the country.


About The Author: About the Author Avrum Elmakis is the
president of Best Bully Sticks, a leading provider of dog
treats, bully sticks, beef trachea, and other all natural dog
chews and treats. They can be found online at:
http://www.bestbullysticks.com .