Choosing Safe Chews and Treats for Your Dog

The truth is that no chew is completely without risk.

Every chew has advantages and disadvantages. The key is understanding what those are so you can choose products that fit your dog's age, size, chewing style, and overall health. An elderly Chihuahua has very different needs than a young Labrador that can reduce a chew to pieces in minutes.

Why dogs need to chew

Chewing is a normal and healthy canine behavior. It helps puppies during teething, provides mental stimulation, relieves boredom, and gives adult dogs an appropriate outlet for natural instincts.

Many edible chews may also contribute to better oral health by helping reduce plaque buildup, although they should never replace routine tooth brushing and professional dental care.

The challenge is finding products that satisfy these needs without creating unnecessary risks.

Teething toys for puppies

Puppies go through an intense chewing phase between roughly three and six months as their adult teeth come in. During this period, a sore-gummed pup will chew nearly anything, so giving them appropriate outlets protects both their mouths and your baseboards.

Look for toys made of soft, pliable rubber designed specifically for puppies rather than the firmer adult versions, which can be too hard on developing teeth and tender gums. Many teething toys are made to be frozen or filled with water and chilled; the cold provides real relief to inflamed gums. A wet, frozen washcloth works in a pinch.

Size matters as much as material. A toy should be too large to swallow but light enough for a small mouth to carry and gnaw. Inspect rubber toys regularly and discard any that develop tears or detachable pieces.

Edible options like soaked bully sticks or softer collagen chews can supplement toys, but a teething puppy should always be supervised, and very young pups do best with non-edible rubber toys until their chewing strength and digestion mature.

Rawhide: a long history with ongoing concerns

Rawhide has been a staple in the pet industry for decades, but it remains one of the most controversial chew products available.

Many owners assume rawhide is simply dried leather. In reality, it is made from the inner layer of cattle or horse hides after the outer leather layer has been removed for leather production. That sourcing is exactly why transparency matters: knowing what animal a chew came from, and how it was handled, is part of judging whether it is safe.

The hides are cleaned, processed, cut into shapes, and dried before becoming the familiar bones, rolls, and twists found on store shelves.

Physical risks

Veterinarians have documented several concerns associated with rawhide.

Large pieces may break off and become lodged in a dog's throat, creating a choking hazard. Because rawhide is difficult to digest, swallowed chunks can also cause intestinal blockages that require emergency surgery.

Some dogs experience vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal discomfort after consuming rawhide, while aggressive chewers may fracture teeth on particularly hard pieces.

Manufacturing concerns

The way rawhide is processed varies considerably among manufacturers and countries.

Historically, processing has included cleaning and preservation steps that may involve lime solutions to remove hair, salt brines during transportation, bleaching agents to improve appearance, preservatives, adhesives in some pressed products, and flavor or color coatings.

Many reputable manufacturers maintain strict quality control standards and produce safe products. Others may operate under different manufacturing regulations depending on the country of origin.

Because consumers rarely know exactly how a particular product was processed, it can be difficult to judge quality simply by reading the label.

Natural digestible chews

Fortunately, many alternatives provide a satisfying chewing experience while generally being easier to digest than traditional rawhide.

Bully sticks

Made from beef muscle tissue, bully sticks are fully digestible and highly appealing to most dogs.

Like any chew, they require supervision. The final few inches can become a choking hazard if swallowed whole, and bully sticks are relatively high in calories.

Collagen chews

Collagen chews are made from the corium layer beneath the hide rather than traditional rawhide. They tend to soften during chewing, making them generally more digestible while still lasting longer than many treats.

Beef cheek rolls

Beef cheek rolls offer a long-lasting chewing experience without many of the concerns associated with traditional rawhide. Properly prepared beef cheek softens as it is chewed and is generally easier to digest.

Beef tendons and trachea

Beef tendons provide a satisfying chew while remaining relatively digestible. Beef trachea contains natural cartilage and is often enjoyed by moderate chewers; because it is softer than many other products, it is usually consumed more quickly.

Yak cheese chews

Made from hardened milk products, yak cheese chews are extremely durable without being quite as hard as bone or antler. As they become small, the remaining piece can present a choking hazard. Many manufacturers recommend soaking and microwaving the final portion to create a crunchy puff treat rather than allowing dogs to swallow the small piece.

Beef kneecaps

Beef kneecaps combine cartilage, connective tissue, and remnants of marrow with a durable bone structure. Dogs often spend considerable time working away the softer tissues before reaching the dense bone beneath.

Once those softer tissues are gone, however, the remaining bone becomes extremely hard. Powerful chewers can fracture teeth while attempting to crush it. Kneecaps should be discarded once they begin to splinter or become small enough to swallow.

Hard natural chews

Some of the longest-lasting chews are also among the hardest. That durability comes with important tradeoffs.

Antlers

Deer and elk antlers can last for months. Unfortunately, veterinary dentists frequently see fractured premolars and carnassial teeth caused by antler chewing.

A common guideline among veterinarians is simple: if you would not want the object struck against your kneecap, it is probably too hard for your dog's teeth.

While some dogs chew antlers for years without problems, the risk of tooth fracture is significant enough that many veterinarians discourage their use.

Water buffalo and cow horns

Natural horns appeal to many dogs because they retain an animal scent and flavor. Like antlers, however, they are extremely hard. Teeth may fracture, and older horns may develop sharp edges or splinter after prolonged chewing. Damaged horns should be discarded immediately.

Cow hooves

Cow hooves are inexpensive and readily available, but they carry many of the same concerns as horns. They are hard enough to crack teeth and may split into sharp fragments. Some dogs also experience digestive upset after swallowing hoof pieces. Because of these risks, many veterinary dentists recommend avoiding hooves altogether.

Bones

Raw recreational bones continue to be a subject of debate. Some owners report years of successful use, while veterinarians continue to treat broken teeth, gastrointestinal injuries, and intestinal obstructions associated with bones.

Cooked bones should never be given to dogs under any circumstances. Cooking changes the structure of bone, making it much more likely to splinter into sharp fragments capable of injuring the mouth, throat, stomach, or intestines.

Synthetic chews

Products such as Nylabone and other nylon or polyurethane chews are often marketed as long-lasting alternatives to edible chews. They eliminate many digestive concerns because dogs are not intended to consume them — but they introduce different considerations.

Researchers are actively studying microplastic exposure in both humans and animals. While the long-term health effects of ingested microplastics in dogs are not yet fully understood, aggressive chewers gradually scrape away tiny pieces of plastic or nylon during normal use, and many owners choose to limit unnecessary exposure when suitable natural alternatives are available.

Like antlers and horns, some synthetic chews are also hard enough to fracture teeth in determined power chewers. Inspect them regularly and replace before they become damaged.

Chew safety at a glance

Chew	Digestible	Tooth fracture risk	Choking risk
Rubber teething toy	No	Very low	Low (if sized right)
Bully stick	Yes	Low	Moderate (last piece)
Collagen	Yes	Low	Low
Beef cheek	Yes	Low	Moderate
Beef kneecap	Partially	Moderate to high	Moderate
Yak cheese	Mostly	Moderate	Moderate (last piece)
Rawhide	Poorly	Moderate	High
Antlers	No	High	Low
Horns	No	High	Low
Hooves	No	High	Moderate
Nylon chews	No	Moderate to high	Low

Always pair with supervision and fresh water.

Choosing the right chew

No single chew is appropriate for every dog. When selecting one, consider your dog's age and dental health, their size and chewing strength, whether the product is digestible, how hard it is, whether the manufacturer is transparent about sourcing, and whether your dog will be supervised.

Discard any chew that becomes small enough to swallow, develops sharp edges, or begins breaking into large pieces. Fresh water should always be available during chewing sessions.

What it comes down to

Every chew involves some degree of risk. The goal is not to find an indestructible product, but to find one that provides enjoyment while minimizing the chance of injury.

For many dogs, digestible options — collagen chews, bully sticks, beef cheek rolls, tendons, trachea — strike a reasonable balance between safety and satisfaction when offered under supervision. Products that are exceptionally hard, including antlers, horns, hooves, some bones, and certain synthetic chews, deserve careful consideration because of their association with fractured teeth.

The best chew is one that matches your individual dog, is used responsibly, and comes from a manufacturer that is transparent about its ingredients and production methods.

Additional resources

This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. When in doubt about a chew or your dog's dental health, consult your veterinarian.