is used in many dog chews. Some veterinarians discourage the giving of rawhide to dogs because of the animal's inability to digest the rawhide properly, sometimes causing bowel obstruction that is fatal if left untreated.

The American Kennel Club noted that the safety of rawhide dog chews depends on the dog. While smaller, softer-chewing dogs wear the rawhide down over time into safe, soft particles, larger dogs capable of breaking off and ingesting intact