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What
to chew and not to chew
The nasty
habit of dogs can be beneficial if properly directed
BY
JEAN STARR
Times Correspondent
 Think of countless
pieces of furniture, clothing and household items that have suffered the
attentions of a young dog with too much time on its paws.
And then consider the amount of energy collected in the body of a dog that lies
around all day waiting for the humans to come home. Seattle animal behaviorist
Colleen Paige says dogs chew to relieve tension from boredom or separation
anxiety. For most dogs, she explains, a few chew toys and a minimum of 20
minutes of aerobic exercise daily will alleviate the problem. "Don't forget,''
said Paige, "a tired dog is a good dog.''
She recommends signing up your canine for a local doggie daycare to provide the
activity and exercise your dog needs.
"You'll see that chewing gone in no time flat,'' she said.
Too much freedom for a puppy almost always leads to trouble. From shoes and
chair legs to carpeting and their own canine beds, young dogs seem to make a
career out of destruction. Chewing unsanctioned household items not only gets
expensive when they have to be replaced, it can be harmful to the chewer,
leading to intestinal blockage if indigestible material is swallowed.
"Puppies chew because they are most likely teething or exploring their
environment,'' Paige explained. "One way to help keep destruction at a minimum
is to crate the puppy during the day and leave chew toys such as a small KONG
toy with them.''
For teething puppies, Paige recommends a simply-made chew toy. Cut an old
kitchen towel in half, tie it in knots, soak it in water, put it in a freezer
bag and into the freezer until solid. The icy towel helps numb a pup's gums that
are sore from teething. Be sure to keep an eye on its progress, as swallowed
fabric can cause intestinal blockage.
Some dogs never have a problem with rawhide treats. But they are not for dogs
that become obsessed with devouring them before going on to their next pursuit.
Paige explains that rawhide swells up to five times its size and takes two weeks
to fully digest.
"An aggressive chewer may end up flat on his back in surgery to remove an
intestinal blockage,'' Paige said. "Be careful. Once in a while is OK if it is a
naturally processed hide and if you only give a small amount daily.''
For the most part, Paige is not thrilled with rawhide. Its quality varies, and
it can harbor bacteria. She describes the types most commonly sold in the U.S.:
* Oriental Water Buffalo: Raised to work in the fields of countries like China,
Thailand, and Korea, they are a common source of rawhide. Rawhide is not
regulated and the foreign hides may contain detrimental things such as
antibiotics, lead, or insecticides that could adversely affect the health of
your dog.
* South American Range Cows: These animals are fed on grass and typically have
little fat and a rough, fibrous consistency. They are warm-weather animals with
a thinner skin. They seem to produce the least sought-after rawhide.
* American beef hide: Corn-fed beef raised in the U.S. supplies a thick,
palatable and high-quality chew. American beef hide is considered the source of
choice for premium chews.
Rawhide is full of bacteria a few hours after it is chewed.
"That bacteria can be transferred to you or your children if your dog is a
licker, and make you very sick,'' said Paige. "Be sure to refrigerate any and
all protein-type chew toys after 30 minutes of being chewed on. As long as you
refrigerate rawhide, it will stay fresh for days.''
Paige discourages rawhide and suggests pork skin products to her clients. Pork
skin, such as pig ears and compressed pork skin bones, do not swell in the
stomach. They digest easily and taste as good or better than rawhide. Also on
Paige's approved chew toy list are Kong toys.
"You can stuff them full of peanut butter or cheese and wonder where your dog
has been for the last 60 minutes,'' said Paige.
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