Rawhide vs Yak Chews for Dogs: The Truth Every Owner Should Know

Picking the right dog chew can be tricky when you are facing a wall of products in the Supermarket, all vying for your attention with clever marketing. Yak chews and rawhide may look like similar products, but there is a huge difference between them. One is good for your dog, while the other can arguably be very bad (according to some vets). This guide compares yak chews and rawhide to help you with your buying decision.

What are yak chews for dogs?

Yak chews are made in the Himalayas and imported from Nepal. The recipe is hundreds of years old and actually eaten by humans; herdsmen used to take this hard cheese,‘Chhurpi’, out on their mountain treks while they gathered their sheep. The recipes remain the same – yak and cow’s milk, salt, and lime, then air dried for a month until all the moisture has gone.

These chews look like firm blocks of cheese and are popular with dogs. Many owners notice their dogs relax and chew quietly when enjoying a yak chew.

What is rawhide?

Rawhide comes from the inner layer of cow or horse hides, a by-product from the leather industry (not even the food industry). It is chemically created to puff it up, then bleached or treated to make it look bright white, which is a pretty grim thought.

Rawhide products have been around for years, but dog owners are only just learning about how they are made.   It’s actually quite shocking if you look at all the dog treats available and see how many contain rawhide.

Many manufacturers also try to hide the fact that they are made of rawhide.

How They Compare for Safety

This is where the big differences can be seen. Yak chews for dogs will become softer as your dog chews away, so they don’t damage their teeth. Small bits will then break off that can be chewed and swallowed without splintering.

Rawhide is totally different. Large chunks of rawhide can break off and will sit in your dog’s stomach undigested. Though dogs have heavy-duty stomach acids to break foods down, highly processed rawhide is not one of them.  It’s simply not ‘food’ after all the processing.

Some dogs may be OK with rawhide if they only lick, but they are like mine, pure greedy scavengers that will eat the whole thing; they could be in trouble.

Digestibility and Ingredients

Yak chews are made from natural ingredients as discussed above.  The process also removes a lot of the lactose from the product,  which is great, as most dogs cannot tolerate lactose. Mine definitely can’t, I’ve seen the aftermath on my kitchen floor!

Yak chews are high in protein and calcium, so they are actually beneficial for your dog i.e. they are actually real food.

Rawhide has zero nutritional value and is undigestible for the majority of dogs.

Chewing Experience

All dogs will chew differently, often depending on how greedy they are. I’ve seen dogs calmly just lick chews while others try and swollw them whole.

Yak chews work well for most dogs, even if they are greedy. The chew slowly softens over time without huge chunks breaking off.

Rawhide can satisfy dogs with strong chewing urges that want to devour them. The problem is when they tear large strips off faster than they can actually swallow them.

Rawhide V Yak Chew Prices

Rawhide chews are cheaper than Yak chews as they are mass-produced with cheap ingredients.  Though Yak chews are more expensive, they generally last longer, so the price per time chewing (if that’s a metric!) is the same.  

Raw hide chews average around £10 for a pack of 10-15 chews in supermarkets, while Floppy Ear sells x4 Yak chews for £9.60. 

Cleanliness and Smell

Yak chews win here again; they hardly have any smell, well, not to us humans. They probably smell pretty good to dogs, though.  They also stay firm without leaving a soggy mess on your lovely cream carpet.

Rawhide can turn soggy after a while, leaving a slimy mess on floors and bedding.  

Which One Is Better Overall?

For the majority of dogs, whatever the breed,  yak chews come out on top. The combination of safety and natural ingredients makes them a winner.  This is not only a personal opinion, but the majority of vets would also agree.

Quick Comparison at a Glance

• Yak chews are usually safer for digestion.
• Rawhide can be risky for dogs that gulp or chew aggressively.
• Yak chews last longer for most moderate chewers.
• Rawhide becomes sticky and soft, which some dogs love, but many owners do not.
• Yak chews have almost no smell.
• Rawhide can vary a lot in quality depending on where it is made.

Verdict

The winner is clearly Yak chews, according to vets and dog owners.  Rawhide chews have a bad reputation, and we recommend reading the product labels carefully when you buy dog treats.  Many brands will try to disguise the rawhide in a coating.