Have a question you’d like to ask a vet? Send your query to pets@washingtonian.com with the subject line “Vet Q.”
Q:I often give my 50 pound dog a small rawhide treat, bully stick, or cow ear to gnaw on when I leave for work, and she always eats the whole thing. Is that OK to do pretty much on a daily basis? How many chew treats are too much?
Dr. Matthew Antkowiak, AtlasVet DC: This is a great question and one pet owners should ask more often. The answer is based on weight, activity level, breed, and age. If you have a 12-year-old Basset Hound who does not get much activity and whose metabolism is lower than it used to be, you may find that a rawhide or bully stick every day is too much. This will be evidenced by gradual weight gain. But if you have a crazy active one-year-old Labrador who gets miles of activity every day and has the metabolism of a human teenager, then this single chew treat will likely have little impact on their weight and health. Chew treats such as these are great for their teeth and I would also include antlers in the mix of these types of treats. A dog’s dental health will be vastly improved by the addition of firm, chewable items to their daily regimen. But these treats also need to be counted as calories and then increased and decreased accordingly.
Also, be mindful of your dog’s stool with certain treats. Some dogs are fine with bully sticks, but a rawhide may lead to diarrhea. We recommend trying one treat at a time. If you add three or four in the mix at the same time, and your dog has GI issues, if will be hard to tell which treat was the culprit.
If you find your less active dog requires something on a daily basis, we recommend fresh vegetables (carrots, celery, green beans, snap peas) as they are still crunchy, good for teeth and, as a bonus, will help the digestive tract.
Dr. Antkowiak is co-owner of the Atlas District Veterinary Hospital (AtlasVet). He graduated from Cornell University and currently resides in Capitol Hill.
Can My Dog Eat Too Much Rawhide?
Every other week, we get a vet to answer your pressing pet questions.
Have a question you’d like to ask a vet? Send your query to pets@washingtonian.com with the subject line “Vet Q.”
Q: I often give my 50 pound dog a small rawhide treat, bully stick, or cow ear to gnaw on when I leave for work, and she always eats the whole thing. Is that OK to do pretty much on a daily basis? How many chew treats are too much?
Dr. Matthew Antkowiak, AtlasVet DC: This is a great question and one pet owners should ask more often. The answer is based on weight, activity level, breed, and age. If you have a 12-year-old Basset Hound who does not get much activity and whose metabolism is lower than it used to be, you may find that a rawhide or bully stick every day is too much. This will be evidenced by gradual weight gain. But if you have a crazy active one-year-old Labrador who gets miles of activity every day and has the metabolism of a human teenager, then this single chew treat will likely have little impact on their weight and health. Chew treats such as these are great for their teeth and I would also include antlers in the mix of these types of treats. A dog’s dental health will be vastly improved by the addition of firm, chewable items to their daily regimen. But these treats also need to be counted as calories and then increased and decreased accordingly.
Also, be mindful of your dog’s stool with certain treats. Some dogs are fine with bully sticks, but a rawhide may lead to diarrhea. We recommend trying one treat at a time. If you add three or four in the mix at the same time, and your dog has GI issues, if will be hard to tell which treat was the culprit.
If you find your less active dog requires something on a daily basis, we recommend fresh vegetables (carrots, celery, green beans, snap peas) as they are still crunchy, good for teeth and, as a bonus, will help the digestive tract.
Dr. Antkowiak is co-owner of the Atlas District Veterinary Hospital (AtlasVet). He graduated from Cornell University and currently resides in Capitol Hill.
Most Popular in News & Politics
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
DC Pedestrian Killed by Truck Carrying Tank From Trump’s Parade, Kristi Noem Went to Hospital for Allergic Reaction, and Most Virginia Primary Results Are In
The Statue Saluting January 6 Poopers Has a Permit
Man Jumps From AU Radio Tower in Apparent Suicide
Smaller Crowds, Big Emotions for Army’s 250th: What We Heard Around DC
Washingtonian Magazine
June Issue: Pride Guide
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
The Culture of Lacrosse Is More Complex Than People Think
How a Freedom Plaza Skate Kid Started a Prominent Dog-Walking Business
Did Television Begin in Dupont Circle?
More from News & Politics
Bans on Underage Vaping, Swastika Graffiti, Synthetic Dyes: New Virginia Laws Go Into Effect in July
DC Sues More Maryland and DC Drivers
The Cell Phone Shop at the Center of the #DontMuteDC Movement Is Now a Cannabis Dispensary
Trump Declares Truce, Democrats Try to Fight Administration With Song, Driver Tells Police His National Mall Joyride Was Just a Joke
What to Know About the Dupont Circle “Deckover” Project
Nine Minutes With Jonathan Van Ness
War Not About Regime Change Upgraded to War About Regime Change, Alleged Ed Martin Spitter Faces More Spitting Charges, and We Spent a Few Minutes With Jonathan Van Ness
Trump Roams White House in Search of an Audience, Dismay in Richmond Cost Levar Stoney, and Miss Pixie’s Will Close