Raw Hide

[Bobby Jones]

I have heard that Raw Hide bones made for dogs from other countries may have led in them... and that the U.S.A. has laws and regulations against this... is this true and how do you know ? The only Raw Hide I have seen around here says it is made in the U.S.A. and I have never seen any Raw Hide made from or in another country around here... Are there bad companies in the U.S.A. and how does the led get into the Raw Hide ?

[Sweet Pea]

There's more than just lead in some rawhide.  Arsenic, mercury, chromium salts, formaldehyde, and other toxic chemicals have been detected in low-quality hides. Carefully read your rawhide because while it may come from American beef, the hides often get shipped and processed in China and South America. Of course there are bad companies in the USA too. There are plenty of bad dog food companies so I would imagine the same could be said for rawhide suppliers. One company that is definitely made AND processed in the US is Wholesome Hide, but they are not cheap. You can bet that really cheap rawhides are made from the worst ingredients and preservatives. 

Here's a link to an article in the Whole Dog Journal about the state of rawhides today and how to find a decent one for your dog: Best Rawhide For Your Dogs