24 replies to this topic

[Sue G]

Has anyone had issues with pig ears, for lack of a better term, "blocking up" their dog? I'm not adherently a pig ear fan, but I bought a couple for Ozzy just for the heck of it. He devoured the first one in about 10 minutes, which shocked me because it seemed to be fairly large. For a couple of days he wasn't pooping normal and seemed to be a bit constipated, although he did go so I wasn't concerned that it was a serious matter. This morning he had an accident in the house...in three different spots! Now he isn't the best potty trained little guy yet, but we haven't had an accident in at least 3 weeks or so, so he has come a long way. It looks like a healthy poo, so I almost wonder if that pig ear was causing issues and he finally managed to digest the thing. He loved it, but I'm a little hesitant to give him the second one. Everyone's thoughts? I've read allot in this forum about Bull Sticks. Do you think that would be a healthier option? Thanks everyone.

[Tracy A.]

I pretty much give bully sticks and a smoked ham bone that they carry at walmart that isn't a fossil... I recall reading somewhere that pig ears weren't so good for dogs... not as bad as rawhide..but I can't figure out where I read that now....

Edited by Tracy A., 02 February 2010 - 10:01 AM.

[Nena]

Our vet told us if you feed them pigs ears you may as well give them a pound of bacon. So that was that. Mine can't even chew rawhide, she vomits right after. Once when she was a puppy my neighbor gave her a bacon treat you buy at walmart, I never gave her these but I did not think it would hurt her. She got so constipated we call the vet. She was up all night and would cry when she had to go it hurt. They told us to give her a teaspoon of mineral oil and that did the trick.
Needless to say she only get healthy treats. I guess she is one of the sensative stomach cairns.
No pigs ears for her. But she sure would love to have one.

[beccadiane374]

I've only given Tanner a pigs ear once. He vomited shortly after eating it. He does get a rawhide stick every once in awhile, as well as an occassional bully stick, but I never leave any of these things down indefintely. He just gets them when I give them to him & they get taken away when I decide. It just makes it easier for me to know when and what he's eating/chewing so I can more easliy track what could be the cause if he has any poo or vomit problems.

[BetsyNoodle]

I am no longer a fan of pig ears but did use them as occasional treats for my dogs in the mid 1990's. Of course, they loved them and ate them way too quickly. So, I always supervised them as they chewed. After I read that they are relatively high in fat content and can cause loose stools or (if not carefully processed) can carry bacteria, I stopped giving them to my dogs.

[Autumn&Molly]

Just a thought -[ Why not make your own "vegetable rawhide"? I slice raw sweet potatoes, brush them very lightly with oil, and put them in my dehydrator for about 18 hours. They cost me 1/4 of what I was paying at the store for them. A cheap dehydrator is about $30 at Walmart. I've had mine for many years and it's more than paid for itself.

They don't last as long (chewing time) as rawhide or pig ears, but of course they are much healthier and I don't think there is any risk of choking or blockage with them. Molly goes NUTS her sweet potato "chips"! A decent sized chip keeps her busy for about 15 minutes (always a plus when one has to pull oneself away from the dear thing and get some work done!)

I am toying with the idea of making meat rawhides. I think it would be better than purchasing because I would pick a good cut of meat and there wouldn't be any nasty chemicals or perservatives in them.

[sheila and Misty]

Mine love pig ears(basted ones) Mistys fine but Toby tends to eat too big of a chucnk when he thinks Mistys after it and sometimes throws up

[Oliver's Mom]

Autumn&Molly, on 02 February 2010 - 12:33 PM, said:

Just a thought -[ Why not make your own "vegetable rawhide"? I slice raw sweet potatoes, brush them very lightly with oil, and put them in my dehydrator for about 18 hours. They cost me 1/4 of what I was paying at the store for them. A cheap dehydrator is about $30 at Walmart. I've had mine for many years and it's more than paid for itself.

They don't last as long (chewing time) as rawhide or pig ears, but of course they are much healthier and I don't think there is any risk of choking or blockage with them. Molly goes NUTS her sweet potato "chips"! A decent sized chip keeps her busy for about 15 minutes (always a plus when one has to pull oneself away from the dear thing and get some work done!)

I am toying with the idea of making meat rawhides. I think it would be better than purchasing because I would pick a good cut of meat and there wouldn't be any nasty chemicals or perservatives in them.

I purchased sweet potato chews from Target and Oliver LOVES them! I actually got these after shelling out $13 for a bag of pig ears and finding that he would devour one and then throw up and want to re-eat it. Nasty! The one's that I bought are from Dogswell called Simple Sweet Potato. I believe that there are other flavors as well but don't remember 100%. They are soo much healthier than some of the other chew treats out there.

[lindasue]

I don't use pig ears or rawhide bones on our 6 month old cairn - but she loves baby carrots! Much better for her too.

[Terrier lover]

Our vet told us to never feed rawhide or pigs ears and other dried animals parts that are sold in most pet supply stores. Not only are they full of unhealthy chemicals that are used in the processing of the "treats" but the fact content is not a good thing either. Autumn, I agree dried home made treats are the way to go!

[Kimmons]

Hi,
I would definately not feed pigs ears as a treat-I learned the hard way. The day after my Chihuahua ate a Pigs ear, he became extremely ill. He was diagnosed with pancreatitis due to all of the fat that the ears are loaded with. He was hospitalized for 4-5 days and it was actually touch and go as to his recovery. We got lucky, and he did recover, but I wouldn't wish that scare on anyone (or that pain and suffering on any dog). Hope this helps!
Kimmons

[lindasue]

I don't use pig ears or rawhide chews either; do give Pegi (7 months) a bully stick about once a week, but under supervision. She also loves baby carrots, so we usually stick to them. Much more natural for her.

[Autumn&Molly]

I sure wish Molly liked carrots. She'll eat one once in a while, but doesn't really care for them. I've tried baby carrots, regular carrots, organic carrots, carrot chips - nada! Usually I'd find a fuzzy carrot under the couch when I thought she ate it!

[Sue G]

I still have a pig ear in the cupboard and will probably throw it out. I did find that Ozzy really likes carrots so he's been getting allot of those lately. I had a boyfriend whos Pom loved them, and at the same time I had a Border Collie who wouldn't touch them. The BC was a finicky eater anyway. Even when I would give him a piece of meat (which normal dogs swallow without even tasting it) he would drop it on the floor, sniff at it, and then very delicately eat it.

[Nena]

I was thinking of trying the dogswell sweet potato treats, but then I read they are made in China. Not happy to hear that, why would they make their food in US and treats in China? to bad. I stay away from things made in China