Last Updated: 15/09/2026
Alternatives to Bones and Rawhides for Dogs
Wondering what to give your dog instead of rawhide or bones? Our vets share safe dental chews, long-lasting treats and tough chew toys.
Author: Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 4 minutes - short read
At Pet Circle we pride ourselves on being pet centric - we believe in putting what's best for pets first. This includes our product range. We only want to sell products that will enrich pets' lives and further strengthen the bonds between them and their pet parents.
The Pet Circle Vet Squad's recommendation is that bone and rawhide treats should be removed from our product range as they pose too many health risks to the dogs that consume them. These products were phased out from Pet Circle in August 2022, and you won't find them in our range today. While this may have been an inconvenience for some pet parents at the time, we feel it was the right call to help prevent pets from becoming unwell or injured.
If your dog loves to chew, the safest swaps for bones and rawhide are vet-recommended dental chews, long-lasting treats, and durable chew toys. Which one's best depends on how hard and how long your dog likes to chew, more on that below.
What are the risks associated with rawhide and bone treats?
To put our philosophy into practice, we are guided by the Pet Circle Vet Squad. After reviewing our dog treat range, the Vet Squad advised that rawhide and bone treats could pose a number of health risks including:
- Mild to severe gastrointestinal upset: Bones and rawhide are difficult for the gastrointestinal tract to digest. This can result in vomiting, diarrhoea and in some cases pancreatitis.
- Gastrointestinal blockage or injury: Pieces of bone or rawhide can cause blockage of the oesophagus or intestines which can be a life threatening emergency. Bones may also splinter causing further injury if consumed.
- Dental fractures: Chewing of bones of all descriptions can result in fractured teeth that often require surgical removal.
- Bacterial contamination: Any uncooked meat or bone product (including air dried and freeze dried) can carry harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella. While not necessarily a cause of disease in the pet, contaminated products can lead the pet to become an infection source for human members of the household, particularly small children, elderly and immunocompromised people.
If bones are part of your dog's raw diet, our guide to whether raw bones are safe for dogs covers those risks in more depth.
Which treats are vet-recommended?
Our pets love treats, and we love rewarding them, so to ensure we can continue to show love for our pet family we are recommending a range of alternative products which are safer, and equally delicious. The best fit depends on your dog's chewing style. Gentle chewers do well with a wider range of options, while determined or aggressive chewers need something tougher that will last longer. A note of caution though: even the toughest product can wear down into small pieces that pose a choking or obstruction risk. Supervise your dog while they chew, check the product regularly, and replace it as soon as it starts to break down.
Dental chews
To support dental health and provide your dog with a tasty treat at the same time, we recommend regular use of dental chews as a safer alternative to chewing bones. Dental chews work by scraping plaque off the tooth surface as your dog chews, so daily use gives the best results. Match the size to your dog's jaw, too small and large dogs can swallow it almost whole, and keep an eye on your dog the first few times you try a new one.
See our full guide to dog treats for more options, and our dental care guide for dogs for further information.
Long lasting treats
For a longer lasting treat option that will keep your dog occupied and out of mischief, try one of these air dried and naturally chewy options. These are calorie-dense, so factor them into your dog's daily food allowance rather than adding them on top, and take them away once they've softened down to a size your dog could swallow whole.
See our full guide to dog treats for more options.
Durable chew toys
For dogs like Staffies who need an extra durable outlet for their natural chewing instincts, a durable chew toy may be a more suitable choice:
- KONG Extreme: (Tip: smear some natural peanut butter or KONG Easy Treat Paste inside for longer lasting fun)
- Tasty Bone & Nylabone: (Note that these are extremely hard and do carry a risk of dental fractures. Unlike natural bones they are much less likely to splinter or break into small fragments easily.)
- Playology Scented Chew Toy
- West Paw
Check toys regularly for cracks or missing chunks and retire them as soon as you spot damage, a worn toy can break down into the same choking risk you're trying to avoid with bones and rawhide.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Tue 15 Sep 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Head Veterinarian, BVSc (Hons)
Pet Circle's Head Veterinarian, Dr Teagan graduated from the University of Queensland in 2010 and went on to work in small animal and mixed practice in various locations around QLD & ACT before joining Pet Circle in early 2016. Dr Teagan has special interests in dermatology, nutrition and preventative health care. She feels privileged to witness the special bond people share with their pets on a daily basis and enjoys forming lasting relationships with pet parents and their fur children.
