The 9 Best Rawhide Alternatives for Dogs

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

From puppies to golden seniors, chewing is a natural behavior for all dogs. Giving your pup an outlet, like edible chews, can help meet this instinctual need—and save your shoes and furniture.

Long touted as one of the most popular options on the market, rawhide chews come with a wide range of purported benefits—they’re said to be long-lasting, low-calorie, and able to clean teeth while entertaining bored pups. But in recent years, they’ve fallen out of favor over concerns about digestibility and contamination. While rawhide is a natural ingredient, the cleaning and preserving process commonly involves chemicals like hydrogen peroxide and bleach.

So what can you give your dog instead? Luckily the market is flooded with rawhide-alternative bones and chews to keep your pup busy and happy—from naturally shed antlers for power chewers to single-ingredient chews for pups with delicate stomachs. And while there’s always going to be some risk involved when it comes to dog chews, the good news is that the potential hazards can be reduced by tailoring bones to your dog’s weight, breed, and chewing style.

Chomping at the bit to get started? We’ve rounded up the best rawhide alternatives below—ranging in durability, size, and digestibility so you can find the right chew for your pup.

Best Overall: Best Bully Sticks All-Natural Bully Stick Dog Treats

Bully sticks are a popular rawhide alternative chew, and for good reason. Dogs love them for their taste, and pet parents like them for their durability and wide appeal—engaging pups of all kinds, from super chewers to puppies. Made of a single ingredient (beef muscle), bully sticks are typically highly digestible and gentle on even sensitive stomachs. Plus, they’re known for their dental health properties.

Best Bully Sticks have historically been a top choice among pet parents for their quality, though most find the “odorless” claim optimistic.

Notable Features:

• Single-ingredient product
• Free from additives, chemicals, and preservatives
• 6-inch sticks suitable for most dog breeds

Longest Lasting: Pet Parents Gnawtlers—Premium Naturally Shed Elk Antlers

Antlers are well-liked among pet parents who have super chewers. They’re all-natural and cruelty-free, packed with nutrients like calcium and zinc, and contain no dyes or preservatives. While antlers can be quite pricey, they’re also known for their extreme longevity—many households find they last weeks.

Gnawtlers antlers, in particular, are sourced from Grade-A naturally shed elk antlers found in the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. They’re also vacuum-sealed for safe preservation.

Antlers do pose a high risk for splintering because of their toughness, so pet parents will want to supervise closely and regularly check the antler for frays and their pup’s gums and teeth for scrapes.

Notable Features:

• All-natural and cruelty-free
• Long-lasting
• Natural minerals in antlers support bone and muscle health
• Vacuum sealed for safety

Best Odor-Free: Downtown Pet Supply Yak Cheese Himalayan Dog Chews

Yak chews offer medium- to long-lasting chewing bliss for most dogs and odorless relief for their guardians. We tried these yak chews by Downtown Pet Supply ourselves and found them to be an impressive rawhide alternative.

Made with just four ingredients—yak milk, cow milk, lime juice, and salt—these cheesy sticks are also more digestible than rawhide and many other chews. And the best part? Free of dyes and smell, they won’t stain your carpets or stink up your house.

Notable Features:

• Medium- to long-lasting chewability
• Free of dyes and odor
• Contain calcium, zinc, vitamins A, D, and E, and Omega 3
• Easily digestible

Best Budget-Friendly: Fieldcrest Farms Nothin’ to Hide Natural Rawhide Alternative Twist Stix

Great for smaller pups and light to moderate chewers, these rawhide alternatives get high marks for their natural, limited ingredients. Slow-baked in the oven, these tasty twist sticks are rich in collagen protein, which is known to promote fur, skin, and joint health. They’re also gluten-free, low-calorie, and made of a highly digestible base of beef gelatin, tapioca, and vegetable glycerin.

Available in three flavors (chicken, beef, and peanut butter), Nothin’ to Hide twist sticks also offer a more budget-friendly option than many other rawhide alternatives.

Notable Features:

• Affordable rawhide alternative
• Suitable for light to moderate chewers
• Rich in collagen protein for skin and joint health
• Gluten-free and low-calorie

Best for Picky Eaters: Afreschi Turkey Tendon Strips

A healthy, natural alternative to rawhide, these tendon chews are high in protein and low in fat—but what they’re not lacking is taste. Slow-roasted to maximize flavor, these gourmet treats are famous for appealing to even the most particular palates.

Made from a single ingredient—100% pure turkey tendon—these rawhide-free chews are gentler on sensitive stomachs. They’re also free of additives, chemicals, and preservatives. The only downside in our book is that they’re on the pricier side, and pups tend to chew threw them quickly. But some pet parents have found a workaround by freezing them in a puzzle toy with spreadable treats to maximize chew time.

Notable Features:

• Made from pure turkey tendon
• High in protein, low in fat
• Slow-roasted to appeal to picky pups

Best for Allergies: The Honest Kitchen Ocean Chew Rawhide Alternative Treats

Honest Kitchen is known for making treats and foods with human-grade ingredients, and these rawhide alternative chews are no different. Sourced from 100% natural Wolffish skins, these ocean chews are a strong single-source treat for pups who might be allergic to other proteins.

We find dogs like them for their fishy taste and crunchy texture, although some pet parents might find the smell hard to stomach. On the plus side, they’re packed with omegas, which promote healthy skin and a shiny coat.

Notable Features:

• Ideal for pups with protein allergies
• Made with human-grade ingredients
• High in omega for healthy skin and coat
• Low to medium chewabilit

Best Low-Calorie: Brutus & Barnaby Thick Cut Dried Sweet Potato Dog Treats

A veggie option, these sweet potato dog treats are a smart choice for dogs on a raw-food or limited-ingredient diet. With zero fat and no added sugar, they’re also great for older diabetic dogs or pups looking to shed a few extra pounds. They’re also easy to digest and chew, which can be helpful for senior pups or puppies with sensitive teeth and gums.

Although not meant for super chewers, these treats by Brutus & Barnaby offer a thicker cut, which makes for a longer-lasting chew. Pet parents also like the freshness of this particular brand.

Notable Features:

• No-meat, veggie option
• Low in fat with no added sugar
• Thicker sweet potato cut (low chewability)
• Suitable for puppies, seniors, and diabetic dogs

Best for Puppies: N-Bone Puppy Teething Rings, Rawhide Alternative

There’s nothing quite like the teething stage, when your adorable puppy suddenly turns into a tiny destructive shark. Offering plenty of safe chews like these teething rings can offer you both some relief. The twisty texture of the N-Bone provides a fun challenge that keeps pups busy while also massaging their sore gums.

The calcium in these rings is also great for promoting strong teeth and bones, while the omega-3 DHA supports healthy brain development. They are higher in calories than a single-ingredient chew though, so pet parents will want to follow the feeding directions closely.

Notable Features:

• Textured ring massages sore gums
• Calcium for strong teeth and bones
• Omega-3 DHA for healthy brain development

Best Dental: Virbac CET VEGGIEDENT FR3SH Tartar Control Chews

Although they’re not as long-lasting as many rawhide alternatives, dental chews offer a tasty reward that can be ideal for puppies, senior dogs, and pups new to the world of dog chews. Plus, they’ll help keep your pup’s teeth clean and their breath fresh.

The unique Z-shape of these C.E.T. Veggident dental chews helps scrape away plaque and tartar. Completely plant-based and gluten-free, they’re also easier to digest than other dental chews and include a prebiotic to help support gut health.

Notable Features:

• Z-shape gets into hard-to-reach places
• Plant-based and gluten-free
• Includes prebiotic for gut health

The Bottom Line

Redirecting your dog’s natural tendency to chew by offering a tasty treat can prevent destructive behavior. Just make sure to:

• Supervise your dog when giving them an edible chew
• Keep a close eye on the chew to make sure it isn’t splintering into dangerous fragments
• Take away chews that get small enough to swallow whole or use a bully stick holder
• Read manufacturer advice to get the right size for your pup’s breed and weight

How We Chose Our Rawhide Alternative Chews and Bones

The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts. We chose rawhide alternatives based on size, durability, and digestibility. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.

Further Reading:

• The Best Long-Lasting Dog Chews With Maximum Distraction Power
• Review: Yak Chews Are a Long-Lasting Chew Made for Super Chewers
• The Best Puppy-Safe Chew Toys that Will Save Your Shoes