Beefhide is hide from a cow. That’s it. Just a cow. Rawhide is a general term referring to hides from many different animals, including beef, pork, buffalo, and horse.

All beefhide is rawhide, but not all rawhide is beefhide. 

This is my comparison of Beefhide Vs Rawhide dog chews.

I have searched the internet far and wide to find the difference between rawhide and beefhide so you can make an informed decision.

They are pretty similar in almost all ways, with one notable difference.

Let’s get started!

Rawhide is made from the inner layer of animal hide. Could be cow, pig, buffalo, or horse to name a few. 

During processing, the hides are cleaned and cut or ground. They are then pressed into chewable dog treats. Some contain flavourings to make them more appealing to pooches.

Beefhide is made from the inner layer of cowhide only.

Beefhide is processed in a similar way as rawhide.

Similarities Between Rawide and Beefhide

There are many similarities between rawhide and beefhide, including:

Ingredient Quality

Rawhide chews are made from the leather industry’s leftovers. Most hides are taken directly from the kill floors of slaughterhouses and placed into high-salt brines, which helps slow their decay. 

The majority of rawhide chews are manufactured in China, and it can take weeks to months before these brined hides actually make it to the tanneries for their final manufacture.

Once the hide arrives at a tannery, it is soaked and treated with lime to help separate the fat from the skin, the hair is removed by chemical and physical efforts, and the hide is rinsed again. Unfortunately, salt brines cannot prevent decay, no matter how long they delay it. It is best to fully rinse a rawhide in water prior to giving it to your dog.

The only difference in manufacturing beefhide is the source of hide, cow. The rest of the manufacturing process is the same as rawhide. 

Safety

Both rawhide and beefhide are choking hazards if smaller pieces are broken off while chewing and swallowed. 

They should be taken away from your pooch once the chews become small enough to swallow.

Some dogs have trouble digesting the rawhide and beefhide. This could cause a blockage or damage to their stomachs if there are sharp edges. Surgery may be required to remove the blockage.

Both rawhide and beefhide are put through chemical washes in order to create their shape and texture. As well, they are sometimes bleached or coloured using artificial dyes.

Some dogs are sensitive to the ingredients used during processing, which can cause digestive upset such as diarrhea.

Health Benefits

Neither rawhide nor beefhide have much nutritional value. 

Both are high in calories, so best to limit the amount given to your pooch.

Teeth Health

Both rawhide and beefhide start off hard and are good for cleaning your dog’s teeth.

Over time, they soften and are less effective.

Chewability

Rawhide and beefhide last for weeks or months depending on the size and chewing power of your pooch.

The lack of flavour or scent of over-processed chews can mean that dogs may lose interest in them quickly.

Rawhide or beefide are not good for intense chewers as they tend to gnaw through them pretty fast, increasing the chances of chunks being swallowed.

Variety

Both rawhide and beefhide come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and flavours.

Cost

Both rawhide and beefhide are fairly low cost. However, higher quality has a higher price.

Difference Between Rawhide and Beefhide

There is one main difference between rawhide and beefhide.

Transparency

Rawhide manufacturers are not required to list the source of the hide on the packaging. 

With beefhide chews, you know the source of the hide. It’s cow.

Verdict

It’s pretty simple.

If you want to know the source of the hide your dog chews, go for the beefhide. 

If the source doesn’t matter to you, go rawhide or beefhide. Dealers choice!

If after reading this article, you don’t want to give your dog any type of rawhide, there are other options.

Check out these awesome articles on antlers and bully sticks for alternatives to rawhide.  

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