Chews are made from very different materials, and that is precisely why the quality varies enormously from one chew to another. The most common chews are made from either rawhide, dried tendons and muscle tissue, pressed meat and fish paste, or natural parts such as cod skin, cattle hide and air-dried muscle meat. What a chew is actually made of determines both how long it lasts, how easily it is digested, and how clean a product you are really giving your dog.

The difference is greater than many people think. Some chews are simple, dried pieces of a single raw material, while others are composite products in which raw materials are ground, pressed and shaped into the characteristic bone form. For you as a dog owner, it is therefore less about the shape and more about what actually hides behind the word "chew". Below you get a concrete overview of the most common materials, so you can read a product declaration with a critical eye and choose the one that suits your particular dog.

Rawhide: the classic chew

The type of chew most people know is made from rawhide. It is the innermost layer of cattle or buffalo hide, which is cleaned, dried and shaped into plates, knots or rolled sticks. Rawhide is popular because it is cheap to produce and can keep a dog occupied for a long time, but it is also the type of chew that most often gives cause for concern.

Rawhide is digested slowly, and when the dog chews off larger pieces, they can swell up in the stomach. Some rawhide products are also treated during manufacturing to preserve the light colour and durability, and this is rarely clearly stated on the packaging. If you want to give your dog something to chew on for a longer time, it is therefore worth looking for natural alternatives, where you can see exactly which single raw material the chew is made of.

Tendons, muscle tissue and natural dried parts

A large group of chews are made from dried natural parts of cattle and other animals. This includes, among other things, tendons, muscle meat, cattle hide, windpipe and other connective-tissue-rich pieces, which are air- or oven-dried without being ground and pressed. The advantage of these chews is that they consist of a single recognisable raw material, and that they are typically digested more easily than pressed rawhide, because it is pure animal protein.

Tendons and tendon tissue are particularly good for dogs that love to chew for a long time, because the material is tough and resilient. At the same time, the mechanical chewing provides a natural rubbing against the teeth. At ESSENTIAL FOODS you will find, among other things, Essential Cow Delights and the rolled Essential Large Rolled Delights, which are created from carefully selected raw materials and are aimed at dogs that enjoy a long chewing experience. If you are looking broadly for something that keeps your furry friend occupied for a long time, you may benefit from checking out the collection with long chewing time, where relevant products are gathered with exactly that need in mind.

Chews made of fish and cod skin

Fish has become a popular raw material for chews, and with good reason. Cod skin, other fish skins and whole dried fish pieces are naturally rich in protein and contain the fatty acids that fish are known for. Most fish-based chews are air- or freeze-dried, which means they consist of a single pure raw material without pressed pastes or unnecessary additives.

Fish-based chews are often a good choice for dogs with a sensitive digestive system or dogs that do not tolerate all types of meat, because fish is a different protein source. In ESSENTIAL FOODS' selection you can choose, among other things, Large Cod Fish Delights or the chewier North Sea Chewy Fish Delights, both of which are made from fresh raw materials from the sea. If you want to explore the entire selection of the sea's delicacies, you will find them gathered in the collection with fish delights.

Pressed and composite chews: what does the declaration say?

Another category covers the chews in which raw materials are ground and pressed together into a solid mass, which is shaped into sticks, bones or other figures. Here the content can vary greatly, from pure meat or fish content to products in which starch, grain and binders make up a significant part of the mass. It is precisely in this category that the declaration becomes crucial, because a beautifully shaped chew says nothing in itself about what it actually contains.

When you read a product declaration, the rule of thumb is that the ingredients are listed in descending order by quantity. If meat or fish is at the top with a high percentage, it is really a protein-rich product. If grains, starch or unknown "animal by-products" make up a large part, your dog gets less of what you probably were after. The same attention you pay to your dog's daily meals is worth bringing along when you choose chews and treats, because there is no reason to compromise just because it is a snack.

Chews and dental health: more than just chewing

Many people give their dog chews in the hope of keeping the teeth clean, and the mechanical chewing can indeed help rub off deposits while the dog works. Some chews are also composed specifically with oral hygiene in mind, where the shape and the chosen ingredients support a cleaner chewing. ESSENTIAL FOODS has, among other things, a dental series and a range of teeth delights, which are created with the daily chewing routine in mind.

A chew can never stand alone, however, if the teeth are to be kept healthy throughout the dog's life. If you experience bad breath or are in doubt about your dog's oral hygiene, you can find more concrete guidance in the guide "Dog food for bad breath". If you notice discolouration, swelling or other signs that something is wrong in the mouth, it belongs with a veterinarian who can assess your dog accurately.

When may a puppy have chews?

Puppies have a great need to chew, especially during the period when the milk teeth are being replaced, and a soft, easily digestible chew can be a good way to give that an outlet. The most important thing is that the chew suits the puppy's size and chewing power, so that it is neither too hard for the tender teeth nor so small that it can be swallowed whole. Always choose small pieces in a suitable size, and keep an eye on the puppy while it chews.

At the same time, it is worth remembering that the foundation for the puppy's teeth, gut and well-being is laid through the daily puppy meals and not through snacks. If you are a new puppy owner, you can get plenty of well-thought-out guidance in ESSENTIAL FOODS' Puppy universe, where the advice comes directly from us. If you are in doubt about when and how chews fit into your puppy's everyday life, ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisors are ready by phone, chat and email to advise on feeding, food and nutrition, so that you can make a confident choice from the beginning.

When you know the materials behind a chew, the choice becomes markedly easier. If you go for natural, dried parts of a single recognisable raw material, you typically get a cleaner and more easily digestible product than the pressed or treated alternatives, where the content is harder to see through. Read the declaration, match the chew to your dog's size, chewing desire and any sensitivities, and regard it as a natural extension of the quality you already provide in the bowl.