Short answer: Head skin, also called scalp, is the dried skin from the head of a single animal species; our labels state 100 percent beef, horse, goat or lamb as the composition. Rawhide is a chew made from untanned beef hide; our rawhide chews combine that hide with chicken or duck and ingredients such as starch. Both are tough and soften as your dog chews. The biggest risk is the same for both: a large piece that has gone soft and is swallowed in one go.
What is head skin?
Head skin is the skin from the head of a cow, horse, goat or lamb that has been cleaned and dried. You can buy it as a roll, as a plate, braided, sawn into pieces or with hair. Because it comes from a single animal, head skin is a single protein source, which makes it easy to see what your dog is eating.
Head skin is firm and tough. Your dog gnaws on it, saliva softens the skin and your dog works through it layer by layer. How long that takes depends on the thickness, the size and your dog. The full range is in the head skin and head skin rolls collection.
What is rawhide?
Rawhide literally means untanned hide: beef hide that has not been turned into leather, but has been cleaned, shaped and dried. In our range, that means bones of 12.5, 13 and 20 centimetres and donuts in sizes XS, M and XL. Our rawhide is not a single-ingredient treat. According to the label, besides the untanned beef hide it also contains chicken or duck, plus ingredients such as potato or tapioca starch and glycerine. The label of the 12.5 centimetre bones also lists wheat flour.
That makes rawhide a different kind of chew from head skin: the shape is more uniform and it contains more moisture. You will find the range under rawhide.
How do head skin and rawhide compare?
The table is based on the labels of our own range. The values vary from batch to batch, so the label on your pack is what counts.
| Feature | Head skin | Rawhide |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | 100 percent beef, horse, goat or lamb | Untanned beef hide with chicken or duck, starch and glycerine |
| Shapes | Rolls, plates, braided, sawn, with hair | Bones and donuts |
| Crude fat | Horse 4.32 percent, beef 5.7 to 13.5 percent, lamb 31.54 and goat 36.79 percent | At most 3.5 to 4.5 percent |
| Moisture | About 6 to 10 percent | Up to 18 or 20 percent |
| Single protein source | Yes | No, beef and chicken or duck |
So the biggest difference lies in the composition. Head skin is one animal; rawhide combines beef with poultry and other ingredients. With head skin, also pay attention to the animal: according to the label, goat and lamb head skin are much fattier than horse or beef head skin.
Is head skin or rawhide safer?
For most healthy adult dogs, both are suitable as long as you give them under supervision. The risk is not hardness, because both soften as they are chewed. The risk is that a dog bites off a large, softened piece and tries to swallow it in one go. So:
- Choose a generous size: large enough that your dog cannot fit it in their mouth in one go.
- Stay with your dog: especially the first few times, and with dogs that chew eagerly.
- Remove the last piece: as soon as it is small enough to be swallowed.
- Stop with gulpers: if your dog tries to tear off large pieces and swallow them whole, choose a different treat.
You can read more about safe chewing in which chews are safe for dogs.
Which one suits your dog?
- Sensitive stomach or allergy: choose head skin from a single animal your dog tolerates well. Rawhide contains several protein sources and starch.
- No beef: choose horse head skin. Rawhide is always made from beef hide.
- Low fat: according to the label, horse and beef head skin are leaner than goat and lamb head skin.
- Small dogs: sawn pieces, plates or an XS donut, always large enough not to be swallowed in one go.
- Large dogs: long 70 centimetre rolls or a large donut.
How much head skin or rawhide can your dog have?
For all treats together, the rule of thumb is about 10 percent of the daily energy. A large roll of head skin or an XL donut counts for a lot with a small dog. If you give such a chew on a particular day, give fewer other treats or a little less of the main food. How to work that out is explained in how many treats can a dog have per day.
What other dried hide is there?
Besides head skin and rawhide there are more kinds of dried hide, such as camel hide, buffalo hide, rabbit skin, deer hide and pork rind. For camel, rabbit and deer hide, most products are also listed as suitable for puppies in our product data; check the age for each product. You will find them all in the dried hide collection. Looking for an alternative without beef? Also have a look at horse.
Ingrid's tip: If you are unsure between head skin and rawhide, first check what your dog already tolerates well. If your dog cannot have chicken or beef, rawhide is ruled out and horse head skin is a safe first choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is rawhide the same as head skin?
No. Head skin is the dried skin from the head of a single animal. Rawhide is shaped, untanned beef hide; our rawhide also contains chicken or duck and other ingredients.
What does untanned mean?
That the hide has not been tanned into leather. It has been cleaned and dried, but not treated like leather for clothing or bags.
Is rawhide bad for dogs?
Not for most healthy adult dogs, as long as it is given under supervision and in a generous size. Take care if your dog tears off and swallows large pieces, and check the composition if your dog has an allergy.
Can a puppy have head skin?
Our head skin is intended for adult dogs. For puppies, most camel, rabbit or deer hide products are listed as suitable in our product data; check each product.
How do you store head skin and rawhide?
Dry, dark and well sealed. Put a chewed piece away after chewing so that it does not become damp.
Sources
- Dierenkliniek De Arker, Risico's van hondensnacks (choking, pieces that are too large, supervision)
- Mueller, Olivry and Prélaud (BMC Veterinary Research), Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats (beef and chicken as frequently mentioned allergen sources)
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee, Global Nutrition Guidelines (treats as part of the daily energy intake)
About the author
Ingrid Kooijman is the founder of Canis Snacks. She selects natural single-protein dog treats, sells them online and at markets in Brabant, and answers dog owners' questions about food and chews every day. Questions about this article? Email info@canissnacks.com.
