The main differences between rawhide and bully sticks are the price point and digestibility. Bully sticks are single-ingredient dog chews that are made from the pizzle of the bull. Pizzle is muscle tissue that is fully digestible and high in protein. Rawhide is split from the hide or skin of the animal that has not been exposed to tanning, and processed with several different harsh chemical washes to achieve the smooth texture, which is then formed into different shapes. Due to the differences in material, composition, and processing rawhide is offered at a lower price point than bully sticks.
One of the most concerning differences is that while bully sticks are highly digestible for dogs, rawhide has been known to be a high risk for intestinal blockage. This concern is especially significant for larger dogs, as they tend to swallow larger pieces of rawhide whole. With the growing number of discerning pet parents reading product labels and searching for natural and safe products, many pet parents have permanently moved away from giving their dog rawhide and instead purchase natural dog treats or chews.
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