Home › Bully stick vs rawhide: what veterinary sources and 14 brands say
Bully stick vs rawhide: what veterinary sources and 14 brands say
Bully sticks and rawhide are made from different parts of the animal and go through different processing, according to the veterinary sources quoted below. This page puts those definitions next to what 14 bully stick brands' own product pages say about rawhide, word for word. Five pages say their stick is rawhide-free or has no rawhide, five more describe it as an alternative to rawhide or compare it with rawhide, and four don't mention rawhide at all. Nibbables doesn't rate chews; ask your vet what suits your dog.
Last checked 2026-10-30
What each bully stick page says about rawhide
Quoted from each brand's product page, checked 2026-10-30. "Not stated" means the brand's own text on that page doesn't mention rawhide (Campfire's page mentions it only in a customer review, which we don't quote).
Many pet parents prefer bully sticks over rawhide because bully sticks are natural, fully digestible, and made from a single ingredient, while rawhide can be harder to digest.
Made in: Paraguay, Brazil, Colombia, New Zealand, Peru, or Turkey
oven-baked to provide a healthy alternative to rawhide
Packaged in the USA; product of Brazil, Turkey or Colombia.
Watch: Bully stick vs rawhide: the 14 brands and vet sources in 90 seconds
A 90-second summary of this page (brand pages checked 2026-10-30). Information, not veterinary advice. Narration is computer-generated. Watch on YouTube · Nibbables on YouTube
Read the video transcript
We read fourteen bully stick product pages. Only five actually say rawhide-free, or no rawhide. Five call it an alternative to rawhide. And four never mention rawhide at all.
Lots of people think a bully stick is just a fancy rawhide. It isn't. Veterinary nutritionists describe rawhide as the chemically processed inner hide layer. Tufts says bully sticks are bull or steer penises. And vets file bully sticks under minimal processing.
Here's how that article says rawhide can be made: brine, degreasers, detergents, hydrogen peroxide, lime. And glues may be added to hold the shape.
So bully sticks win, right? Not so fast. A 2013 study tested twenty-six bully sticks. One had C. difficile, one had MRSA. And they averaged fifteen calories per inch. That study didn't test rawhide.
If your dog is a power chewer, this is the part that matters. The AKC warns power chewers can break off large pieces of rawhide, and might swallow a bully stick whole. When it's down to a nub, take it away.
One more catch. The same vets say chews marketed as rawhide free are poorly regulated. In one study they cite, two of ten products tested contained skin layers, consistent with rawhide. Those weren't described as bully sticks.
Supervise every chew and ask your vet. All fourteen brands' exact words, plus the vet sources, are at nibbables dot com.
Bully stick vs rawhide for dogs: what's the difference?
The sources describe two different products. Rawhide is hide: Today's Veterinary Practice says “Rawhide chews are made from the chemically processed inner hide layer, most commonly from cows but also other animal species (e.g., pigs, sheep, even water buffalo).” A bully stick is a pizzle: Tufts' Petfoodology blog says “Bully sticks are, in fact, bull or steer penises.” Today's Veterinary Practice also files them differently, listing bully sticks under “Animal-derived products that have undergone minimal processing” and rawhides among “extensively processed animal-derived chews”. The AKC adds that “Unlike rawhide,” “bully sticks, sometimes known as pizzle sticks, are easily digestible.”
Are bully sticks rawhide?
No. None of the sources we checked calls a bully stick rawhide. The ASPCA says “Rawhide chews are manufactured from animal hides.” The 14 bully stick pages in the table list beef pizzle (or, on Mighty Paw's page, “Ingredients: Beef”) as the ingredient, and Jack's Premium spells it out: “They are made from 100% steer or bull penis, also commonly referred to as pizzle.” A 2013 study in the Canadian Veterinary Journal lists rawhide and bully sticks as separate treats: “cattle hooves or skin (i.e., rawhide chews)” and “the bull or steer penis, commonly known as “bully” or “pizzle” sticks.”
Are all bully sticks rawhide free?
Of the 14 bully stick pages we checked, 5 say so in plain words: GREAT DOG CO. (“rawhide-free”), Nature Gnaws (“rawhide-free chew”), Redbarn (“No Rawhide”), Sancho & Lola's Closet (“They will never contain any rawhide.”) and Jack's Premium (“They are bone and rawhide free.”). Five more (Best Bully Sticks, Jack&Pup, Bow Wow Labs, Pawstruck and Bully Bunches) describe their stick as an alternative to rawhide or compare it with rawhide without saying “rawhide-free”. Four pages (Campfire Treats, Mighty Paw, Pupford and Raw Paws Pet Food) don't mention rawhide in their own text. All 14 list pizzle or beef as the ingredient. If the wording matters to you, ask the brand.
Are bully sticks or rawhide better for dogs?
Nibbables doesn't rank chews, so here is what the sources say. On digestion, the AKC says “Rawhide is also difficult to digest. Pieces will pass through the digestive system whole, which is why they pose an obstruction risk.” and that bully sticks are “easily digestible”. Today's Veterinary Practice says “The digestibility of rawhide chews is often unknown or suspected to be poor”. Both have cautions: for rawhide the AKC says “Power chewers can break off large pieces.”, and for bully sticks “power chewers might bite straight through, producing large pieces that pose a choking risk, or swallow the entire stick whole.” Redbarn puts the brand view this way: “Many pet parents choose bully sticks as an alternative to rawhide because they are single-ingredient chews and digestible when fed appropriately.” Your vet knows your dog and can tell you what suits it.
How rawhide is made, as Today's Veterinary Practice describes it
The article, by two board-certified veterinary nutritionists, says: “To produce a rawhide chew, the hide may be processed in brine (salt), degreasers, detergents, sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, lime, or other chemicals needed to remove hair or fat, kill pathogens, and improve the appearance.” It adds: “Artificial colors and flavors are often added to make the final product more palatable, and additives (e.g., glues to hold shape) may be used.”
None of the 14 bully stick pages in the table lists anything besides pizzle or beef as an ingredient. Sancho & Lola's Closet writes: “All of our chews are 100% natural and digestible. They will never contain any rawhide.” Redbarn's FAQ says: “A bully stick is a single-ingredient dog chew made from 100% beef pizzle.”
What studies say about bully sticks themselves
Rawhide isn't the only chew with open questions. The 2013 Canadian Veterinary Journal study measured bully sticks: “Mean caloric density was 15 kcal/inch (38 kcal/cm) [range: 9 to 22 kcal/inch (23 to 56 kcal/cm), 2.96 to 3.07 kcal/g].” It also reported: “Of 26 bully sticks that were tested for bacterial contamination 1 (4%) was contaminated with Clostridium difficile, 1 was contaminated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and 1 with a tetracycline resistant Escherichia coli.” The study didn't test rawhide. Our bully stick calories page lists what each brand states.
Labels and regulation
Today's Veterinary Practice notes that “Minimally processed bones, other body parts, extensively processed rawhides, and compressed rawhides are not considered “food” by the FDA and are therefore poorly regulated.” Writing about plant-based chews, it adds: “These may be marketed as “rawhide free,” but selecting a quality product is difficult because these chews are poorly regulated.” In the study it cites, “Of the 10 products tested, 2 contained skin layers (consistent with rawhides) and were therefore deemed inconsistent with their labeling.” The article doesn't name those products, and they weren't described as bully sticks.
Supervision, as the sources put it
For rawhide, the ASPCA says: “Pet parents should limit the amount of rawhide consumed at any given time and discourage consumption of significant pieces that could cause choking or gastrointestinal obstruction.” For bully sticks, the AKC says: “When your dog has chewed the stick down to a nub, take it away before they can swallow what’s left.” Best Bully Sticks: “Always supervise your dog when they're enjoying a bully stick, and remove small or broken pieces to prevent your pup from choking.” Redbarn: “Always choose a size suitable for your dog's chewing style and remove small end pieces that could become a choking hazard.” The ASPCA also “encourages guardians to actively observe their dog while chewing and to immediately consult a veterinarian if their pet consumes a chunk of chew material.”
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Bully sticks
Campfire Treats: Standard Odor-Free Bully Sticks (8-10 Inch)
Ingredients (as listed)
Ingredients: Dehydrated beef pizzles
Made-in claim
Sourced and made in the USA
Sourced-from claim
Sourced and made in the USA
Rawhide-free?
Not stated, check with them
Size / dog guidance
Puppy, young, adult, senior
Supervision note
This product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. Always supervise your dog when feeding any treats or chews. Please ensure that your dog has always access to plenty of fresh water.
GREAT DOG CO.: 12" Beef Bully Stick – Beef Pizzle 4.0, Jumbo Size
Ingredients (as listed)
US sourced beef bull pizzle
Made-in claim
Proudly sourced and made in the USA
Sourced-from claim
Made from 100% U.S.-sourced beef bull pizzle
Rawhide-free?
Low odor , rawhide-free, and fully digestible
Size / dog guidance
Perfect for Strong Chewers – Dense, long-lasting chew time for medium to large dogs.
Supervision note
ALWAYS SUPERVISE FEEDING: Recommendations are suggestions only. Small pieces can become a choking hazard. Feed pieces appropriate for your dog's size, age, health state and eating behavior.
sourced from trusted free-range cattle farmers around the world
Rawhide-free?
Not stated, check with them
Size / dog guidance
Size does matter! To avoid accidental swallowing that may result in choking or blockages, always choose a bully stick that's wider than your dog's mouth. When in doubt, select a larger size.
Supervision note
Always supervise your dog when they're enjoying a bully stick, and remove small or broken pieces to prevent your pup from choking. It's also important to provide access to fresh water before, during, and after treat consumption.
Made from all-natural beef - grass-fed cattle from Brazil
Rawhide-free?
Not stated, check with them
Size / dog guidance
Standard thickness bully stick for moderate chewers.
Supervision note
Feeding instructions: Always supervise your dog while chewing and provide fresh water. Choose chews appropriate for your dog's size and chewing ability to prevent choking hazards.
The same page also says "Our Bully Sticks are sourced from grass-fed, free-range beef in Brazil" and that they are hand-inspected in Rochester, NY. Ask the brand which applies.
Raw Paws Pet Food: Standard Bully Sticks, 6-inch - 10-ct
Ingredients (as listed)
Single-ingredient: Bull Pizzle!
Made-in claim
Origin: Turkey.
Sourced-from claim
Sourced from free-range cattle raised without antibiotics, steroids, or added hormones.
Rawhide-free?
Not stated, check with them
Size / dog guidance
Ideal for Small to Medium Dogs.
Supervision note
To prevent injury and choking hazard, always supervise your pet when giving any chew. If this chew splinters, develops sharp edges or breaks into pieces throw it away immediately.
Sancho & Lola's Closet: 6-Inch Standard Charcuterie Style Bully Sticks - No odor-Made in the USA
Ingredients (as listed)
SINGLE INGREDIENT: 100% Beef Pizzle and nothing else.
Made-in claim
CHARCUTERIE: Made in the USA.
Sourced-from claim
Sourced and Made in the USA
Rawhide-free?
They will never contain any rawhide.
Size / dog guidance
LIGHT CHEWERS: our 6" Standards will average .75-1.1oz in weight and are great for small dogs, medium dogs, puppies, and older dogs.
Supervision note
So, we recommend monitoring your pup when you notice they are chewing on anything.
Options on the page
Standard 10-Count
Standard 20-Count
Standard 40-Count
Note
"Sourced and Made in the USA" is in the page title; the product description says "Made in the USA". The rawhide line is from the founder's note on the page, about all of the brand's chews.