Whenever you give your dog a new toy, it is important to monitor the dog.  Most dogs will gnaw on rawhide to exercise their teeth and gums, then walk away to do something else.  If you have a dog that swallows things whole, that is where the danger lies.  Dogs like that should never have rawhide or be given anything else they can swallow and choke.

Another key safety factor with rawhide is to check that it is made in North or South America.  Rawhide from abroad can possibly have some chemical residual from the treatment process, or sometimes mold.