Do you really know what you are feeding your dog? At Vanillapup, we encourage dog owners to read ingredients lists but we understand that not many people are as obsessed with labels as us.
But knowing just a few types of ingredients to avoid can make a huge difference to your dog’s health.
There are stories from real owners of immediate effects (E.g. death, seizures, organ damage) of bad dog treats, not to mention the other more gradual effects, such as obesity, cancer, kidney disease, and diabetes.
Food and treat packaging can be very attractive, drawing your attention and making you think that they are natural and wholesome. But the truth lies in the ingredients list (well, at least what companies are legally required to declare).
The documentary, Pet Fooled shines the light on the pet food industry and uncovers some scary truths behind what really goes into our dog’s food. Any responsible dog owner should make time to watch it.
In this post, we thought it would be good to share our thoughts on some of the widely available dog treats on the market. Some of you might think, “But we eat unhealthy snacks too, why should we be so strict with our pet’s diet?”
Well, the answer is simple. Most dogs are happy with any treat. So why don’t we give them a healthier option? Unlike us, dogs can’t choose their treats so it’s up to us to make discerning decisions on their behalf. What’s more, many dogs consume the same treats every day and their effects on those tiny bodies could gradually add up.
If it doesn’t take much effort and cost, why not choose safer and healthier treats for your dog?
Harringtons Low Fat Treats (Turkey)
Ingredients:
Turkey meal (26%), potato, glycerine, seaweed, oat flour, minerals, cellulose, fruto-oligosacharide, glucosamine HCI, chondroitin sulphate
Additives (per Kg): Vitamin A 10,000iu, Vitamin D3 1,000 iu, Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol acetate) 60 mg, zinc sulphate 5 mg, calcium iodate 1.0 mg, sodium selenite 0.15 mg, antioxidants (d-mixed tocopherols 500mg), preservatives
The packet says that there is nothing nasty about this dog treat. But the treat is made up of 26% turkey meal – rendered leftover meat waste. Potato is listed as the second ingredient, which is fine, but too much of it can cause obesity. This treat also contains a controversial ingredient, sodium selenite, and preservatives.
Alternatives: DIY dehydrated meat slices, single ingredient freeze-dried or dehydrated meat.
Ingredients:
Ground wheat, corn gluten meal, wheat flour, water, glycerin, ground yellow corn, sugar, soybean meal, bacon (preserved with sodium nitrite), salt, bacon fat (preserved with BHA and citric acid), phosphoric acid, sorbic acid (a preservative), calcium propionate (a preservative), natural and artificial smoke flavours, red 40, yellow 5, blue 1, yellow 6, added colour T-4005
There are many things that are wrong with these treats. Firstly, bacon is bad for humans and they are bad for dogs. But let’s put that aside for now and see whether you are buying what the packaging appears to promise. The crispy bacon you see on the packaging? Nowhere near the first few ingredients. Instead, you find ingredients that could make your dog fat and diabetic.
At the ninth ingredient, you finally find bacon, which we all know is preserved with sodium nitrite, an ingredient that is carcinogenic. Then you have salt and bacon fat that’s preserved with BHA, a cancer-causing agent. Just don’t buy bacon or anything bacon-flavoured for your dog.
Food colourings are also in the list – totally unnecessary and harmful.
Alternatives: Single ingredient dehydrated or freeze-dried treats.
Why are these common dog treats bad dog treats?
The products’ ingredients lists presented here are taken from their official website or actual treat packaging. They are updated as of the post’s published date.
Healthy Centres Dog Treats (Salmon)
Ingredients:
Wheat flour, canola oil, corn starch, hydrolysed poultry protein, natural flavouring, salt, ascorbyl palmitate, colourant, salmon flavour, rosemary extract oil, Vitamin E (RRR alpha tocopherol), Vitamin D3, Vitamin A.
These treats look really healthy, don’t they? The website says that Healthy Centres is formulated to enhance your pet’s well-being. But there’s nothing in the ingredients list that suggests so.
First of all, surprise, surprise, there’s no real salmon in this packet of treats. It contains salt, flavouring, and additive ascorbyl palmitate for taste. Hydrolysed poultry protein could be from real meat or by-product (leftover carcasses that are unfit for human consumption) but we will never know. There are also wheat flour and corn starch that can cause weight gain.
Alternatives: Freeze-dried single ingredient salmon and DIY dehydrated fish.
FAQ
Is there a recall on Purina Beggin Strips?
Are Purina Beggin Strips safe for dogs?
What are the unhealthiest dog treats?
- Ol’ Roy® Basted Biscuits Dog Treats. …
- Purina® ALPO Variety Snaps Dog Treats. …
- Canine Carry Outs® Beef Flavor Dog Treats. …
- Pup-Peroni® Dog Treats. …
- Purina® Beggin’ Strips Dog Treats. …
- Purina® Beneful Baked Delights Dog Treats. …
- Pedigree® Marrowbone Dog Treats. …
- Pup Corn® Dog Treats.