Pet treats have become an incredibly popular way for pet owners to show affection and love for their furry friends. Walk into any pet store, and you’ll find entire aisles devoted to treats made specifically for dogs and cats. But are all these treats actually good for our pets?
What are pet treats?
Pet treats are edible snacks made specifically for pets, particularly dogs and cats. They come in a wide variety of flavors, shapes, and sizes. Some of the most popular pet treat varieties include:
- Biscuits – Crunchy, bone-shaped baked treats
- Jerky – Tough, dried meat strips
- Dental chews – Treats designed to clean teeth and freshen breath
- Training rewards – Small, soft treats to reinforce desired behaviors
- Frozen licks – Frozen purees packed into lickable shapes
In 2021, over $8 billion was spent on pet treats in the United States alone. This speaks to how popular and widespread treating pets has become.
Are pet treats nutritious?
Like any food product, the nutritional value of a pet treat depends entirely on the ingredients. Some treats are packed with extra nutrients and designed to supplement a balanced diet. Others contain minimal nutritional value and are equivalent to junk food for pets.
When shopping for nutritious pet treats, look for these characteristics:
- Real meat or fish listed as the first ingredient
- Whole food ingredients like carrots, peas, sweet potatoes
- Grain-free or limited grain content
- Added vitamins, minerals, and supplements
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Avoid treats with these red flags:
- Meat or vegetable by-products
- Artificial preservatives like BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin
- Propylene glycol, artificial colors, corn syrup
- Wheat, soy, or corn as primary ingredients
Some nutritious treat options include:
- Dehydrated chicken or liver
- Freeze dried meatballs or fish
- Veggie chews made with sweet potato
- Coconut oil treats
- Greek yogurt drops
So while not all treats are created equal, there are definitely nutritious options out there for pets! Reading ingredient labels is key.
Are pet treats safe?
Along with nutrition, pet parents must also consider safety when choosing treats. Some treats on the market may pose the following risks:
- Choking hazards – Any hard, round, or oddly shaped treats could potentially lodge in a pet’s throat. Supervise pets when feeding treats.
- Allergens – Some pets have food allergies and intolerances. Wheat, corn, and soy are common culprits.
- Too many calories – Too many high-calorie treats on a daily basis can quickly lead to obesity.
- Upset stomach – Some treats may include ingredients that irritate sensitive stomachs or digestive systems.
- Dental issues – Extremely hard treats could possibly crack teeth if chomped on too vigorously.
To minimize risks, read labels carefully, supervise treat time, feed treats in moderation, and know your pet’s unique health considerations.
Benefits of pet treats
Despite some risks and concerns, there are definitely benefits to be gained from judicious use of pet treats. Some pros of treats include:
- Supplemental nutrition – As mentioned earlier, some treats provide extra vitamins, minerals, joint supplements, etc. This gives an added nutrition boost.
- Better breath – Dental treats are formulated to fight plaque and tartar to freshen doggy breath.
- Trainability – Treats are useful positive reinforcements during training. Food motivation gets pets to comply with commands.
- Bonding – Treat-giving provides affection and strengthens the human-animal bond.
- Mental stimulation – Pets need to use their brains too. Puzzle toys and treat-dispensing devices provide mental exercise.
In the right circumstances, treats undoubtedly enrich pets’ lives and strengthen the owner relationship. Moderation and supervision are key to utilizing treats safely.
How many treats can pets eat daily?
There is no definitive answer for how many treats a dog or cat can eat in a day. Factors like the pet’s size, age, and activity level all play a role. As a very general guideline, veterinarians often recommend sticking to 10-15 treats per day maximum. But even this modest number can quickly add excess calories.
Avoid free-feeding treats throughout the day. Instead, set aside a few designated treat times. Pay attention to treat sizes – pets feel just as satisfied receiving several small treats as compared to one large treat. Breaking treats into pieces allows more reward moments without excess calories.
Also, be sure to account for treats in the context of the whole diet. Reduce the day’s main meals slightly to accommodate treat calories. Never allow treat-giving to undermine balanced daily nutrition.
Healthiest pet treat options
While the treat aisle at the pet store may seem endless, some types rise above the rest in terms of health and safety. Here are some of the top healthy treat options for pets:
Dehydrated meat
Dehydrated meat treats are made by air drying raw meat at low temperatures. The process removes moisture, concentrating the protein and preserving the meat. Look for treats made from beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, or salmon. Venison and bison are also good novel protein sources for dogs with allergies. Dehydrated meat makes a crunchy, tasty treat dogs love.
Freeze dried raw food
Similar to dehydration, the freeze drying process removes moisture from raw foods. Treats maintain their texture, shape, and nutritional integrity. Options include cubes of chicken, liver, fish, and more. Just be sure no extra salt or seasonings are added.
Frozen treats
Frozen treats provide longer lasting chewing entertainment. Food mixtures are frozen into tubes, bones, rings, or lickable containers. Ingredients like bananas, blueberries, pumpkin, yogurt, and peanut butter make nutritious options. Avoid artificial dyes and sweeteners.
Single ingredient treats
Some of the healthiest treats contain just one whole food ingredient. Examples include dried fish skins, cod skins, bully sticks, turkey or chicken feet, and dried lamb ears. These natural treats are low calorie and digestible.
Vegetable chews
For pets that love veggies, try treats made from dried sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans or peas. Choose treats without seasonings or unnecessary add-ins. Some versions even have an outer layer of chicken for extra enticement.
Teeth cleaning treats
Look for treats with the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal to ensure safety and dental cleaning ability. Only treats proven to reduce plaque and tartar can earn this distinction. Ingredients like delmopinol, zinc sulfate, and sodium tripolyphosphate provide genuine dental care.
Are rawhide chews safe for dogs?
Rawhide is undoubtedly one of the most popular dog treats on the market. These chews are made from the inner layer of untanned cow or pig hides. While dogs certainly seem to love gnawing on them, rawhide has some notable risks and downsides:
- Choking hazard as pieces can break off and get lodged in the throat
- Contaminants like bleach, chemicals, artificial flavors and preservatives
- Indigestible pieces that can cause obstructions or require surgery if swallowed
- Risk of parasitic infections from processing methods
- Contains no nutritional value
Overall, most veterinarians advise avoiding rawhide or at least supervising its use very closely. There are much healthier chew options on the market made from digestible ingredients.
Are milk bones good for dogs?
Milk-Bone is one of the most iconic dog treat brands. But are these biscuits actually good for dogs? Let’s analyze the ingredients:
- Wheat flour – Cheap filler with no nutrients. Dogs gain no benefit from eating wheat.
- Powdered milk – Milk proteins are common allergens for dogs. Most dogs are lactose intolerant.
- Palm oil – Highly processed controversial addition linked to environmental damage.
- Artificial colors – Contain petroleum-derived chemicals like Red 40 Lake and Yellow 6 Lake.
- Preservatives – Contain BHA, BHT, and propyl gallate.
Based on the poor quality ingredients, most veterinarians advise avoiding Milk-Bones and other bargain brands. Spend a little more for treats with natural, high-quality ingredients tailored to your dog’s digestive needs.
DIY homemade healthy dog treats
For the ultimate in natural nutrition and transparency, pet owners can whip up homemade treats in their own kitchens. Here are some nutritious recipes to try:
Pumpkin gingerbread dog biscuits
Combining pumpkin, whole wheat flour, molasses and spices makes a fiber-filled fall favorite.
Peanut butter banana bites
Whip up these no-bake nibbles combining peanut butter, banana, honey and whole wheat flour.
Chicken jerky strips
Slice chicken breasts very thinly and bake at low heat until dried. An affordable protein-packed option.
Frozen banana pops
Insert sticks into peeled bananas and freeze. Provide as cool summer time treats.
Fruity pupsicles
Blend strawberries, blueberries, yogurt, honey and water. Pour into molds and freeze for nutritious pops.
Get creative in the kitchen and experiment with ingredients like carrots, sweet potatoes, Greek yogurt, apples, flaxseed, coconut oil, etc. Tailor recipes to your dog’s health needs and preferences.
Should treats be used for training?
Pet treats are commonly used as rewards during training to reinforce desired behaviors. The key is to only reward your dog with a treat immediately after they successfully execute a cue. This helps them associate obedience with receiving a yummy treat.
Some key points on using treats for training:
- Use very small, pea-sized treats so they can be eaten quickly before continuing training.
- Stick to low-calorie training treats to prevent weight gain.
- Gradually phase out food rewards as your dog becomes more obedience-focused and skilled.
- If your dog becomes overly distracted and focused on getting treats, reduce how often you provide them.
- Take treats away if your dog loses interest in obeying just for food.
While treats work well initially for training, avoid creating a “treat junkie” dependent dog. Use a variable reward schedule and employ a mix of food rewards, praise, and life rewards like getting to play or go outside.
Conclusion
The pet treat market continues to thrive based on consumers desire to pamper and indulge their furry friends. But not all treats are created equal. Poor quality mass-produced treats can undermine canine health and nutrition. Savvy pet parents should carefully read labels and aim to provide treats made from natural, high-quality ingredients. Homemade treats allow for full control over components. Overall moderation, supervision and common sense are key when integrating supplemental treats into a dog’s daily diet. With so many nutritious options available, there is no need to rely on dubious or artificial treats. Do your homework and get treating your pup with only the best snacks tailored to their unique needs.