Three Dog Bakery is a popular brand of dog treats that offers a variety of baked goods made specifically for canine consumption. Their cookies come in different flavors and varieties, all marketed as wholesome and natural snacks for dogs. But are Three Dog Bakery cookies actually safe and healthy for dogs to eat?
The Ingredients
To determine if Three Dog Bakery cookies are safe for dogs, it’s important to look at the ingredients. According to their website, their cookies are made with simple, natural ingredients like whole wheat flour, eggs, honey, peanut butter, carrots, apples, and cranberries. These are all foods that are safe and even healthy for dogs to consume in moderation.
Three Dog Bakery states that their cookies contain no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. This is reassuring, as artificial additives can potentially cause health issues in dogs if consumed regularly. They also claim to use human-grade ingredients, which indicates quality standards higher than typical pet treats.
It’s also important to note what’s NOT included – ingredients like sugar, salt, onion, garlic, chocolate, raisins, artificial sweeteners, and other potentially toxic ingredients are not present in Three Dog Bakery cookies, according to their listed ingredients.
Quality Control and Safety Standards
In addition to ingredients, the quality control and safety standards of a pet treat manufacturer are important in determining how safe their products are. Three Dog Bakery states that they follow strict food safety protocols in their bakery kitchens. This includes:
- Sourcing ingredients from trusted, established vendors
- Following good manufacturing practices (GMPs)
- Routine equipment cleaning and sanitizing
- Product testing for safety
- Strict employee training
Their facilities are regularly audited for sanitation and proper protocols. Their treats are made in small batches to ensure quality. All of these practices reduce the risks of contaminated or spoiled ingredients and give consumers peace of mind about safety when feeding these treats.
Regulations and Oversight
Commercial pet treats and foods in the United States are regulated by the FDA, which sets standards and limits for ingredients, quality control, and labeling accuracy. Three Dog Bakery’s facilities are FDA-registered, meaning they adhere to federal regulations for pet food manufacturing.
Additionally, their products are made in the USA, so manufacturing falls under FDA and USDA jurisdiction. Foreign-made treats have been linked to more safety issues in recent years.
Three Dog Bakery also notes that they send products out for third-party testing to ensure safety. Regular audits by outside organizations can identify potential issues not caught by internal QA checks.
Customer Reviews
Looking at real-world customer experiences can provide insight into how safe Three Dog Bakery cookies are for dogs. Overall, online reviews for these treats are very positive. Most dog owners say their pups love the taste and have no issues digesting these cookies.
A few reviews do mention minor gastric upset like loose stools if too many cookies are consumed at once. This is understandable, as any treat can cause digestion issues if overfed. There are very few serious complaints of dogs becoming ill after eating these treats when fed in moderation.
Many reviews praise the simplicity of ingredients and lack of additives like corn, soy, and wheat. Owners feel good about giving their dogs a snack made with wholesome ingredients.
Positive Customer Review Examples
- “My dog absolutely loves these treats! She gobbles them up so fast and begs for more. I feel much better giving her these than store-bought treats full of junk.”
- “I’ve purchased Three Dog Bakery treats for years and all 6 of my dogs have thrived on them. No tummy issues ever. I trust this brand.”
- “You can tell these cookies are baked with care and quality ingredients. My pup gets so excited when I break one out!”
Negative Customer Review Examples
- “My chihuahua had diarrhea after eating a few of these cookies. I think they are too rich for his sensitive stomach.”
- “My dog threw up after rapidly consuming several cookies. Not sure if he just ate too many or if it was the treat itself. He’s fine after slowing down consumption.”
- “Wish these cookies had fewer calories! Have to limit them or my corgi will gain weight.”
Expert Veterinary Opinions
To further determine the safety of Three Dog Bakery cookies, it’s helpful to look at what veterinary nutritionists and experts think. Overall, vets give cautious approval to these treats if fed occasionally and in moderation.
Veterinarian Dr. Jessica Vogelsang of pawcurious.com states: “Overall, these look like a good choice for dogs based on the ingredient panel. There’s nothing in there I’d take particular issue with. As with any treat, keep portion sizes small.”
Veterinary nutritionist Dr. Cailin Heinze of Tufts University says: “This brand meets all of my criteria for safe, healthy commercial treats for dogs. The ingredients are simple, use real food sources, and are free of red flags.”
The general consensus among experts seems to be that Three Dog Bakery makes a quality product free of harmful additives. As with any treat, moderation is key, but these cookies are considered a safe option.
Nutritional Value
When choosing dog treats, it’s important to look at their overall nutritional value, not just safety. Three Dog Bakery cookies provide the following nutritional benefits:
- Protein – The flour and eggs provide essential amino acids for dogs’ muscles and tissues.
- Fiber – Whole grains like wheat flour give beneficial fiber for digestion.
- Vitamins & minerals – Ingredients like carrots, peanut butter, apples, and cranberries add vitamins A, B, E, iron, and copper.
- Healthy fats – Eggs and peanut butter contain Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fat that is key for dogs’ skin and coat health.
These cookies offer more complete nutrition than many other baked treats made with refined flours and sugars. The food-based ingredients provide a nutrition boost lacking in some grain-free treats made with a base of potato or tapioca flour.
Potential Downsides
While Three Dog Bakery cookies are considered a safe and nutritious option for most dogs, there are a few potential downsides to consider:
- Calories can add up quickly if feeding too many treats. These are not low-calorie snacks.
- Some dogs may have sensitivities to particular ingredients like wheat or eggs.
- Quality control protocols cannot catch every potential contaminant.
- Consuming any treat in excess can lead to obesity or diarrhea.
As with any human or pet food product, there is no 100% guarantee of safety or suitability for every individual. Monitoring your dog’s reaction to any new treat is important.
Conclusion
Based on an analysis of ingredients, manufacturing standards, regulations, expert opinions, customer reviews, and nutritional value, Three Dog Bakery cookies appear to be a safe and healthy treat option for most dogs when fed in moderation. The simple, high-quality ingredients make them a good choice over many mass-produced alternatives.
However, as with any pet food product, owners should monitor their dog’s reaction and adjust feeding amounts appropriately. Dogs with food sensitivities or those prone to gastric issues may need to avoid these cookies. For the majority of canines though, Three Dog Bakery cookies present no significant health risks and offer a tasty way to provide added nutrition.
Feeding a few small cookies once or twice a day is unlikely to cause harm. But giving too many, too often can lead to obesity or stomach upset. As always, moderation and variety are key in choosing safe, healthy dog treats.
Overall though, Three Dog Bakery seems to live up to their promise of wholesome, natural ingredients baked with care. Discerning pet owners can feel confident offering these snacks to their furry companions without major safety concerns. Just be sure to follow feeding guidelines and monitor your dog’s reaction. When in doubt, consult your veterinarian on the appropriate treat foods and amounts for your pet’s needs.