While there are many dog treats available on the market today, the key is to find the best, most nutritious treats you can. In order to do this, you must read the product labels and check dog treat ingredients. Just as in human foods, dog treats and foods are required to list ingredients from the most amounts down to the least.
Consider the top components. They serve as the basis of the treats and should be scrutinized carefully. You don't want gluten, soy, or corn in any form. All three are non-nourishing "filler" substances. You certainly want to avoid meat by-products, which are considered unsafe for humans and by extension for our beloved pets. On the "to be avoided" list as well are BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin, all of which have been proven to cause cancer. Propylene glycol, better known as anti-freeze, is actually another constituent of many dog treats.
An excellent way to go is homemade dog food and treats, because you can determine exactly what ingredients you want to put in them. Foods such as plain yogurt mixed with honey or peanut butter can be frozen and placed into an ice cube tray. For a dog that is overweight, it is nice to use fresh vegetables such as carrots, cherry tomatoes, or steamed green beans. These are good, nutritional, filling alternatives to other treats. Dried sweet potatoes are a favorite with some dogs. You must learn which foods are safe, because some foods, such as grapes, raisins, and macadamia nuts, may be toxic to dogs.
All dogs love raw beef bones. They provide an excellent way to clean your dog's teeth, as well as keeping it entertained for extended periods of time. Natural, raw treats also equals less waste to clean up, and the marrow in the bones offers a myriad of health benefits. Please do not offer dogs bones that have been cooked, as this causes them to splinter. Always keep a close eye on your dog when feeding raw bones as a treat.
While discussing the types of treats for your dog with your veterinarian is certainly an option it should be done with caution. Many veterinarians do not have extensive training in pet nutrition; in fact much of their education on the subject comes from the manufacturers who are promoting their products. This is the reason you see the brands for these companies in their offices. The best education is to read the labels of these products for yourself, you will be surprised at what is actually in these vet recommended products.
Continuously read the labels of pet treats and foods; even on those you have already approved of. In efforts to cut costs, even the premium food manufactures are changing their formulas. One maker had switched to using fish preserved in ethoxyquin, insisting it was safe. After an outpouring of complaints from their customers, this practice has been discontinued. Canidae dog food has recently changed the formula in their lamb and rice variety. While still a comparable product to previously, it is certainly using some downgraded ingredients, and it was not a premium quality product to begin with.
