Dogs love treats! These delicious tidbits are a great way to reward good behavior, reinforce training, and show our dogs a little extra love. But not all dog treats are created equal. Many popular go-to options sitting on pet store shelves or tucked away in kitchen pantries contain ingredients that can be harmful to dogs. Unbeknownst to us, well-intentioned treats can sometimes put our pups in danger through things like hidden sugars, artificial additives, and toxic ingredients. Others can actually become a choking hazard.
Knowing which dog treats to avoid can make a big difference in your pet’s long-term health and safety, as well as your own peace of mind. Some treats pose immediate risks, while others contribute to issues over time like obesity, digestive problems, dental disease, or nutrient imbalances. This guide helps dog owners make smarter choices and learn which treats should be replaced so your best friend can stay safe and healthy.
What to Look For When Choosing Treats
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When choosing a healthy dog treat, consider the following:
- Natural Ingredients: Opt for treats made from whole, natural ingredients without artificial additives.
- Nutritional Value: Look for treats that offer added nutritional benefits like vitamins and minerals.
- Low Calories: Choose low-calorie treats to prevent weight gain.
- Protein Content: Ensure high-quality protein is a primary ingredient.
- Limited Ingredients: Fewer ingredients can reduce allergy risks.
- Size and Texture: Select treats suitable for your dog’s size and chewing habits.
If that, let’s dive into a few options you may want to steer clear of…
1. Ol’ Roy Basted Biscuits Dog Treats
Depending on your dog’s size, they can have up to three treats a day!
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Ol’ Roy has been around for several years, giving many pet owners the idea that the brand can be trusted. Wheat is the first ingredient, which is something you typically want to avoid altogether. There are a lot of random meal byproducts and artificial colors that can be rough on your dog’s stomach.
2. Purina ALPO Variety Snaps Dog Treats
Labels will often highlight the flavors, despite them being artificial meal.
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A dog’s immune system will break down wheat flour into glucose. Alpo snacks from Purina are extremely high in wheat flour, adding excessive sugar to your dog’s diet. Skip it for a healthier alternative, or make snap treats from scratch!
3. Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Meatballs
Your dog can eat whole, real meatballs as long as they contain no seasonings.
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It’s truly amazing how easily marketing can fool us. Although Milo’s Kitchen products look healthy, the ingredients speak volumes. With plenty of sugar and nutrition-free flavors, skipping these treats is safe.
4. Canine Carry Outs Beef Flavor Dog Treats
These treats are often available for under .50.
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With both bacon and beef flavor offerings, this brand of dog treat is just trash! There’s a reason it’s so low-cost. Preservatives, artificial colors, corn syrup, and wheat flour are a few of the horrible ingredients in Canine Carry Outs products.
5. Milk-Bone Snausages
Dog treats can be a great way to train a new puppy.
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The ingredients in Milk Bone Snausages couldn’t get much worse. Corn syrup, soy flour, BHA, and tons of artificial dyes are just a few. Don’t let the appearance of pigs in a blanket fool you or your pup!
6. Pup-Peroni Dog Treats
Real pepperoni can be too high in sodium for a dog’s diet.
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These are a classic treat for dogs, but they’re no good! They include a plethora of unnamed byproducts, red-40 coloring, salt, sugar, and other harmful additives.
7. Purina Beggin’ Strips Dog Treats
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It’s hard not to love the hilarious commercials for Purina’s Beggin’ Strips. Did you know these dog treats are full of carcinogenic ingredients? Cancer-causing sodium nitrite and BHA are the main ingredients in these faux-bacon treats.
8. Purina Beneful Baked Delights Dog Treats
It can often be much healthier to make dog treats from scratch!
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Don’t let the packaging fool you. These treats by Purina are hard on your dog’s digestive system. With plenty of fillers, including ground corn and glycerin, skip these treats next time you’re shopping for your furry friend.
9. Pedigree Marrowbone Dog Treats
Anytime a dog is given a treat, they should be closely monitored.
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Despite the name, there is actually very little marrow in these treats. The main ingredients are wheat flour and sugar. Yuck!
10. Pup Corn Dog Treats
Be sure you ask your vet about corn allergies before feeding it to your dog.
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Did you know that many dog breeds have corn allergies? They can get hives, abdominal cramping, and vomiting from an allergic reaction. Pup Corn is filled with corn and unnecessary dyes that can harm your pup.
11. Milk-Bone Original Dog Treats
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This brand has been around forever. Because of that, many pet owners trust it. The main ingredient in a Milk Bone is wheat, which is a filler with little nutritional value. There are also artificial dyes that have been linked to cancer.
12. Pedigree Dentastix
You should brush your dog’s teeth at least twice a day.
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You may think you’re doing your dog a favor by giving them a dental stick. The ones offered by Pedigree are full of rice and wheat flour, preservatives, artificial colors, and more.
13. Healthy Centres Salmon Dog Treats
You can give a dog a large stick, positive reinforcement, or cuddles in exchange for food as a treat.
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Don’t let clever marketing fool you! The packaging makes it seem like Healthy Centres are healthy for your pet. Once you look at the ingredients, you’ll find harmful ingredients, including canola oil and cornstarch. Shockingly, they contain no salmon.
14. Smartbone Rawhide-Free Chicken Mini Dog Chews
Most of the dog treats this brand has contain harmful ingredients.
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We love the idea of replacing rawhide, as long as it’s with a healthy alternative. Unfortunately, Smartbones uses maltodextrin in their treats. Despite their catchphrase, these are, in fact, not “The Healthy Alternative to Rawhide.”
15. Harrington’s Low Fat Dog Treats
It’s essential to check the ingredients on dog food and treats to ensure it’s giving them the nutrients they need.
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Although the name Harrington’s is great, their treats contain turkey meal and potatoes. This results in low nutritional value and toxic additives such as sodium selenite.
16. Wagg Tasty Bones
Some dog’s can be allergic to wheat meal.
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With a slogan like “Healthy from nose to tail,” you’d assume this treat would be great for your dog. The first is wheat, and the poultry meal can threaten your canine’s health.
17. Gravy Train Dog Treats
Some dog treats can be used to hide pills to make it easier for the dog to get their medications.
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Although the appearance of Gravy Train dog treats can look appetizing, these will do nothing beneficial to your dog. The ingredients include random unnamed animal fat, wheat flour, soy flour, and plenty of artificial preservatives.
18. Greenies
Some pet insurance plans include dental coverage.
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Many loving dog owners believe Greenies to be one of the best ways to treat your dog and help with their dental health. Most people aren’t aware that glycerin and carbohydrates are two of the main ingredients in this treat. Your dog doesn’t need extra sugar, especially in dental cleaning products.
19. Sausage Links
Sausage can be high in fat, thus being dangerous to your dog if fed in high doses.
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Did you know that human food, such as sausage links, can be dangerous for your furry friend? Because they are made with chicken or beef, they may contain bacteria that can harm your dog. Also, these links typically contain spices such as garlic or onion powder, which can be toxic to canine friends.
20. Any Brand of Rawhide Treats
Rawhide is animal skin that has yet to be tanned.
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Although no specific brand is under fire here, any rawhide should be avoided at all costs. Not only are the ingredients unhealthy for your dog, rawhide has been shown to lead to cancer. It’s also important to note that your dog’s stomach cannot break down rawhide, which can lead to ruptures and choking hazards.
21. Real Animal Bones
Dog’s tend to burying bones as a way to hide it from other animals so they can gnaw on it at a later time.
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Treating your dog to a real animal bone may seem as raw and natural as possible. Unfortunately, similar to rawhide, fragments of the bone can get stuck in your dog’s colon. This can cause constipation and even scrape the lining of internal organs.
