Dog Treats Buyer’s Guide
Whether you are a new dog owner or you’ve been taking care of a bunch of dogs for quite a while now, there will always be those doggie snacks that your beloved pets will surely love. As a dog owner, you should give utmost importance to the health of your dog. Therefore, when buying dog treats, you have to consider several essential factors.
Here’s your guide to buying the best dog treats.
- The best dog treats are usually produced in the United States. But aside from the country of origin, you need also to consider the company that manufactures the product. It should have a good reputation for selling pet foods, most especially dog treats. This is similar to dog food brands too.
- Like humans, dogs must be fed with high nutrient foods for them to stay healthy. Therefore, check the nutrient content of the dog treats before buying. Find out how much proteins, fats and carbs are in each package.
- Gluten-free dog treats are less allergic than those that are made entirely from beef or chicken meat. So if your pet has a history of allergies, you might as well go for these kinds of treats. There are also gluten-free dog food options for your allergic pooch too.
- Find out the calorie content of the product. For your dog to not develop diabetes or obesity, choose treats that ideally have low caloric content.
- More importantly, choose treats that your pooch will surely love. These treats are available in different varieties, such as cookies, biscuits, dry kibbles, and jerkies.
Things To Consider When Shopping For Dog Treats
Before you start looking for the best dog treats to buy, you should know precisely what is it that you are looking for. This will not only save you time, but it will also prevent you from spending money on a dog treat that your dog will not like.
Here are some things to consider when buying dog treats:
The Reason Why You Want to Give the Treat
Dog treats are available in different varieties and you can choose something depending on the purpose. For positive reinforcement during obedience training, choose treats that are available in small sizes but are flavorful. These treats should be savory so your pooch will be encouraged to perform certain desirable behaviors. If they don’t find it desirable, you cannot expect them to follow exactly what you expect them to do. Besides, dog treats have this name because they are "treats" for your dog.
If you simply want something that can supplement your dog’s dietary requirement or treat them of a specific medical condition, then look for something that’s made from ingredients that are designed to cure your dog of these conditions. These dog treats serve as food supplements that must be taken under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. They have to be consumed in specific doses as specified by your dog’s doctor.
Some dogs tend to suffer from dental conditions, such as decayed teeth and bad breath. In this case, you need to choose dog treats that promote optimum oral health. These treats can clean and freshen up your beloved pet’s breath and prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar. They also help to minimize the risk of gum diseases. These treats are often referred to as dog chews, although they are also somewhat similar to dog treats.
The key is to identify your purpose. That way, it will be easy for you to narrow down the extensive options available for you.
The Size of the Treat for Your Dog
Not all dogs are comfortable with eating big or small treats. Of course, you must also consider the size of your dog’s oral cavity when deciding on the size of the treats.
The dog treats are available in a wide variety of sizes, so looking for the most appropriate size shouldn’t be a challenge. For small breed puppies, you should go for something small. Understandably, if your dog belongs to a large breed, then you should go for a much bigger treat since this is what the dog will find more enjoyable to eat.
Treats Texture
The texture is also an essential factor when choosing the right dog treats for your pet. If you have a puppy, then avoid buying treats with hard and crunchy texture because the puppy’s jaws and teeth are still in the developing stage. Instead, choose treats that have a chewy and soft texture. Older pooches might also want their treats to be softer. Larger breeds of dogs, however, might enjoy munching on the crunchy treats.
Nutritional Values
The nutritional content of the dog treats that you plan on buying should be enough to provide for the dietary needs of your pooch. Your dog’s dietary needs will depend on your dog’s size, breed, and age, among others. According to the American Kennel Club, it’s recommended that the treats should not constitute more than 10% of your dog’s average daily calorie needs.
Senior dogs and small puppies need more protein, so this is something to consider when looking for dog treats. But take note that dogs that have kidney issues should avoid high protein diets. Puppies also need plenty of DHA for their brain development while senior and adult dogs could benefit more from EPA due to its anti-inflammatory properties. The presence of vitamins and minerals in the dog treats is of utmost importance to promote optimal health for your beloved pet.
Are Dog Treats Safe?
When searching for dog treats online, you have probably come across some articles about dogs getting sick or catching certain illnesses as a result of eating these dog treats. But most of these stories are not true. Remember that dangerous chemicals and toxins are everywhere, and there’s a good chance that these dogs might have gotten in contact with these substances in other ways and not by eating dog treats.
Of course, to ensure the safety of your beloved pet, look for healthy, safe, and nutritious dog treats. Refer to the labels and find out what ingredients are used to manufacture these products. Choose treats with ingredients that are familiar to you. Also, beware of the treats made from meat byproducts because these ingredients are not regulated. It’s pretty hard to identify what they are precisely made of. Above all, opt for reputable brands and products marked as “certified organic.”
Dog treats are never meant to provide the full daily nutritional value for your pooch. Always remember to feed them well. Supplementing your dogs with fish oil and probiotics could be beneficial to their health, but not it is compulsory.
Can Dog Treats Spoil or Expire?
Just like any other food, the dog treats can also go bad. But these products usually have a longer shelf life. So when buying dog treats, always check the products’ expiration date. And always remember to store the dog treats in an air tight storage container. This prevents mold and bacteria from growing on your dog treats.
When these products expire, the ingredients used in making them will spoil and will no longer have any nutritional value. Worse, they could make your beloved dog sick!
