When we started giving treats to Bagel, our adorable golden retriever, we bought off-the-shelf treats that were screaming with “high in omega-3” & “good for joints” because of the tendency of big dogs to develop hip dysplasia.

Over time, after extensive research on what really goes into each product, and through consultation with vets, we found out that there was so much more to take note of as a pet parent. Grains such as wheat, maize and corn, or their flour derivatives are fillers that have very little benefit to your dog, and typically leads to weight gain. 

Here are some of our favourite treats that we think are best for our furkids health and nutrition.

Best Natural Treats For Your Dog

1. Single-Ingredient Dehydrated Treats

A great way to ensure that your dogs get the best treats and nutrition is to ensure that the treats you buy are made of single or limited ingredients. This way, it is easier to prevent unnecessary fillers and additives being fed together with the treat.

Common single ingredient dehydrated treats include dehydrated green-lipped mussels, dehydrated beef steak, and other types of dehydrated meat.

Also, be sure to check if the dehydration process is either Freeze-dried or Air-dried at low temperatures, as dehydrator-made treats go through a heating process which removes more than 50% of nutrients in the treat. Dehydrator-made treats with bones also tend to splinter and may injure your pup when chewing. Check out our blog post to learn more about the differences between freeze-drying, air-drying, and dehydrator dehydration processes.

2. Organic & Non-GMO Certified Treats

A rising popularity in the consumption of organic and non-GMO certified foods has found its way into pet food and pet treats too. These treats are of the highest quality and usually follows the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program standards.

It is also common to feed dogs with canine allergies these treats to prevent any reactions that may harm your pup from the added chemicals.

All of BELLY UP’s ingredients are organic, with a majority of the produce being non-genetically modified. This means that your can feed your furkids these treats without any concern or worry, whilst giving them a nutritious and exciting treat experience.

3. Home-made Treats

There are many easy recipes for creating your own home-made treats for Fido. You could mix up some unsweetened greek yoghurt with unsweetened & unsalted peanut butter and freeze them in cubes. These make for a fun change-up to regular off-the-shelf treats that we get for our furry friends.

Treats that you prepare at home allows more room for customisation according to your furkid’s nutritional needs.

4. From Your Pantry (Human-grade)

There is a whole range of human-grade food that you can feed your pups with right from your kitchen. This includes sweet potatoes, carrots, bananas or even fresh cubes of beef & chicken. You can mix it up by freezing your carrots & bananas, or even searing beef or chicken before feeding them. You can discover which human foods are best for your furkid here.

Treats We Do Not Recommend

1. High in Carbohydrates

Dogs generally acquire nutrition from protein and fat. Carbohydrates, whether simple or complex, provide very little support to your pup’s nutritional balance. Carbohydrates are also common in commercial dry dog food as it is a cost-effective solution. Your dog should be taking a reasonable amount of carbohydrates according to their body type (underweight or overweight), with a majority of their calories from protein and fat.

2. No Nutritional Analysis

A nutritional analysis is important to understand if any treat is adequate for your pet. A complete and balanced nutrition will help to prevent weight gain or the onset of diseases. High fat treats such as pig’s ears (>20% fat) and shishamo (>40% fat) have commonly led to pancreatitis in dogs as they are not packaged with any nutritional guidelines.

A balanced nutrition for your furkids sets precedence for better immunity and fewer visits to the vet.

3. No Country of Origin

A clear country of origin is important on any treat packaging as different countries have varying levels of standards to processing and manufacturing. American regulators, for example, have a much more stringent standard for bacteria counts in pet food, and also organic produce definitions.

Countries such as China and Vietnam have no regulations to pet food at all. This sets a dangerous environment for any ingredient or pet food that was sourced and created in these countries to produce treats or other pet supplies.

4. Other Additives

You should also avoid treats that contain hydrolysed protein or fat, as these are usually derivatives of animal carcasses that humans do not want, just to add flavouring to food. Salt and flavouring additives should also be avoided as they cause dehydration, vomiting and salt poisoning. However, if salt is a small component of a natural treat such as seafood, it will help in electrolyte balance in your dog.

Want to learn more about the best ways to treat your pet?

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xo
Nellie