Are you wondering what’s all that fuss about natural dog treats and natural dog chews? You might if you keep hearing how unhealthy certain dog treats are.
Fortunately, we’re here to help you make the best choice for your pet. So, we’re going to talk about the benefits of natural dog treats and how to recognize them.
Keep on reading.
What Are the Benefits of Natural Treats for Dogs?
Often when you go to the pet store to buy treats, you expect that you’re getting something healthy and beneficial for your dog. Sadly, that’s not always the case.
A lot of store-bought treats and chews are full of artificial ingredients, chemicals, and dangerous preservatives, which can cause a wide range of health problems. That’s why going natural and organic products have become so popular nowadays.
But let’s see in detail what makes natural dog treats a better alternative than artificial ones.
#1 Real Meat With No Artificial Ingredients
Do you know why some dog treats are much cheaper than others? That’s because the manufacturers use meat that’s not suitable for human consumption, such as dead pets, sick animals, beaks, fur, feathers, etc.
Natural dog treats are 100% meat. You’ll often read on the label “duck,” beef,” or “lamb,” instead of a generic name. So, you know that you’re giving your dog a real treat, not a meat substitute.
Such treats also don’t contain artificial preservatives or chemicals that could trigger an allergy or cause cancer.
#2 Better Nutritional Value
Low-quality dog treats have little to none nutritional value for your dog. They’re full of additives, carbohydrates, and artificial ingredients to enhance the flavor. Think of them as junk food – tasty, but bad for your dog’s health.
On the other hand, natural dog treats are made with high-quality ingredients, free of chemicals and hormones. They also have important vitamins and minerals to support your dog’s overall health and immune system.
Bully sticks for dogs, for example, are made of bull puzzles and little else. As such, they’re an excellent source of protein.
#3 Easy Digestion
Since low-quality dog treats are chock full of synthetic and gene-modified ingredients, dogs often have an adverse reaction to them. You might notice digestive problems, such as flatulence, diarrhea, or constipation or skin rashes, itchiness, and over shedding.
Natural dog treats don’t have harmful chemicals to irritate the stomach. Instead, they use ingredients derived from natural sources, which makes them unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.
Moreover, natural dog treats are highly digestible, which means that your dog gets most of the nutrients, and there’s very little waste. They also promote healthy skin and keep your dog’s coat shiny.
#4 Better Dental Health
Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in dogs. Brushing a dog’s teeth isn’t that easy, and a lot of owners rely on treats to keep their dog’s teeth in good condition. However, low-quality treats might have added sugar in them. As you know it, sugar is one of the worst things for the teeth because it promotes tooth decay.
Natural dog treats don’t have sugar or other ingredients that are bad for the teeth. Instead, some have components to battle mouth bacteria and freshen your dog’s breath. After all, no one likes dogs with stinky breath.
Bones for dogs, rawhide, and bully sticks are among the best choice for cleaning a dog’s teeth. The act of chewing and the rough surface of these treats scrapes the plaque away and keeps the teeth tartar-free.
#5 Promote Healthy Weight and Keep Your Dog Sated
As I already mentioned, some dog treats are full of carbohydrates. While your dog needs carbohydrates, their primary source of energy is protein, not sugar. So, any dog treats with high-calorie content can lead to weight gain.
Moreover, low-quality treats have too many fillers and too little real meat. So, your dog has to eat more to feel sated or might get hungry more often than normal. That could also lead to problems with weight.
Natural dog treats usually have a little fat, few calories, and high protein content. Since natural dog treats are made from meat, your dog gets full quickly and won’t try to eat the whole package.
How to Identify the Best Natural Treats For Dogs?
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to pick natural dog treats apart from low-quality ones. Besides checking reviews online, here are some useful tips:
- Read the label. You should see named meat as the first ingredient.
- Wholesome food ingredients have been through minimal processing and are usually free of additives and chemicals. They’re better than by-products.
- Choose manufacturers who use locally sourced products. They’re likely to be fresher and purer than oversee ingredients or meat.
- Vitamin E and C are safe, natural preservatives. Avoid treats with artificial ones.
- Natural sweeteners could be molasses, honey, and applesauce. While dogs don’t need any extra sweetness, such ingredients can be beneficial in moderation.
- The more organic ingredients, the better the quality of the treats.