healthy natural dog chews

The seven best healthy dog treats, according to a vet

Does your dog need treats?

Fortunately, many dog treats are nutritious, so dog treats can be part of a balanced diet for your pup. Dog treats are especially helpful when you are training your dog or rewarding them for good behavior. If your dog has food allergies, youll need to pay close attention to treat ingredients, and dogs that are overweight or with certain medical conditions should only follow a veterinarian-recommended diet and may not be allowed to have treats.

Choosing healthy treats for your doggie

When your best friend learns a new trick or behaves really well at the dog park, its tempting to reach for the first treats you can find to praise them. But not all treats are a good reward for good behavior. Unfortunately, some treats may have questionable ingredients or high-calorie counts that can be detrimental to your pups health. To keep your pup healthy and following good nutrition, opt for healthy treats instead.

What to look for in healthy dog treats

If youre ready to start shopping for healthy dog treats for your best friend, there are several things to keep in mind. Take a close look at labels to evaluate the ingredients and calories, but also keep things like size and texture in mind.

Ingredients. One of the most important things to look for in healthy treats is the ingredients list. Stick to treats with an ingredients list of whole, natural foods. Many treats include healthy ingredients like meat, peanut butter, fruits, and vegetables. Our vets also recommend treats with fish or salmon, because omega-3 fatty acids can help with brain and eye development in puppies or boost cognitive function in older dogs.

Brand. Some brands offer higher quality dog treats than others. Our veterinary team trusts brands like Purina Pro Plan, Science Diet/Hills, and Royal Canin. They all avoid cross-contamination between foods and treats during manufacturing.

Calories. Generally, treats should be just that treats! Treats should make up less than 10% of your dogs daily calories, so read the label for the calorie amount per treat and stick to the correct portion sizes.

Texture. You want to choose treats that arent too hard, otherwise, they can pose a choking hazard. Hard treats are difficult for a dog to bite into, so they might only be able to bite them into large pieces, which are hard to swallow. Too-hard treats can also fracture your dogs teeth.

Size. Treats can be a choking hazard if they are too large or too small for your dog. Opt for small treats for puppies or small dogs. Large dogs may enjoy large treats, but also make sure to keep an eye out. Even large dogs can choke on treats that are too big.

Labels. Treats labeled as all-natural can be misleading, as the treats may still be highly processed.

If your dog is overweight or has dietary restrictions, youll need to scrutinize the treat labels very carefully.

Types of dog treats to avoid

There are many popular treats out there that arent good for any dogs. Here are some common treats to stay away from.

Rawhides. Rawhides are inexpensive treats with little nutritional value. Some rawhides are treated with toxins like formaldehyde and bleach. They also pose a huge choking risk as they break down into pieces over time. However, some rawhide-like products, such as Purina Pro Plan Dental Chewz, are VOHC-approved and safe for consumption.

Animal bones. Sure, bones are all-natural but they can be covered in pathogens, such as E. Coli and salmonella. Some people may suggest boiling the bones to sanitize them, but this process actually makes the bones brittle and more likely to splinter. This is a choking hazard for dogs, and splinters and sharp pieces can puncture the intestines.

Jerky-type treats. Since 2007, the FDA has received reports of sick pets after consuming jerky pet treats. Learn more about their ongoing investigationTrusted SourceU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Government agency.Go to source and how theyre testing treats to determine why some jerky treats are making pets sick. While these cases are rare, we recommend avoiding jerky-type treats especially with so many other great options on the market.

Treats with additives. We like treats that dont contain lots of additives or artificial colors. Some additives, such as Red#3, used for coloring or preservatives have been linked to cancer in animalsTrusted SourcePubMed CentralArchive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.Go to source.

Toxic human food. While dogs may love chicken and sweet potatoes as we do, there are many foods that humans eat that are not suitable for dogs. While you treat yourself with chocolate, you cant do the same for your pup, because the chemicals in chocolate can cause seizures and increased heart rates in dogs. Instead, you can give your dog human food treats like some fresh fruits and vegetables (avoid grapes and items with seeds or pits), like watermelon, broccoli, green beans, bananas, or carrots.

Can you make DIY treats at home?

Its easy to make DIY dog treats at home, and you might be surprised to find your mouth watering as the smell of our favorite peanut butter and oatmeal cookies (yes, these really are for your pup!) fills your kitchen. Making treats at home means you can customize the ingredients based on your dogs dietary needs and flavor preferences. Try one of our tried-and-true all-natural pet treat recipes for your best friend.

How to Pick Safe, Edible Dog Chews

If youve ever lost a shoe to your dogs teeth, you know how much dogs love to chew. It relieves the pain of puppy teething, exercises jaw muscles, andcleans your dogs teeth. Chewing is also great forbeating doggy boredomand can help your dogrelieve anxietyor frustration by giving them something enjoyable to focus on. Thankfully, there are all kinds ofchew toys on the market. Your dog may also love edible dog chews.

How do you know which dog chews are safe? This guide to choosing the perfect edible chew will help you sort through the options.

Know Your Dogs Style of Chewing

Every dog has their own chewing style. For example, aBoxeris more likely to be an aggressive chewer than aShih Tzu. And every dog has their own chewing preferences. Some dogs like a harder chew and others prefer softer chews. Plus, as your dog ages, their preferences can change. The tough chews your dog enjoys as an adolescent will probably be too hard when they become a senior dogwith dental issues.

Pick chews that suit your dogs personality, age, and chewing style. What is safe for one dog might not be a good choice for another. A dog treat may be edible, but that doesnt necessarily mean its safe. For example, if your dog breaks off large chunks and swallows them whole, that could lead to serious complications like choking or an obstructed bowel. Whenever you give your dog a new type of chew, always keep an eye on them to be sure its a safe choice.

What to Look for in an Edible Dog Chew

The following list will help you choose an appropriate chew:

• Hardness: Chews that are too hard can crack your dogs teeth or cut their gums.
• Durability: The chew should be strong enough to withstand vigorous chewing. If its too soft, your dog can break off chunks and swallow them whole, which is a health hazard.
• Long-lasting: Look for edible dog chews that will last. These options will keep your dog occupied for longer and provide more value.
• Size: Chews that are too small for your dog present a choking risk. Pick edible dog chews that are large enough so your dog cant get the entire thing in their mouth at once.
• Ingredients: Look for limited, natural ingredients. Avoid any flavorings or coatings that could upset your dogs stomach.

If you have any concerns about your choice of edible dog chews, consult your veterinarian.

Types of Edible Dog Chews

Here are some of the more common chews.

Rawhide

Rawhide, which is made from the inner layer of horse or cowhide, is a popular chew, but rawhide safety depends on the dog. Power chewers can break off large pieces. If your dog swallows these chunks, they can choke, or a piece can become lodged in their intestines.

Rawhide is also difficult to digest. Pieces will pass through the digestive system whole, which is why they pose an obstruction risk. If you choose to provide rawhide, prevent your dog from eating large pieces by removing any chunks as soon as your dog breaks them off. Once your dog has chewed the rawhide so that its small enough to swallow in one piece, take it away from your dog.

Bully Sticks

Unlike rawhide,bully sticks, sometimes known as pizzle sticks, are easily digestible. Single-ingredient chews made from beef muscle, bully sticks range in thicknesses and lengths. They also come braided and shaped for an extra-long chew. They do not splinter. Instead, the end of the stick becomes soft and acts like a toothbrush as your dog chews.

Most dogs simply gnaw the end of the stick. However, power chewers might bite straight through, producing large pieces that pose a choking risk, or swallow the entire stick whole. In that case, you can try placing the treat in a bully stick holder, which helps prevent your dog from breaking off too much at once. When your dog has chewed the stick down to a nub, take it away before they can swallow whats left.

Antlers

Antlers are all-natural chews that can come from a variety of animals, including deer or elk. Antlers for dogs come in a range of sizes and shapes and are incredibly long-lasting because they are so hard. However, their hardness can also make them a risky choice. Dogs can break their teeth on antlers, which is not only painful but expensive to treat. The hard surface can also cut your dogs gums.

But the greatest risk is from a shard of antler that splinters off. These shards can puncture or get stuck in your dogs mouth, throat, or intestines, leading to emergency surgery. Many veterinarians recommend avoiding antlers, but if you do provide them, always supervise your dog while they chew.

Yak Cheese Chews

A relatively new chew on the scene is the yak cheese chew. These hard blocks of dried cheese have just a few ingredients yaks milk (and sometimes cows milk), salt, and lime juice. The lactose content is low, so dogs generally digest them well, and they are hard enough to be long-lasting. Plus, they dont smell as bad as some other animal-based chews.

However, these edible dog chews still pose the same dangers. If your dog breaks off chunks, they can swallow the pieces and risk choking or bowel obstruction. Also, although these are cheese, they are quite hard and could lead to broken teeth. As with other chews, only give your dog a block large enough that they cant eat whole. Take away the yak chew as soon as it gets small enough to pose a hazard. Small pieces of yak cheese chews can be put into the microwave for short bursts of time until they puff and can be easily crunched up as a treat once cooled.

Tendons and Other Animal Parts

From beef trachea to pig ears, different animal parts are marketed as edible dog chews. Some are safer than others. Pig ears are often coated, which can upset your dogs stomach. Backstrap and other tendon chews are a safer choice, since theyre low in fat and high in protein and collagen.

Trachea is a softer chew that contains chondroitin and glucosamine, so it can be a good choice for a dog with joint issues. Finally, fish skin chews are shaped into bones or rolls. Although they smell fishy, they are a great source of omega three fatty acids.

Human-Made Edible Bones

There is a whole range of human-made edible bones available. Often called dental bones, these edible dog chews often help clean dog teeth. Look for a version that is highly digestible and has natural ingredients. And choose a bone size and shape appropriate for your dogs size.