Brands & Bones To Be Aware Of
As people become new puppy parents, they’re purchasing lots of things for their puppies to chew on. We wanted to make sure all dog parents were aware of some of the treats you should keep an eye out for.
I’m sure you’ve seen those Facebook posts saying “don’t feed this to your dog!”, but you have to be mindful that every dog is different. A 10 pound Chihuahua and a 150 pound Akita, really shouldn’t be eating the same things anyways. So although you might see someone have a bad experience with a treat, you should really understand WHY some treats are bad, instead of boycotting them all together.
All dogs are different!
So we wanted to share some quick tips of things to be mindful of when deciding what to feed your furry friend.
Let’s start with location.
Each country has their own standards and regulations for what is acceptable for dogs to consume, so it is important to read where your dog treats (and food) come from. (We’ll cover this in an upcoming post).
Because different countries regulate dog food and treat production differently, it’s important to choose treats based on where you feel is safe. We try and stay away from brands made in China, because we know they don’t put things that are necessary good for dogs into their treats. These types of ingredients are what can cause harmful backups and choking hazards to your pets. A perfect example of this is Rawhide.
Most Rawhide chews are manufactured in China, where no organization (like the FDA in the United States) creates regulations for dog food and treats.
Regulations are made to enforce rules on things from ingredients to labels and where the product is made to keep our pets safe.
Another important thing to check are ingredients.
There are some ingredients that although may be approved by the FDA or other regulating agencies, are still harmful for dogs if consumed over their lifetime. For example, Wheat Flour. Over time, Wheat Flour can cause diabetes (as well as an array of other issues) if consumed often. This is often the #1 ingredient in many lower end dog treats.
These low end dog treats often have Corn Syrup as one of their main ingredients as well, which can lead to diabetes, tooth decay and other health issues.
Some brands that contain high amounts of these ingredients include Canine Carry Outs, Bacon Strips and Milk Bones. All popular brands, which you would expect are safe for your dogs.
In the case of ingredients, MODERATION is important. Yes, your dog could get diabetes or gain weight…IF you feed them these ingredients often and in larger quantities. If you’re mindful of the ingredients in your dogs food/treats, they are not all bad.
A final important thing to check, is how the treat breaks down.
Some bones last a long time for your dog, but once they get to the end become a hazard. Whether they get too small or splinter, they can be detrimental to your dog’s health.
Generally, raw bones are considered safer for your pets as they don’t splinter unlike home-cooked bones. When a bone is cooked, the nutrients are lost in the cooking process which leads to the bones splintering more easily.
Other store-bought bones, which include Rawhide, can also pose dangerous choking hazards as they do not break down well.
Once Rawhide gets smaller, they are easily swallowed and can cause choking or a blockage. The ingredients in these can also cause contamination and digestive irritation (however, the choking hazard of them is a larger risk).
Only SOME Rawhide is bad for dogs. Considering the location and ingredients is important when looking to purchase this type of chew.
We prefer other chew alternatives such as natural antlers or uncooked bones.
If you’re looking for a long lasting, choke free chew…you can read about the Bully Buddy Chews that we’ve previously reviewed.
It’s important to remember that no two dogs are the same and some may react differently to certain treats than others. When choosing what’s a healthy choice for your dog, it’s important to do your research of where the treats come from, what they consist of and if they could cause choking or blockage if ingested. Please seek professional advice from a veterinarian with questions or concerns of your dog’s health.
Looks like it’s time for a treat!
Thank you to the following for sharing this information with us:
- https://topdogtips.com/pet-food-manufacturing-regulations/
- https://www.thedogdigest.com/worst-dog-treat-brands/
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