What’s better than happy dogs eating yummy K9 treats!
BUT … there are 7 ingredients you MUST AVOID in your dog’s treats for their overall well-being and ultimate health!
The Evolution of Dog Food and Treats
Since 1870, commercial dog food has been mass-produced for family dogs. Before this time, dogs were typically fed table scraps.
After World War II along with a booming economy, people were able to afford the convenience and luxury of commercial pet food and by 1956, the original dry kibble pet foods became wildly popular.
Dog Treats: The “Fillers” Hiding in Plain Sight!
While convenience has always driven the dog food/treat market, manufacturers are also driven by another critical goal, profits. Therefore, the introduction of “fillers” in commercial dog foods and dog treats.
Keep reading to learn about the “filler” ingredients dog treat manufacturers use to keep down costs but ultimately, could harm your dog’s health!
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Fillers: What Are They?
According to the DogFood.Guide, fillers are “ingredients that do not provide significant nutritional value.” These “fillers” are popular with manufacturers because they are cheaper than high-quality ingredients like meat.
But cheaper usually also means:
- Lower quality
- Little to no nutritional value
- Potential negative side effects for your beloved pup
Many of these cheaper fillers include cereals or grains (aka seeds of grasses, also called cereal crops) to “bulk out” dog treats including:
- Corn and corn bran.
- Soy and soybean hulls.
- Wheat and wheat mill run.
- Rice and rice bran.
- Modified cornstarch.
- Oats and oat hulls.
- Any gluten-containing grains including wheat, barley, rye and spelt, an ancient grain and species of wheat.
Fillers: Why Should They Be Avoided in Dog Treats?
While fillers are good for the manufacturer’s bottom line, they are not good for your canine!
Most of these fillers can exacerbate K9 food allergies or intolerances or even create these allergies in the first place!
Common food allergies or intolerances can lead to gummy, itchy or even infected ears or cause a dog’s skin to become dry, itchy or inflamed. Note: Not all food allergies exhibit gastrointestinal symptoms.
Also, while some dogs may immediately exhibit negative side effects from the fillers in dog treats, other dogs may take longer to exhibit symptoms that can be properly diagnosed.
But that does not mean the damage is not already taking place inside your dog’s body!
Fillers: How to Find – and Avoid - Them!
As we mentioned in our last blog, “Dog Treats: How to Pick the Best Quality,” dog parents need to do their research and carefully read all labels! Ensure you can identify all the ingredients listed on your dog’s treats before buying and feeding them to your pup!
Also, look for single-ingredient treats, like our Natural Bully Sticks and other treats (including Beef Ears, Chicken Feet and more)! A single-ingredient treat ensures your peace of mind and your dog’s best health and well-being!
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