When you give your dog a treat, you’re letting them know just how much you love them. However, not all treats demonstrate the same level of care, especially when you consider that some dog treats are detrimental to your dog’s health. Unfortunately, many dog owners have no idea that many treats available on the market in Australia are unhealthy and even dangerous for their dogs. So, what dog treats are bad for dogs? Read on to find out.
What Makes Some Treats “Dangerous Dog Treats”?
If you read your dog’s treat packaging, you will likely notice the feeding instructions will tell you that the product should not account for more than 10% of your dog’s caloric intake [1]. Because treats account for such a small percentage of your dog’s diet, they are not held to as high of a standard as dog food. Some companies take advantage of this and cut corners.
So, What Makes Some Dog Treats Unhealthy?
With all the advancement in dog nutritional science, you can now provide your dog with treats that support their health. However, many of the “old fashioned” dog treats only provide your dog with a dose of artificial flavours and synthetic scents. And while dogs love these, they often mask subpar ingredients.
The most common “unhealthy” ingredients are inexpensive fillers. These include corn, wheat, and soy, all of which are nutritionally incomplete. But treats can also contain synthetic ingredients that have been linked to the formation of cancer.
Some of the most common include:
- BHA
- BHT
- Ethoxyquin
- Food dyes
- Propylene glycol
One of the Worst Offenders: Rawhide
While other dog treats contain unhealthy ingredients, others such as rawhide pose more of a physical threat to a dog’s health. Rawhide treats do not break down in your dog’s digestive tract. This can lead to gastrointestinal blockages [2]. And because rawhide can be brittle, some dogs are able to tear it apart quickly, turning the “treat” into a choking hazard. Furthermore, rawhide is a top contender for bacterial contamination and harmful toxic chemicals [3].
Why Does It Matter If You Feed Your Dog “Bad Dog Treats”?
The last thing you want is to give your dog a delicious treat for being such a good boy or girl, just to have to take them to the vet because they’re choking on it or unable to pass it. Worse, you don’t want to feed your dog treats with low-quality ingredients and discover years later that your dog has cancer.
When it comes down to it, you provide your dog with a healthy lifestyle when you can. High-quality treats can provide your dog with a health boost. From dental benefits to joint support, choosing unhealthy dog treats is a missed opportunity.
