In this buying guide for the worst dog teats, we’ll cover some of the best dogs treats with little mention of the not-so-healthy ones. We’ll discuss what ingredients to stay away from and what to choose.
Feeding your healthy dog treats is just as important as eating a healthy diet daily. Low glycemic food treats and obesity issues are factors that pet parents need to keep in mind when feeding treats.
Many health problems can also be avoided by feeding grain-free. Whether your pup has a grain allergy or whether you want to avoid potential side effects from your dog consuming too many grains, grain-free is still a good alternative despite claims that dogs have been developing nonhereditary heart disease linked to grain-free diets that are high in legumes like peas and lentils.
Although the FDA has cited the increased potential of heart disease in dogs subsisting solely on grain-free diets, a lot remains unknown. Grain-free treats have expanded with their product lines and are still popular today. For this reason, we’ve included some very healthy grain-free dog treats.
In a rush? Here are our top picks!
- Pros
- No artificial colors or flavors, or preservatives
- Oven baked in the US
- Large array to choose from
- Includes clean ingredients like flaxseed
- Fun cloud, star, and sun shapes
- Minimally processed
- Cons
- Taste can get boring over a long time
Cloud Star Wag More Bark Less Grain Free Soft and Chewy Biscuit Dog Treats are oven baked in the USA with a limited ingredient recipe that is grain-free and free of dairy, corn, soy, and white potatoes.
These soft and chewy dog treats are perfect for all breeds, large and small, and are ideal for puppies. With no artificial colors or flavors, these treats are tail-wagging delicious. This product has over 1,900 positive reviews.
Features
- Affordable
- Crafted with peanut butter and apples
- Soft and chewy dog biscuits
- Grain-free
- No added gluten, dairy, corn, soy, or white potatoes
- Pros
- Dogs enjoy the taste
- Healthy
- No GMOs, BHA, BHT, preservatives, artificial colorings, or artificial anything.
- No more than 7 ingredients
- Suitable for sensitive dogs
- Sourced and baked in the US
- Cons
- Small packing sizes
Portland Pet Food Company’s all-natural dog treats are handcrafted with only the finest, healthiest ingredients. From small-breed to large-breed dogs, puppies to seniors, these grain-free and gluten-free biscuits are a delicious way to show your furry friend some love.
Made with human-grade ingredients like Bob’s Red Mill Garbanzo Bean Flour and 100% natural peanut butter, these treats are also free from BHA, BHT, preservatives, artificial colorings, and artificial anything. This product has over 6,900 positive reviews.
Features
- No contains no gluten, wheat, dairy, or grain
- Human grade ingredients
- An extensive array of recipes is available
- Natural organic eggs
- Over 6,900 positive reviews
- Crafted with 100% natural peanut butter
- Pros
- Dogs love the flavor
- Suitable for senior dogs-not too hard
- Free from corn, soy, and grain
- Good for hip and joint health
- Includes sunflower seeds
- Soft, chewy texture
- Small batch production
- No artificial flavors
- Cons
- Taste can get mundane
Shameless Pets Soft Dog Treats are perfect for promoting wellness in your pup! Grain-free and loaded with natural ingredients like kelp and sunflower seeds, these treats are easy on your dog’s stomach and promote healthy skin, coat, bones, and digestion.
Plus, Shameless dog treats are made with upcycled ingredients and sustainable practices – so you can feel good about giving them to your furry friend.
This product has over 1,000 positive ingredients and includes glucosamine and chondroitin for hip and joint health. The first two ingredients include sunflower meal and then lobster as the second ingredient. You’ll need to go easy on these as they contain 19kcal per treat.
Features
- Soft baked dog treats
- Lobster kelp flavor
- Superfood blend for skin and coat health
- Highly nutritious with added kelp
- Includes glucosamine and chondroitin
- Certified by the Upcycled Food Assoc.
- Produced with solar power in the US
- Eco-packaging with 25% recycled plastic
- Pros
- Suitable as training treats
- Nutrient-rich raw meat
- Good for bone, teeth, brain, and muscle health
- Grain-free, no preservatives, and no additives,
- Gluten-free
- Cons
- Comes in one shape
These wholesome treats are as simple and delicious as it gets, made from just one ingredient: carefully sourced beef livers that have been freeze-dried to lock in nutrients.
Even better, there are no additives, preservatives, or fillers in these tasty bites, so you can rest assured — whether you’re asking your pup to sit, stay, roll over, or sit there and look cute, you’re giving your dog the absolute BEST.
Features
- Four flavors
- Freeze-dried beef liver is the only ingredient
- Affordable
- No fillers, no preservatives, and no artificial junk
- Nutritious organ meat
- Pros
- Suitable for all life stages
- Rich in vitamin D for bone health
- High in protein with a well-balanced amino acid ratio
- Made in the US
- Good serving guidelines
- Cons
- Comes in the same shape
This product has over 21,700 positive reviews and is crafted from a straightforward ingredient-salmon. Stewart Freeze-Dried Salmon Dog Treats are made with 100% pure salmon.
These dog treats are healthy for dogs of all sizes and life stages, from puppy to senior, small to large. These single-ingredient dog treats are great for training or spoiling your best friend!
We like these treats because they’re freeze-dried dog treats that are handcrafted in small batches at Stewart’s manufacturing facilities under the highest quality control standards. Stewart’s uses only ingredients sourced from USDA-approved facilities. Some formula options include chicken liver, beef liver, and chicken breast.
Features
- Freeze-dried salmon treats
- 100% all-natural
- Numerous size options
- No artificial ingredients or chemicals
- Affordable
- Sold in a tub for easy storage
- High-value dog training treats
- Pros
- Dogs enjoy the taste
- Naturally preserved
- Family owned business
- Supports healthy skin and coat
- Over 2,700 positive reviews
- Cons
- Small packing size
These treats are air-dried wild-caught Baltic Sprat that are air dried. We like to use these as training treats because they’re healthy and provide a high-protein, low-fat treat packed with omega-3 and six fatty acids. They are also grain-free and a single-ingredient treat.
Plato Baltic real fish treats are free of fillers, additives, colors, and preservatives. These are also good for all life stages and have over 2,700 positive reviews. Here’s the takeaway:
Features
- 100% whole fish
- Sustainably sourced from the Baltic sea
- Air-dried using green energy
- Single source ingredient
- No artificial colors, flavors, corn, wheat, or soy
- Pros
- Provide antioxidants
- Dogs enjoy the taste
- Healthy and all-natural
- A Climate Pledge Friendly product
- Cruelty-free
- Nutritionally complete dog treats
- Cons
- Lesser protein content
V-dog’s USDA organic dog treats feature 100% vegan ingredients. The takeaway with these dog treats is that they’re tasty and free of all unhealthy ingredients.
We like these dog treats because they’re packed with plant-powered ingredients like buckwheat and blueberries for an antioxidant boost. V-dog treats also contain kale for fiber, coconut oil for skin and coat health, peanut butter and cinnamon, and flax seeds for omega-3s.
Features
- Vegan dog cookies
- Two flavors
- No wheat, corn, soy, dairy, factory farming, by-products, fake stuff, or fillers
- USDA organic
- Crafted with cinnamon, blueberries, coconut oil, flaxseed, and banana
- Pros
- Gift worthy
- Sourced and handmade in the US
- Shelf life of 12 months
- No need to refrigerate
- The filling includes all-natural flavored yogurt.
- Crafted with oat flour, honey, and coconut oil
- Cons
- Small packing size
Bonne et Filou has you covered with their handmade dog macarons! These treats are made of oat flour, honey, coconut oil, and strawberry yogurt filling and are free of artificial coloring or preservatives.
They’re also corn-free and wheat-free, making them a healthy option for your pup. Plus, the stylish packaging is inspired by French patisseries – perfect for treating your four-legged friend to a little bit of luxury and for holiday gifting!
Features
- 14 recipe options
- Human grade ingredients
- French inspired
- Free of artificial coloring or any preservatives.
- Box of 6 macarons
- Endorsed by veterinarians
FAQ’s Worst Dog Treats
What are the worst dog treats that you can give a dog?
You should always feed your dog treats with healthy ingredients. Avoid giving your dog treats with added sugar, artificial preservatives, and unhealthy fats.
Some of the worst dog treats include bacon-flavored, jerky, homemade dog treats, store-bought rawhide, and greasy “treats” (such as pig ears).
A healthy dog treat contains no by-products, propylene glycol, artificial colors, flavors, or added sugar. Dog treats should also not have rendered fat and meat meals, corn, or soy. Blue 2, red 40, yellow 5, and 6 are some artificial colors to stay away from.
What dog treats do vets recommend?
Veterinarians recommend treats containing natural ingredients and are free of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and sugar. Look for treats made with real meat or fish as the main ingredient, like those from companies like Stewart’s Freeze or V-Dog Vegan.
Also, look for treats that include fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains such as barley and oats. Avoid treats with by-products, rendered fat, and meat meals, corn or soy.
Blue 2, red 40, yellow 5, and 6 are some artificial colors to stay away from. Additionally, be aware of the calorie count of your dog’s treats – too many can contribute to obesity, leading to health issues.
What should not be in a dog treat? Treats for a Dog?
Video credit: Dr. Greg Martinez. DVM
Final Thoughts
By becoming treat savvy, reading the ingredients label, and avoiding harmful low-end ingredients, you’re taking a stand to keep your dog safe from unhealthy treats.
Educating yourself about healthy nutrition for your pup is key, and avoiding by-products, artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, and high sugar and fat levels is a great start. Read the labels closely, and put the treats back on the shelf if you see any unhealthy ingredients!
Claudia Bensimoun is a writer who specializes in dog content and veterinary topics! Aside from writing for We Love Doodles, Claudia also writes for other major dog blogs like Fido Friendly, Animal Wellness Magazine, and the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA). She has a ghostwritten over 50 different dog e-books. Her passions include animal welfare, veterinary research, and wildlife conservation.
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