Treats! The mere mention of the word drives most dogs crazy and gets most cats off their cushions. They’ll do just about anything for a treat, which is one reason why they make such great training rewards.
Close to your pet’s heart, treats convey important messages. They communicate a job well done to your canine companion as well as your love and affection.
Is the treat you’re feeding your pet worthy of the message it’s communicating?
There's no shortage of commercial pet treats on the market today – it’s one of the fastest growing segments of the pet food industry. Popular treats come in every conceivable shape, size, smell, flavor, color and texture.
Many pet owners fail to consider how treats can contribute to unwelcome weight gain and metabolic stress – and that can be a problem considering how the majority of pets today are overweight and suffering from chronic “lifestyle” (i.e. diet) related diseases.
Treats can be a healthy part of your dog’s diet if the type and portion size are appropriate.
Of course, you want a treat that your pet enjoys, but you also want it to be safe, high-quality and species appropriate.
In a sea of products claiming to be "all-natural" and "made in the U.S.A.," that hunt can be quite a challenge. Most dog treats simply don’t fit the bill, since they contain unhealthy ingredients or too many calories from carbs (which your pet’s body turns into sugar).
Another widespread problem is the use of shockingly low-quality “feed grade” protein. The vast majority of meat-based treats on the market come from meat rejected for human consumption by USDA meat inspectors.
Unless your pets treats are specifically labeled otherwise, she’s getting the undesirable by-products of the slaughterhouse.
This also accounts for the significant price difference between “human grade” treats and the average pet treat made with “feed grade” ingredients.
Don’t Be Misled When Shopping for Treats
You already strive to choose the best quality, most species appropriate food to feed your pet at mealtime. Here’s what you should know so you can do the same for his treats.
Cats and dogs don’t require carbs (corn, wheat, rice, tapioca, “ancient grains,” etc.) for good health, but they do have a large requirement for protein, specifically amino acids coming from meat.
Since pets have a relatively short, simple gastrointestinal tract, he needs to consume pre-formed amino acids, which are found in meat.
Dogs require 22 amino acids to support their metabolic and energy requirements. However, they can only synthesize 12 of those internally. The remaining ten amino acids are considered “essential” because, unlike herbivores that can make them, dogs must obtain them from their diet.
Cats are even more dependent on their meat intake for complete nutrition, as they can only synthesize 11 amino acids.
That’s why I believe starchy carbohydrates and excessive plant protein sources, like legumes and “ancient grains”, don’t belong in your pet’s diet – and that includes treats.
The ancestral diet of dogs and cats contained less than 10% carbs (which turns into sugar), but the average bag of pet food contains at least 30% carbs, with many pushing 50%.
This means many of our pets live in a constant state of metabolic stress from excessive sugar coming from unnecessary and unwise ingredients in their food. Adding more sugar, in the form of carbs in treats, only adds fuel to the metabolic fire.
We’re seeing an epidemic of obesity, diabetes, cancer, allergies and GI issues, partially triggered by what we feed our pets: a toxic blend of contaminated, poor quality ingredients and biologically inappropriate foods that lead to disease and degeneration over time.
What to Look for When Buying Pet Treats
When shopping for treats for your dog or cat, remember that even this small part of their diet can make a big difference. Look for treats that meet these criteria:
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Made in America with ingredients sourced either in the U.S. or a country you can trust.
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Made with human grade ingredients.
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Free of unnecessary and high-glycemic (starchy) carbs, including ancient grains, corn, oatmeal, tapioca, white or sweet potatoes, rice, meals and flours.
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Free of “hidden” ingredients like molasses and honey, added flavors, colors or dyes, preservatives, emulsifiers, glyphosate and GMO ingredients.
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They’re the right size and thickness for your pet to safely consume.
A high-quality pet treat should be biologically appropriate and composed of quality, human-grade meat. Pet treats should not contain grains, starch or unnecessary fillers, added sugar (including molasses and honey), dyes or artificial preservatives.
And it won’t contain rendered animal by-products (listed as a “meal”) or mystery meats or contaminated cereals from unknown sources. If the treats don’t specifically tout using human grade ingredients, they’re “feed grade,” or made with rejected ingredients you should be hesitant to feed to your family members.
Now that you know what to look for in a healthy treat, let’s take a look at what pet owners are actually buying…
Exposing 3 of the Top-Selling Treats for Cats & Dogs
Let’s look at three of the top-selling dog treats sold online and see what they include as the main ingredients by weight, in each product:
Dog Treat #1 |
Ground Whole Wheat, Wheat Flour, Meat and Bone Meal, Milk, Beef Fat (preserved with BHA/BHT), Salt, Natural Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Malted Barley Flour, Brewers Dried Yeast, Sodium Metabisulfite (preservative) (+17 more ingredients of lessor weight) |
Dog Treat #2 |
Rawhide, Chicken, Pork Hide, Duck, Wheat Flour, Glycerin, Chicken Liver, Garlic Powder, FD & C Yellow #6, FD & C Blue #1, FD & C Red #40 |
Dog Treat #3 |
Pork, Barley, Rice, Ground Wheat, Oatmeal, Soybean Meal, Glycerin, Sugar, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Yellow Corn, Wheat Flour, Water, Soy Flour, Bacon, Soy Protein Concentrate, Wheat Gluten (+nine more ingredients of lessor weight) |
And I’m sure you’ll guess that cat treats are no better. Here’s a look at three of the top-selling cat treats:
Cat Treat #1 |
Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Corn, Animal Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Brewers Rice, Wheat Flour, Dried Meat By-Products, Natural Flavors (source of liver flavor), Brewers Dried Yeast, Red #40, Dried Cheese |
Cat Treat #2 |
Chicken, Wheat Flour, Animal Digest, Chicken By-Product Meal, Pea Protein, Brewers Dried Yeast, Glycerin, Salmon, Dried Whole Egg, Water, Animal Fat (preserved with BHA), Fish Protein Concentrate, Fish Meal (preserved with Ethoxyquin), Dried Cheddar Cheese, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Phosphoric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Vegetable Oil, Titanium Dioxide (Color), Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, BHA |
Cat Treat #3 |
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Animal Fat Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols, Pea Starch, Barley, Corn Gluten Meal, Animal Liver Flavor, Brewers Dried Yeast, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Cassava Root Flour, Turkey By-Product Meal, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Red #40, Blue #2, BHA, BHT |
As you can see there are several glaring issues with these popular treats. I wouldn’t recommend feeding any of them to your pet for the following reasons:
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All six treats contain starchy carbohydrates, which cats and dogs were not designed to eat. They offer little nutritional value and can create metabolic stress leading to lifestyle-related diseases over time.
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None of the protein sources come from USDA-inspected (and passed) ingredients. All of these treats are made from ingredients rejected for human consumption. They were rejected for a reason, usually due to poor quality, or possibly even contamination.
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The country of origin is not disclosed for any of the meat sources, so it is very likely they are being imported, possibly from China or other countries lacking sufficient quality control standards.
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None of the ingredients are organic, so you can safely assume the oatmeal, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, ground yellow corn, soy flour and soy protein concentrate are all GMO.
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While the non-organic ground whole wheat, wheat flour and ground wheat aren’t GMO, they most likely have been treated with glyphosate, a potentially gut-disrupting and carcinogenic chemical, or other herbicides.
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Some of the ingredients are considered a potential health hazard for your pet, including the artificial dyes, chemical preservatives and vegetable oil.
The truth is, most treats are full of grains and fillers with only a fraction of the ingredients being real meat – meaning they could possibly be a terrible quality USDA-rejected meat.
Some treats don't contain any meat at all but are instead sprayed with a thin coating of meat flavoring to trick your pet (and you) into thinking they're getting a meaty treat.
“Made in the U.S.A.” – Is It Really?
There are some pet food manufacturers out there claiming their treats are "made in the U.S.A.", when really the only part of their production process taking place in the United States is the assembly.
This means most, if not all, of the ingredients are imported from other countries. I’ve seen companies make this false claim to gain customer trust. Not only is it disheartening – it’s also illegal.
So, when you're shopping for safe treats, it's not enough that a product claims to be made in the U.S. You need to be sure all the ingredients were sourced here as well – or from a country that you can trust.
Over the past two decades, there have been thousands of cases of cats and dogs – especially dogs – being sickened and even dying from ingredients or treats coming from China.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there have been more than 6,200 cases of jerky treat-related canine illness and 26 cases of feline illness since 2007. Over an eight-year period, in excess of 1,140 dogs died after eating jerky pet treats.
Over the course of just three years, the FDA reported it had received over 5,000 claims of "illnesses associated with consumption of chicken, duck or sweet potato jerky treats.”
And it’s not just jerky treats…
Investigators found residues in dog treats of several illegal antibiotics that are not approved for use in poultry in the U.S. These include sulfaclozine, tilmicosin, trimethoprim and enrofloxacin.
They also found illegal residues of the anti-viral drugs amantadine, rimantadine and memantine. While these drugs are approved for use in chickens, ducks and turkeys in this country, the residues should not be detectable in food products made from them.
That’s what makes the residues “illegal.”
Sweet potato and pork dog treats made in China have also been called out for being potentially unsafe.
Phorate, a highly toxic pesticide, was found in a sweet potato treat made by a company in China after tests revealed kidney and other health issues in dogs consuming the treats.
Any treat or treat ingredient made in unregulated foreign countries can put your pet at risk. Imported chicken jerky treats, chicken tenders, chicken strips, chicken treats or sweet potato treats all pose a potential threat. Plus, any treat that contains chicken, pork or sweet potato from an unnamed source could be a risk as well.
To be safe, I recommend only buying treats made with human-grade ingredients that are sourced from and made in the U.S. or a country you can trust. While choosing human grade pet treats made in this country won't remove all the risks, it will certainly improve your chances of keeping your pet safe.
Treat Your Dog or Cat to Healthy, U.S.-Raised, Nutrient–Dense Meat
Instead of a mixture of undesirable and mystery ingredients like those in the popular treats above, Bark & Whiskers™ Beef & Bison Liver Chips contain only the best in real meat – organ meats from pastured, U.S.-raised beef and bison.
Organ meats are rich natural sources of vital nutrients that help your pet thrive. Plus, they are among the highest quality proteins you’ll ever find.
Our Beef & Bison Liver Chips:
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Are made with nothing more – or less – than simple, pastured beef and bison liver.
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Contain only high-quality meats intended for human consumption (no ingredients from China or other unregulated countries.)
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Are free of rendered by-products and unidentified meats of any kind, including meat meals, questionable meat flavorings and sprays.
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Are handcrafted in the U.S. from all U.S.-sourced ingredients.
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Are free of grains, soy, fillers, artificial preservatives and GMOs.
Not only are Beef & Bison Liver Chips crunchy and delicious, they provide your pet with the same type of biologically appropriate nutrition her ancestors ate.
Instead of feeding your furry friend treats that do nothing to enhance her well-being – and can actually create metabolic stress – give her rewards made with real food to help her thrive.
100% USA-Raised Beef Liver – With a Healthy Addition of Antioxidant-Rich Fruit
Want an extra burst of antioxidants to help support your pet’s vibrant health?
Our Bark & Whiskers™ Beef Liver & Berry Chips provide the vital, top-quality protein dogs require, along with beneficial antioxidants from organic berries and pomegranate.
Liver & Berry Chips are an ideal treat for your cat or dog because they:
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Are an excellent source of protein – made with liver from U.S.-raised, pastured Angus cattle.
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Include whole food sources of organic pomegranate, blueberries and raspberries – some of nature’s most potent antioxidants.
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Contain only high-quality meats intended for human consumption (no ingredients from China or other unregulated countries.)
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Are free of rendered by-products and unidentified meats of any kind, including meat meals, questionable meat flavorings and sprays.
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Are handcrafted in the U.S. from all U.S.-sourced ingredients.
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Contain no grains, wheat, soy, fillers, artificial preservatives or GMOs.
Pomegranates, in particular, have high levels of flavonoids and polyphenols, both potent antioxidants. Blueberries contain healthy fiber and powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins. And raspberries provide potassium, magnesium, and other beneficial minerals.
I insisted on the use of organic berries for my Beef Liver & Berry Chips. Berries are some of the most heavily sprayed crops, so with organic berries, you avoid the risk of exposing your pet to potentially harmful pesticides and herbicides.
Are You Considering the Ethical and Environmental Aspects of the Treats You Buy?
Increasing numbers of pet parents are becoming more conscientious about the nutritional, environmental and ethical aspects of the food they feed their dogs and cats, including treats.
As we saw earlier, it’s no secret that pet food and treats can contain ingredients that are unfit for human consumption. And unfortunately, that can include the remains of dead, dying, diseased and disabled animals from feedlots, farms and even animal shelters.
Pet parents don’t want meat products that are questionable by-products of industry. Nor do they want mysterious “meat meals” that may contain drug residues or worse.
They want more for their pets than marginal waste products, poured into large vats and cooked down to produce rendered meals for what the industry calls “pet food” and “pet treats.”
Instead, today’s pet parents want to know that what they are feeding their dog or cat is high-quality, biologically appropriate and safe. It matters to them that the food their pet eats was raised not only in a healthy way, but also in an ethical, sustainable way.
The only way to know for sure whether the food or treat you’re buying is safe, nutritious and ethical is to contact its manufacturer and verify its supply chain.
If the company’s website isn’t clearly talking about how their treats can help your pet thrive, it’s a good clue that the treat isn’t worth feeding to your cat or dog.
Let Your Pet Know He’s “Top Dog” or “Top Cat” With Our Ancestral Diet-Approved Pet Treats
I’m pleased to bring you premium, ethically sourced, biologically appropriate treats your dog or cat will truly crave – treats that support his innate healthy metabolic function, instead of stressing it.
Bark & Whiskers™ Beef & Bison Chips and Beef Liver & Berry Chips are delicious, safe treats that your furry friend will love as a between-meal treat or training reward.
While the ingredients are enough to get your pet licking his chops, you’ll feel great about giving them to him, knowing that they are:
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Handcrafted in the U.S. from all U.S.-sourced ingredients.
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Made of healthy pastured organ meats intended for human consumption, as opposed to the meat or meals used in commercial pet treats that is classified as unfit for human consumption.
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Free of rendered by-products and unidentified meats of any kind, including meat meals, meat flavorings and sprays.
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Species-appropriate, so they are free from unnecessary starchy carbs, ancient grains, corn, soy, oatmeal, white or sweet potatoes, rice, meals and flours.
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Free of “hidden” and GMO ingredients, pesticide residues, fillers, additives and preservatives.
Your cat or dog will love the taste and crunchy texture of these nutritious, simple treats – and you’ll love the feeling of confidence that you’re feeding him well.
Reward your pet with delicious real food designed to match his biology and help him thrive. Order Bark & Whiskers™ Beef & Bison Liver Chips and Beef Liver & Berry Chips today.