Treats for your dog are a great way to show them appreciation and have fun. There are several types of treats available, from rawhide chews to pig ears, from biscuits to jerky. The choices can be overwhelming. Which ones should you buy?
Your first thought might be to browse the web and have a look at the different chews and toys, but what about expanding your search and looking for pet trade wholesalers UK? If you can find wholesalers, you will unearth the best treats, after all, they provide quality products to the retailers! For many pet owners, the answer may seem obvious., but you should only provide healthy foods and snacks for your canines. After all, they are totally dependent on humans for their needs so it’s vital that we ensure only the best is given to them. But with so many different products out there in the market promising goodness, how sure are you that what you buy is actually good for your pet?
Unfortunately, most store-bought treats contain preservatives and additives which have been linked to health problems for pets. The truth is, a lot of these treats are the junk food in disguise and it’s important you know what to look out for before buying anything.
First stop: the list of ingredients. You should avoid any products that list sugar or corn syrup as one of the first three ingredients because they provide nothing nutritionally at all, but their presence means that your dog will be getting a sugary treat which can cause obesity and dental disease. Look also for words like ‘meal’, ‘by-product’ or ‘digest’. These indicate that parts from an animal have been used that may not necessarily be from muscle meat – all items from the skin and other tissues to intestines and brain could be included, so if you can’t bring yourself to feed these as part of a well-balanced diet, don’t buy them as treats. Some brands disguise the use of less appealing animal parts by listing such ingredients as ‘poultry’ or ‘beef’ rather than just “by-products”.
At best, they’re not particularly tasty, so why would your dog want to eat them? But at worst, bones can become stuck in the digestive tract and blockages also happen when dogs swallow large pieces of rawhide chews or knotted ropes. These foreign body obstructions are potentially fatal if untreated so it’s important to ensure that any chew you give your dog is safe – pay attention to the recommended size of any chew you buy for your pup. If you’re buying toys, choose those that are large enough to not be swallowed whole.
You could always just give your dog the corner of a table but remember, like any food, it has to be safe – including avoiding anything too salty or sweet which can cause stomach upsets in some dogs. Snacks like bones and pigs ears are great, but only in moderation, so do think carefully about your dog’s lifestyle before finding the right treat.
