5 Fresh & Healthy Dog Treat Alternatives
Health & Wellbeing
We've found 5 fresh and healthy dog treat alternatives to store bought treats perfect for every pooch. In a world where processed food has become the norm, it's no wonder our pets have fallen into the same trap. We now all know that if we fill our bodies with processed junk food and preservative laden meals our health is going to suffer. The same goes for our furry friends. By making these 5 easy swap outs you can ensure that your dog is getting the freshest (and yummiest!) dog treats that keep them healthy and happy, inside and out.
ONE
Store Bought Buy: Processed Dog Jerky & Treat Strips
Healthy Dog Treat Alternatives: Baked Chicken Strips
Processed dog jerky has gotten a bad rap in the last few years and for good reason. Not only do many of these processed jerky or treat strips have low nutritional content, often the origin of the treat is unknown. The FDA has received thousands of reports of dogs falling ill after eating jerky-type treats, most often chicken, duck or sweet potato jerky made in China, and it still reminds owners that jerky treats are not needed for a balanced diet.
For a safe and healthy alternative, you can easily bake your own dog treat strips at home. Simply choose a fresh and free range cut of meat and bake your strips in the oven. You can get started now with our full tutorial for Chicken Strip Dog Treats.
TWO
Store Bought Buy:
Processed Dental Sticks
Healthy Dog Treat Alternatives:
Crunchy Raw Carrots
Dental sticks and chews have become a popular staple in the pet treat industry over the past couple of years. Formulated to be a tasty treat that also helps scrape tartar from your dog's teeth, they've been popular with dogs and owners alike. And they do work. You won't hear me bashing dental sticks here. I've bought and used them many times. However their ingredients are processed and the gummy materials used to hold the product together can actually stick to your dog's teeth, undoing much of its good work.
For a fresh, crunchy alternative your dog will go gaga over, reach for a humble raw carrot. Carrots are low in calories and give a satisfying crunch, and a whole frozen carrot keeps a teething puppy busy for ages. Cut them into bite sizes for little dogs or enthusiastic gulpers, and read more about serving them safely in this guide to carrots for dogs.
A gentle reminder: no treat cleans teeth the way a toothbrush does, so carrots work best alongside the simple routine in these dog dental care tips.
You may have heard raw chicken necks suggested as a natural dental chew. They are best left off the menu. A University of Melbourne study linked raw chicken, and chicken necks in particular, to a rare but serious paralysis in dogs called acute polyradiculoneuritis, and small bones bring choking and broken tooth risks of their own.
THREE
Store Bought Buy: Canned Fillers
Healthy Dog Treat Alternatives: Natural Peanut Butter
With many popular dog treat toys on the market, along came canned fillers to fill them with. While these canned fillers are often flavored with natural sounding ingredients (i.e. liver) they are heavily processed to ensure they have a long supermarket shelf life. The best way to think of it is: would you prefer to put Cool Whip in your body or a freshly whipped cream?
Luckily enough there are a myriad of healthy dog treat alternatives to pop in your dog's treat ball. My favorite is natural peanut butter, a tasty source of protein and healthy fats that most dogs adore.
Before you scoop, please check the label. Some peanut and nut butters, especially ones sold as sugar free or naturally sweetened, contain xylitol (sometimes listed as birch sugar), which is highly toxic to dogs even in small amounts. Choose a plain peanut butter made from peanuts and little else, and keep portions small, as it is rich in calories.
Other great treat ball options include freshly cooked chicken (no bones/fat), mashed pumpkin, or one of these nutrient-packed superfoods for dogs.
You can even make a frozen pupsicle by filling the toy with plain, unsweetened yogurt and blueberries, then browse these frozen dog treat recipes for more ideas.
FOUR
Store Bought Buy: 'Meaty' Training Treats
Healthy Dog Treat Alternatives: Fresh Cheese Cubes
When training your dog, it's great to have bite sized treats to encourage and reward them. The trouble with so many of the supermarket training treat brands is the ingredients are often high in processed fillers and preservatives while being low in nutritional value. The best healthy alternative is to replace these treats with fresh produce. Options such as fresh cheese cubes, or cooked chicken pieces work the best as they still retain a tasty smell to keep your dog's attention. Simply pop them in a zip lock bag and store them in a cool spot to keep them fresh for that day's training.
FIVE
Store Bought Buy: Milky Bone Dog Biscuits
Healthy Dog Treat Alternatives: Grain Free Dog Biscuits
For a lot of us, one of the first things we buy our dog when we bring them home is dog treats in the shape of a bone. They're cute and they remind us of the yummy biscuits and cookies we love to eat ourselves. Yet some dogs are sensitive to the wheat or other ingredients used in these store bought biscuits. For those pups, grain free dog biscuits can be a kinder choice, and for everyone else, a short ingredient list you recognize matters more than whether grains are in it.
Companies such as New York's Bocce's Bakery and Australia's Treats A la Bark focus on wheat free, all natural dog treats and come in a huge variety of flavors. If you're wanting to get adventurous you can also make your own grain free dog biscuits at home. Try one of our dog biscuit recipes to get you started:
- Grain Free PB & Ginger Snaps Dog Treats
- Grain Free Cranberry Hearts Dog Treats
- Grain Free Spinach & Green Apple Dog Treats
For even more ideas, these grain free dog treat recipes are a lovely place to start.
HEALTHY DOG TREAT ALTERNATIVES: MAKING THE SWITCH
It's easy to get overwhelmed when making changes to your own or your dog's diet. My handy hint is to live by the 80/20 rule. Just as I try to keep my diet 80% good (fresh & healthy), I allow myself 20% of the time to sneak in some of the 'bad' stuff (like processed cakes or french fries!) The same can apply for your dog. If your dog simply loves a certain store bought dog treat, giving it to them every now and then is relatively harmless. Same goes for if you don't have time to make your own treats, or you simply run out of fresh produce. A well sourced store bought treat can come in very handy. If you live by the 80/20 rule, those times where your dog chows down on a 'naughty list' food isn't such a worry as you know that 80% of the time they're getting healthy, nourishing food.
WANT MORE?
Has this post inspired you and you want more healthy dog treat recipes?
You can visit our full collection of Dog Treat Recipes here.
If you keep one habit from this list, make it reading labels. The FDA explains where xylitol hides and what to do if your dog eats it in its guide Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Investigates Animal Illnesses Linked to Jerky Pet Treats
- University of Melbourne, Dog paralysis condition linked to eating chicken necks
Related Reading
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Great suggestions. I’ve always wondered why you would use the filler vs. just using regular peanut butter – but then again, I guess for some, it’s convenience that overrules. Sharing these ideas!
Thanks Sarah! Convenience is definitely a factor – just like us with fast food I think. But playing by the 80/20 rule (mentioned above) I think is a good way to keep things healthy and convenient when you need them to be 🙂
Great suggestions, my dog is a huge fan of peanut butter and I give her it smeared in bowl as a little snack to occupy her when I leave. My question is how much peanut butter is too much for a dog?
Hi Raquel,
Peanut Butter is a great healthy snack, but if you’re concerned about calories, I’d err on the wide of only once or twice a week, and a couple of spoonfuls in the Kong to serve; as PB is a calorie dense food 🙂