20 Dog Treats You Might Want to Rethink Before Buying

Dog treats shouldn’t just be tasty; they should be safe and healthy, too. Unfortunately, many popular brands fall short, using questionable ingredients that can harm your dog over time. Let’s break down 20 dog treat brands you should think twice about before tossing them in your cart.

Milk-Bone Biscuits

Nostalgia shouldn’t be a reason to compromise on nutrition. Many classic dog biscuits rely heavily on wheat, a common allergen for dogs. While the original Milk-Bone biscuits do not contain artificial colors, the Flavor Snacks variety includes additives like Red 40 and Yellow 5—raising concerns among pet health experts.

Pup-Peroni Dog Treats

Pup-Peroni nibbles might smell great to your dog, but they’re loaded with sugar, salt, and artificial colorants. Worse, they contain BHA—a preservative with potential carcinogenic risks based on animal studies. The ingredient list reads more like a junk food label than a healthy snack. It’s not worth the risk or the hype.

Purina Beggin’ Strips

The packaging may look fun, but these bacon-mimicking treats are mostly ground wheat and sugar. Real bacon is barely there, hidden beneath artificial flavors and colors. It’s more like a candy bar than a dog treat, minus the chocolate. Save your money and your dog’s health.

Pedigree Marrobone Dog Treats

The name is misleading. Why? Bone marrow is hardly a feature. Wheat flour is the bulk of the recipe, and the complete ingredient list isn’t readily available. They may look nutritious, but they lack real substance. If you’re after something bone marrow-flavored, look for treats with actual bone broth or real marrow components.

Beneful Bayked Delights

While they may sound wholesome, Beneful Baked Delights are also filled with difficult-to-digest ingredients like wheat and ground corn. Despite using mixed tocopherols as preservatives, these treats are still lacking in quality protein and are full of unnecessary fillers.

Pup Corn Dog Treats

It’s a fun name, but the main ingredient is corn, which many dogs struggle to digest. Add to that digestion nightmare artificial colorants and flavorings, and you’re looking at a treat that’s more about visual appeal than health. You are better off going with other grain-free, natural brands that won’t upset your dog’s stomach.

Harringtons Low Fat Dog Treats

“Low fat” doesn’t automatically mean healthy. These treats contain turkey meal of dubious quality and nutrient-deficient potatoes. Sodium selenite, a controversial additive, also makes an appearance. If you’re after low-fat options, stick to single-ingredient treats like dehydrated chicken.

Smartbone Rawhide-Free Chicken Mini Dog Chews

Smartbone’s rawhide-free chicken chews sound like a good alternative to rawhides. However, they’re packed with artificial additives, sugar, and fattening carbs. The inclusion of maltodextrin also raises concerns about gut health. You might want to spoil your pup, but these chews aren’t the way to do it.

Wagg Tasty Bones

Vague labeling is always a red flag, and this treat uses wheat plus an unspecified poultry meal, raising concerns about the quality of ingredients. If you can’t quickly identify the protein source, it’s best to leave it on the shelf. Clear labeling equals better transparency and safer choices. Always remember that.

Gravy Train Dog Treats

Don’t let the fun gravy idea fool you because these treats are mainly wheat flour, soy, and corn—cheap fillers with little to no nutritional value. The addition of artificial colors is just unnecessary. Choosing something more wholesome and protein-rich is advisable. Or just make homemade bone broth—it’s healthy and nutritious.

Alpo Variety Snaps

Did you know that Alpo Variety Snaps are full of wheat flour, which turns into glucose in your dog’s system, increasing the risk of obesity? They also pack in sugar and artificial color additives, and this makes them more of a junk snack than a healthy treat for your doggo.

Ol’ Roy Basted Biscuits

Ol’ Roy Basted Biscuits may come in different flavors, but the ingredients are not the best. Wheat flour is the first ingredient, followed by meat and bone meal, a questionable byproduct with no clear source. Combined with artificial colors, these nibbles can upset your dog’s tummy.

Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Meatballs

Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Meatballs look healthy. They are not. They’re full of sugar and lack the essential nutrients your dog needs. The marketing may be wholesome, but that means nothing if the ingredient list tells a different story. If you want meatballs, make some at home with real chicken and no unnecessary additives.

Canine Carry Outs Beef Flavored Dog Treats

These treats from Canine Carry Outs might be tempting because they’re cheap and easy to find. Unfortunately, they come with one significant downside: BHA, a preservative with possible cancer risks in animal studies. When you add sugar-heavy corn syrup and artificial colors to the formula, this treat goes from tasty to troubling quickly.

Pedigree Dentastix

While Pedigree Dentastix is marketed as a dental helper, it has a lot of drawbacks. The biggest one is that it is filled with flour and artificial additives, so they don’t provide much nutritional value. Sure, they might clean your dog’s teeth, but better and safer options are available to promote dental health without the risk.

Greenies

Greenies are often seen as a go-to for dog dental care; unfortunately, they are packed with glycerin and carbohydrates as the main ingredients. This brand doesn’t offer significant nutritional benefits, and if you’re looking for better dental care, you might want to try a different brand.

Zuke’s Mini Naturals Dog Treats

They are marketed as a healthy option; do they match up? Nope. Zuke’s Mini Naturals has many fillers like rice flour and corn starch. Evidently, these ingredients aren’t ideal for your dog’s digestion and don’t provide much nutritional benefit. While they may be small and convenient, these treats aren’t the best choice.

Sausage Links

Sounds delicious, right? Sausage Links are another no-no because they can be dangerous. Some of the ingredients are garlic and onion—both toxic to dogs. Add high fat and sodium content, and you have a recipe for pancreatitis. Just don’t do it; it’s not worth the risk.

Any Brand Of Rawhide Treats

Rawhide treats, in general, should be avoided due to the risks they pose to your dog’s digestive system. This brand’s treats are tough to break down and may cause choking or digestive issues, with rare concerns about contaminants. Opt for a safer, more digestible alternative to keep your dog in good condition.

Blue Buffalo Sizzlers

Blue Buffalo Sizzlers may look like a premium treat but fall short on quality. Made with wheat, pea starch, and caramel coloring, they offer little nutritional value. They have real pork; however, it makes up only a tiny portion of the ingredient list. Mostly, it is riddled with artificial flavors that mimic bacon. Dogs deserve better—go with real protein.