Hi, Barb and Alfie here, and this week we want to tell you about nutrition and why natural dog treats are good for your dog.
Now, we all know that dogs will eat practically anything. As pet owners, it's up to us to make sure what they do eat is healthy and nutritious. So, let’s look at the so-called healthy treats available in shops. Have you ever looked at the ingredients list? Even the best dog treats are packed with preservatives, sugars, and derivatives of unknown origin. I mean, would you eat something if you didn’t know what it was?
Feeding your dog these treats is like giving your children junk food every day. And let’s face it, our dogs are like our children (only in some cases better behaved 😊)
It’s easy to see why we shouldn’t feed our dogs shop-bought treats, but why do dogs love natural treats?
In this blog, we want to share the benefits and reasons why our dogs love natural treats.
First, the benefits, (from the human’s perspective).
Benefits of natural treats for dogs
1. There’s only one ingredient
Words like provenance are becoming more popular in the food industry. We want to know where our food comes from. Sadly, the same is not true of pet food manufacturers. Just a quick look at pet food ingredients reveals a whole load of ingredients most of us have never heard of.
For example, shop-bought treats include crude ash (also known as funeral ash). Crude ash is the burnt remains of other animals. It’s added because it contains minerals like calcium and phosphorus.
Like humans, dogs need calcium for strong and healthy bones. But calcium occurs naturally in bones, chicken and fish. With one ingredient, you can be sure you know exactly what’s in it, where it has come from and that there’s no nasty ingredients added.
2. Natural dog treats don't upset my sensitive tummy
Speaking of one ingredient, natural dog treats are perfect for dogs with sensitive tummies.
Artificial additives can upset dogs’ stomachs. Dog treats can contain a whole number of additives such as preservatives, emulsifiers, colouring agents etc.
Many of these aren’t easily digested by dogs. Totally natural means natural treats are low allergy-causing. Dogs are wild animals. They haven’t evolved to eat processed food.
Dogs are not meant to eat grains or rice, but they’re frequently added to pet food to bulk it out. Natural treats are just that, natural.
3. Natural dog treats retain their flavour and nutrients
Did you know that natural dog treats are cooked at a low temperature for longer? This low and slow-method help retain all the lovely goodness. At high temperatures, vitamins and minerals can be lost.
Low and slow cooking holds onto the food’s moisture, including natural oils (so we don’t have to add them later). There's also evidence that suggests low and slow cooking reduces the risk of cancer*.
Cooking slowly makes food easier to digest. The food is tasty, meaty and full of flavour.
Now the reasons, (from the dog’s point of view).
Reasons why dogs love natural dog treats
4. Beef knees and antlers help my anxiety
Why do dogs like to chew? There isn't one dog owner who hasn’t come home to a mangled shoe or a munched remote control. The problem is that chewing is natural and serves several purposes. The obvious one is cleaning a dog’s teeth, but there’s another amazing reason.
Chewing prompts a dog’s pituitary gland to release endorphins. These are the happy hormones we get experiencing pleasure. Chewing makes dogs happy! Not only that but they are also called nature’s painkillers as they relieve pain.
Chewing something like beef knees gives dogs something interesting to do. They are ideal boredom busters if you need to leave your dog alone for a couple of hours.
5. Fishy treats make my coat shiny
We’re often asked what do feed dogs with flaky or itchy skin conditions. A dog’s fur reflects its overall health. Dogs can become intolerant or sensitive to ingredients like rice and wheat. They're not a natural part of their diet. This irritation shows up in their skin and coats.
We’ve noticed how shiny our dog’s coats have become since feeding them fishy treats. Fish has so many benefits it’s hard to list them all. Fish oil encourages a dog’s natural oils, which in turn, lubricate the skin and fur. Not only that, but fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties.
So, feeding your dog natural treats with fish oil helps with irritation, and skin complaints while conditioning the coat at the same time.
6. Natural treats clean and floss my teeth
Have you ever tried to clean your dog’s teeth? It’s either gone well or you’d rather forget about it. If you’re one of many having problems with tartar build-up or smelly breath, why not try nature’s own toothbrush?
Natural treats like trachea and paddy wack have rough edges that when chewed, rub against the teeth, removing and preventing the build-up of plaque and tartar. They’re also fibrous which gets in between the teeth and work as dental floss.
Paddy wack is low-fat, which means you can give them to overweight dogs without the worry of them gaining weight.
Now you know the benefits of choosing natural over shop-bought you can see why we’re so passionate about them. Our dogs love natural dog treats, and we know yours will too. To see what we offer, head over to our online store or come and chat with us at one of our markets.
*Cancer reference
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