Do You Know What's In Your Dog's Treats?

Some treat labels lack important nutritional information.

A research study published late last year in Veterinary Record presented a review of dog treat nutrition labels and ingredients.  

The researchers looked at 41 different dog treats readily available on the pet consumer market. The treats were made up of a variety of types such as dry biscuits, moist treats, rawhides and chews. The treat ingredients and nutritional make-up were studied in terms of energy provided to a dog. 

They found that many of the treats contained several types of sugar, and along with energy-producing ingredients. The labels however did not provide specific information on all of the ingredients. Moreover, the treats often contained more of a dog's recommended daily needs and "varying nutrient and caloric density of treats should be considered."

The researchers' recommend treat manufacturers provide more information relevant to the energy-producing value of the product. They also caution dog owners with pets with medical sensitivities affected by nutrition to study carefully the treats they use with their pets. For those dog owners who actively train their pets for competitive sport, it's important to know if their dog's nutritional needs are being adequately met with the training treats they use.

Sources: Morelli, G., Fusi, E., Tenti, S., Serva, L., Marchesini, G., Diez, M., Ricci, R. (2017) Study of ingredients and nutrient composition of commercially available treats for dogs Veterinary Record Published Online First: 20 December 2017. doi: 10.1136/vr.104489