Healthy Treats For Dogs Who Enjoy The Best

We love our pets. We pamper our pets.

We smother them with love and affection. We’ll throw endless sticks and frisbees and tennis balls, take them on walks, bathe them and groom them without complaint.

Then we run into the pet store and buy the most inappropriate food available, just because it’s cheap.

Read the ingredients: most low-cost dog foods begin with grains of some kind. Corn, rice, wheat. But dogs are primarily carnivores – sure, they’ll eat vegetables and grains when that’s all they can get, but they’re designed to eat meat. Vegetable proteins don’t cut it.

Knowing this, intelligent people – that would be you – look for the foods and treats that most naturally suit their beloved pets.

Here are some:

Zuke’s Mini-Naturals Dog Treats. In the variety six-pack you can see by clicking here, the first ingredient in each is real chicken, real duck, real rabbit, real pork, real salmon, and real peanut butter, with not a speck of wheat, corn or soy. Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are added, too, for Fido’s robust health. And though the treats are small, the flavor is huge.

Hills Science Diet Flexi-Stix Jerky with Real Turkey. Not just real turkey, but something equally important – added glucosamine and chondroitin for daily support of healthy joints. These are American-made with North American ingredients – no suspicious additives from China – and no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. This doggie delicacy easily breaks into smaller treats. See them here

Greenies Grain-Free Dog Dental Chews. What dog doesn’t love greenies?! Among those U.S. vets who recommend dental chews for at-home oral care, they’re number one. Made from natural ingredients, they clean your doggie’s teeth, control plaque, inhibit tartar buildup and end bad dog breath – all while providing complete and balanced nutrition. If you don’t yet know about greenies, you really should. See them here.

Make Your Own Doggie Treats. No matter how good the intentions of dog food producers may be, the fact remains that commercial manufacture always seeks ways to cut costs, and the product ultimately suffers. There’s really only one way for the true pet lover and enthusiast to avoid this, and that is to make your own. It’s far from impossible; all it takes is commitment and a little time. Here’s a terrific website that tells you how:  http://www.moneycrashers.com/homemade-dog-food-treat-recipes/

Finally, most commercial dog foods in the mid-price range won’t do Queenie, Fido or Max much harm. Some ingredients, however can do more damage than others over time. Read nutrition labels carefully, and try to avoid pet foods with these ingredients:

• BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)
• BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
• Ethoxyquin
• Food Dyes Blue #2, Red #40, Yellow #s 5 and 6, or 4-MIE
• Propylene Glycol
• Rendered fat

For the rest, always keep a watchful eye on your pet’s demeanor and behavior. They’ll tell you when they’re not feeling up to par. Then a quick visit to the vet will determine if that’s due to diet – and that’s an easy fix.