Ever stare at the wall of dog treats at the store, feeling totally lost? You want to give your furry best friend something yummy, but you also worry about what’s actually inside those colorful bags. Many store-bought treats hide unhealthy fillers and questionable ingredients. This makes choosing a truly healthy option feel like a confusing chore, not a loving gesture.
You want happy tail wags without compromising your dog’s health. Finding treats packed with real nutrition and free from junk shouldn’t be this difficult! That’s why we dug deep into what makes a dog treat genuinely good for your pup. By the end of this post, you will know exactly what ingredients to look for and which ones to avoid completely.
Get ready to transform treat time from a guessing game into a healthy habit. Let’s dive into the secrets of choosing the best, healthiest dog treats for your loyal companion!
Top Dog Treats Healthy Recommendations
- Greenies Dog Treats For Daily Dental Care: Greenies natural dog teeth cleaning treats are crafted to support the 4 areas veterinarians check most: plaque, tartar, gums, & breath and are made with natural ingredients plus vitamins, minerals & nutrients
- Veterinarian-Recommended Dog Dental Treats: Greenies Dog Treats are veterinarian-recommended dental dog chews that clean teeth and freshen dog breath
- Dental Chews For Dogs Fights Tartar: Including Greenies regular size dogs teeth cleaning treats into your daily dental care routine supports 47% less tartar accumulation and 40% less plaque accumulation in 28 days (Data on file)
- Clinically Proven Dog Teeth Cleaning Treat: These Greenies dental treats for dogs offer clinically proven dental care to help maintain your four-legged friend's oral hygiene
- Unique Texture For Dog Teeth Cleaning: Made for dogs (25 - 50 lbs.), Greenies dental treat for dogs have a unique design that cleans down to the gumline and positively balances the oral microbiome to help support whole-body health
- FREEZE-DRIED RAW BEEF LIVER DOG TREAT: Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Dog Treats pack more protein than industry standard into every bite to deliver the peak vitality your dog deserves. Our natural freeze-dried raw dog treats are made from responsibly sourced, premium butcher cut beef liver.
- BETTER PROTEIN = BETTER BENEFITS: The best freeze dried dog treats on the market use premium butcher cut raw protein to unlock the benefits of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals in raw muscle and organs, because pets deserve the energetic playtimes, healthy skin, shiny coats, strong teeth, and essential gut health that a high-protein diet delivers.
- PROUDLY AMERICAN CRAFTED: All our dog treats and food are responsibly sourced and humanely harvested to ensure the quality of our proteins. We go above industry standards to preserve flavor and ensure the highest quality of protein and nutrients in every Vital Essentials product.
- MADE WITHOUT: Dog treat additives, fillers, dyes, flavorings, artificial preservatives, grains, or rendered by-products. Vital Essentials also offers the widest variety of single-protein raw dog food and treats on the market—great for picky eaters and dogs with allergies!
- RAW DOG TREATS FREEZE DRIED FOR PEAK FRESHNESS: Our protein is frozen within 45-minutes of harvesting to lock in peak nutrients, flavor, and freshness. A slow-freeze-dry ensures minimal processing, while preserving the vital nutrients that our pets deserve, the way nature intended.
- Nutritious Air Dried Dog Treats: Real Strips are soft-textured meat bars designed to support your dog's skin and coat health while offering the perfect portion size for easy chewing. These naturally tasty dog chews are air-dried to ensure sustainability and lock in nutrients, providing high-quality without the premium price tag. The air-drying process preserves the natural goodness, making these a healthy and irresistible option for dogs.
- Limited Ingredient, Natural Dog Treats: Real Strips Duck dog treats are made with brown rice to support skin, coat health, and digestion, while offering enjoyable chewing in a perfectly portioned treat. These dog chew sticks can be broken into smaller pieces, making them suitable for dogs of all sizes. They're free from artificial flavors, corn, wheat, and soy.
- How to Feed and Store: Feed as a snack or reward for your pup. Keep in mind that it's best to store these puppy chew treats in a cool, dark place; never refrigerate.
- Made in California: Our dog chew treats are air-dried in our family-owned facility in Fresno, CA. We prioritize sourcing as many ingredients as possible from the U.S., with most coming from nearby our California facility. Our owners personally oversee the entire air-drying process, ensuring the highest quality standards from start to finish.
- Honestly Healthy Dog Treats: Plato Pet Treats was founded by Aaron Merrell after his Border Collie’s health scare inspired him to improve her diet. Noticing the connection between wholesome, nourishing ingredients and a pet’s well-being, Aaron created Plato Pet Treats to provide high-quality, delicious limited ingredient dog treats that help pets live healthier, longer lives, so every pet can thrive.
- Greenies Dog Treats For Daily Dental Care: Greenies natural dog teeth cleaning treats are crafted to support the 4 areas veterinarians check most: plaque, tartar, gums, & breath and are made with natural ingredients plus vitamins, minerals & nutrients
- Veterinarian-Recommended Dog Dental Treats: Greenies Dog Treats are veterinarian-recommended dental dog chews that clean teeth and freshen dog breath
- Dental Chews For Dogs Fights Tartar: Including Greenies petite size dogs teeth cleaning treats into your daily dental care routine supports 47% less tartar accumulation and 40% less plaque accumulation in 28 days (Data on file)
- Clinically Proven Dog Teeth Cleaning Treat: These Greenies dental treats for dogs offer clinically proven dental care to help maintain your four-legged friend's oral hygiene
- Unique Texture For Dog Teeth Cleaning: Made for small breed dogs (15-25 lbs.), Greenies dental treat for dogs have a unique design that cleans down to the gumline and positively balances the oral microbiome to help support whole-body health
- FRESH BAKED AROMA: Combining the savory scents of bacon, egg & cheese, this recipe is the next best thing to a bite of your breakfast sandwich
- MADE with BACON: BLUE Health Bars dog treats prove that a healthy treat can be tasty, too; with ingredients like oatmeal, bacon, and egg, these bars feature the ingredients you’ll be proud to feed your furry family members
- CRUNCHY DOG TREATS: For dogs who prefer a crunch, these dog biscuits are oven baked for a texture they’ll love
- WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: These dog treats don’t contain any chicken (or poultry) by-product meals and are free from corn, wheat, and soy; plus, they’re free from artificial preservatives like BHA & artificial colors
- HEALTHY DOG TREATS: Made with only the finest natural ingredients and enhanced with vitamins and minerals, Blue Buffalo natural dog treats feature the ingredients you’ll love feeding as much as they’ll love eating
- FRESH BAKED AROMA: Combining the aromas of oven-baked pumpkin, cinnamon, and yogurt, this treat delivers the warm, inviting scent of homemade pumpkin pie
- MADE with PUMPKIN: BLUE Health Bars dog treats prove that a healthy treat can be tasty, too; with ingredients like oatmeal, pumpkin, and cinnamon, these bars feature the ingredients you’ll be proud to feed your furry family members
- CRUNCHY DOG TREATS: For dogs who prefer a crunch, these dog biscuits are oven baked for a texture they’ll love
- WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: These dog treats don’t contain any chicken (or poultry) by-product meals and are free from corn, wheat, and soy; plus, they’re free from artificial preservatives like BHA & artificial colors
- HEALTHY DOG TREATS: Made with only the finest natural ingredients and enhanced with vitamins and minerals, Blue Buffalo natural dog treats feature the ingredients you’ll love feeding as much as they’ll love eating
- THE FIRST AND ONLY ORGANIC SINGLE INGREDIENT TREATS – Our line of organic treats are the first single ingredient organic treats on the market. Organic chicken breast is a great high value treat, stomach soothing, and is packed with protein. They are non-greasy – perfect for training, as a food topper, or simply a heavenly reward.
- ORGANIC CHICKEN BREAST, JUST ONE INGREDIENT - Our treats are excellent for dogs with allergies, sensitive stomachs, diabetes, or dietary requirements. These treats are grain-free, gluten-free, and low fat-diet approved. Organic Chicken avoids dangerous chemicals and pesticides to have the most stomach friendly functional treats. We demand the absolute best quality chicken breast no additives, no funny business, no nonsense.
- STOMACH SOOTHING AND DIGESTIVE SUPPORT – Organic Chicken is a easy to digest in times of an upset stomach. Great for a chicken and rice diet vet’s recommend during diarrhea. Organic to avoid chemicals and hormones that may upset a pet’s stomach. As an added bonus, contains collagen for health skin and coat!
- PROTEIN RICH & LOW FAT – This is a low calorie treat that has 81% protein and only 6.1% fat perfect to add to the diet of an overweight dog or cat.
- SUSTAINABLY SOURCED AND MADE IN THE USA: Our treats are sustainably sourced, organic, and human grade. They are made in the US at our organic certified facility to ensure human grade quality. Our mission is to ensure only the freshest, healthiest, and best quality ingredients to make A BETTER TREAT
- HUMAN-GRADE: If you wouldn’t eat it, why would you feed it? From the ingredients they’re made with to the kitchens they’re made in, our treats meet strict USDA standards fit for human consumption.
- ALL NATURAL: Our kitchen-crafted Chicken Jerky is made from sliced, whole muscle chicken breast from USA farms. Each piece is slow cooked in our ovens to bring out the flavors your dog will love.
- HIGH QUALITY INGREDIENTS: Truth is our first ingredient. We carefully cook our natural Chicken Jerky in small batches using honest ingredients like chicken, organic cane sugar, vinegar, rosemary extract—never any by-products or waste.
- NO GLYCERIN, GRAINS, CORN, WHEAT OR SOY: Our all natural treats are made from wholesome, healthy recipes. Every bite is free from fillers, artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors and chock full of real meat flavor.
- U.S.-GROWN CHICKEN: Full Moon treats are proudly made in the United States using regionally sourced ingredients, including USDA approved, antibiotic-free chicken.
The Ultimate Buying Guide: Choosing Healthy Dog Treats
Finding the right treats for your dog can be exciting. Healthy treats make happy, healthy pups! This guide will help you pick the best snacks for your furry friend.
Key Features to Look For in Healthy Dog Treats
When you shop, keep these important features in mind:
- Simple Ingredient Lists: Good treats have few ingredients. Look for things you can actually name, like “chicken” or “sweet potato.”
- Nutritional Value: Treats should offer some benefit. Some have added vitamins or joint support.
- Appropriate Size and Texture: Treats must fit your dog’s mouth and chewing style. Tiny puppies need soft chews. Big dogs might need hard biscuits.
- Limited Calorie Count: Treats are extras, not meals. Check the calories to prevent weight gain.
Important Materials: What’s Inside Matters
The ingredients list tells the whole story. Always read it carefully.
Protein Sources
- High-Quality Meats: Look for real meat like chicken, beef, salmon, or turkey listed first. These give your dog energy.
- Avoid “Meat By-Products”: These are less clear parts of the animal. Choose whole cuts instead.
Carbohydrates and Fillers
- Whole Grains or Vegetables: Ingredients like oats, brown rice, or pumpkin are good choices. They provide fiber.
- Say No to Artificial Fillers: Corn, wheat, and soy are often used cheaply. If your dog has allergies, you must avoid these.
Preservatives and Additives
- Natural Preservatives: Look for Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) or rosemary extract.
- Artificial Dyes and Flavors: These offer no benefit to your dog. They just make the treat look pretty to you. Avoid them.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The manufacturing process greatly affects how good a treat is.
Quality Boosters
- Human-Grade Ingredients: When ingredients are fit for people, they are usually safer and better for dogs.
- Single-Ingredient Treats: These are fantastic for dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergies. They offer one clear source of nutrition (like dried liver or blueberries).
- Made in Safe Countries: Treats made in the USA or other countries with strict food safety rules are generally safer.
Quality Reducers
- Excessive Processing: Treats baked at very high heat can lose important nutrients.
- Sugar or Salt Overload: Too much added sugar or salt is bad for your dog’s health, especially their kidneys.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use treats changes what kind you should buy.
Training Time
For quick training sessions, you need small, highly desirable treats. These should be soft and easy to chew quickly. Your dog should get the reward fast and get back to listening.
Long-Lasting Chews
If you need your dog busy while you work or watch a movie, look for chews that take longer to finish. Dental chews often fall into this category. They clean teeth while keeping the dog occupied.
Special Needs
Does your dog need to lose weight? Choose low-calorie, high-fiber options. Do they have joint pain? Find treats fortified with glucosamine. Always match the treat to the need.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Healthy Dog Treats
Q: How many treats should I give my dog daily?
A: Treats should make up less than 10% of your dog’s total daily calories. Check the package serving size, but always adjust based on your dog’s size and exercise level.
Q: Are grain-free treats always healthier?
A: Not necessarily. Grain-free only matters if your dog is allergic to grains. Many grain-free treats use peas or potatoes, which some dogs do not digest well. Whole grains are fine for most dogs.
Q: What is the difference between a treat and a training reward?
A: Training rewards are usually very small, soft, and given frequently during active teaching. Treats can be larger and given less often as rewards for good behavior or just for fun.
Q: How long do healthy treats last?
A: Shelf life varies. Hard, dry biscuits last longer. Soft, fresh treats might only last a few weeks or need refrigeration after opening. Always check the “Best By” date.
Q: Can I give my dog human food as treats?
A: Some human foods are safe, like plain carrots or apple slices (no seeds). However, many human foods (like chocolate, grapes, or onions) are toxic. Stick to dog-specific treats unless you are sure the food is safe.
Q: What does “limited ingredient” mean?
A: It means the treat uses very few ingredients, usually five or fewer. This is great for finding out what your dog is sensitive to.
Q: Should I worry about artificial colors?
A: Yes. Artificial colors like Red 40 or Blue 1 do not help your dog. They are just for looks. Choose treats that use natural color from ingredients like beets or turmeric.
Q: My dog gets gas after eating these new treats. What should I do?
A: Gas often means the dog’s stomach is adjusting to new fiber or protein. Start giving the new treats in very small amounts. If the gas continues after a week, switch to a different formula.
Q: Are dehydrated or freeze-dried treats healthier?
A: Yes, often they are. The process keeps more of the original nutrients intact compared to heavy baking or frying.
Q: Where is the best place to store dog treats?
A: Keep most treats in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. If the package says “Refrigerate After Opening,” you must follow that instruction to prevent mold.