How to spot a junk dog treat

Many treats are made to sell to you, not to feed your dog

Bright colours, bone and heart shapes, “bacon flavour” and words like “gourmet” are there for the person holding the bag. Your dog cannot read the packet, does not care what colour a biscuit is, and would happily eat a plain piece of dried chicken. Flip the bag over and read the ingredients instead of the front.

Treats also get less attention than main meals, because they are “only treats”. But they add up: a few a day, every day, is a real part of your dog’s diet. Keep treats under about 10% of daily calories.

The red flags

• Sugar near the top: sugar, molasses, corn syrup, glucose syrup, honey, dextrose or maltodextrin. Dogs do not need sugar, and it adds calories and harms teeth. SnoutScan caps a treat at 60 when sugar is one of its first three ingredients.
• Rawhide: chemically processed animal skin with little nutritional value. Swallowed pieces can cause choking or a blockage, so SnoutScan caps rawhide chews at 40.
• Artificial colours: Red 40, Yellow 5, titanium dioxide, caramel colour and similar. They are only there for you.
• Artificial preservatives: BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin and nitrites, which are common in cheap jerky and meaty sticks.
• Moisture keepers: glycerin, propylene glycol and sorbitol keep soft treats soft and taste sweet.
• Salt and salty boosters: salt, cured or brined meat, and flavour enhancers like MSG high on the list.
• A vague first ingredient: “meat”, “poultry” or “meat and animal derivatives” instead of a named animal.

Check for anything toxic

Some “human style” treats, like biscuits, cakes and peanut butter snacks, can carry ingredients that are toxic to dogs. Xylitol in sugar-free products, chocolate and raisins are the ones to watch. SnoutScan scores any label with one at 0. Garlic, common in Asian-style jerky, costs 30 points and caps the score at 40.

What a good treat looks like

The best treats are often the shortest labels:

• A single named meat or fish, dried or freeze-dried, such as “chicken breast” or “salmon”.
• A single whole vegetable or fruit that is safe for dogs, such as carrot or apple.
• A few named ingredients you recognise, with no sugar, colours or artificial preservatives.

A one-ingredient treat can still be a poor choice if the ingredient is wrong, and a longer list can be fine. Read what each ingredient is, not just how many there are.

How SnoutScan scores treats

Pick “Treat or chew” before you scan. Treats are not complete meals, so their nutrition is not scored, and the score is worked out over protein, carbs, additives and label transparency. The caps above for sugar and rawhide apply on top. The full method is in How SnoutScan scores dog food.

Common questions