It is just as important to feed good quality treats as it is to feed a good quality food diet. That means you DO NOT want to see corn, by-products, or artificial preservatives such as BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin.  There is more than enough documentation stating why one may not want these in their pet’s diet.  Often we give treats to reward and show love to our companion.  It often can be just that simple and you can treat with many of the options available for your dog or cat. 

With the above said, if your pet has some specific needs to be addressed, you may want to target such when treating.  Many treats have a specific ingredient list and/or caloric content that may help address the needs of your companion.  Some specific needs may be: Weight Control (low fat/calories…higher fiber); Joint Care
(glucosamine and chondroitin with Vitamin E to help reduce inflammation); Dental Care (special ingredients or textures that when given regularly may help increase the time between dental cleanings as well as chlorophyll, mint, etc. that may help with bad breath for short periods.);  Skin Health/Hair (Dry, flaky skin and brittle/dull hair can benefit from added omega -3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as Vitamins A E and D);  Digestive Health (a touchy digestive tract may benefit from extra fiber and/or beneficial probiotics/prebiotics as well as chicory).

Remember while many of the ingredients above can provide benefits, don’t “give too much of a good thing”.  Follow the label directions and if concerned about your pet’s health you should always consult your veterinarian.  Although it may be good to at least have some of the aforementioned rather than none, a balanced diet and/or supplementation is often best to ensure appropriate amounts of targeted ingredients are in your pet’s species appropriate diet.    

Ask a Happy Tails team member about any of the options/information above and we will be happy to help you make an informed decision. 

Below is a taste (pun intended) of what we offer. We invite you to come to our store to view all of our treat options. It will not be unusual to find that we popped open a sample for your pet to try.