Walk down the aisle of any pet food store and you will find many foods and snacks for your dog. Finding snacks that your dog enjoys and that are good for him can be a daunting task.

Ingredients to avoid in dog food (many are ingredients humans should avoid also)

• Menadione Sodium Bisulfate is the synthetic form of vitamin K and is added to many commercial dog foods to prevent blood clots. However, Menadione can cause serious problems with the liver, interrupt the natural cycle of vitamin K, and cause anemia. Dog food manufacturers sometimes do not list “menadione” dimetheylprimidinol sulfite or dimethupyrimidinol bisulfate^1.
• Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxtoluene (BHT) are food preservatives that prevent foods from spoiling. However, BHA and BHT have been linked to liver and kidney dysfunctions.
• Ethoxyquin is a synthetic preservative that preserves color and has been linked to kidney disease.
• Animal by-products are rampant in inexpensive dog foods and are used as filler. Often the parts of animals that are not consumed by humans end up in dog food: hooves, tails, snouts, bone, skin, tendons. Often the animals are “dead, diseased, dying and disabled.”²
• Corn and wheat are gluten products which have no nutritional value for dogs.
• Dairy products cannot be digest by dogs’ stomachs properly and can cause diarrhea.

Healthy, nutritional snacks your dog will love

Your dog will love Blue Buffalo Health Bars. They are fortified with Omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants that your dog needs. Some of the wholesome ingredients in Blue Buffalo Health Bars with Natural Peanut Butter include Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Whole Ground Oats, Dried Egg, Flaxseed, and Carrots. There is no corn, soy, or wheat. Other flavors include Chicken Liver, Apples with Yogurt, and Bacon Egg and Cheese. Purchase these bars directly from Blue Buffalo or you can find them in select PetSmart stores.

AvoDerm Natural Kookies are oven-baked and are enriched with avocados, which promote a healthy coat and skin. Avocados are rich in vitamins A, C, and E and are high in potassium and essential fatty acids to keep your dog healthy. Available at PetCo and Petsmart.

Newman’s Own Organics Dog Treats are full of the stuff your dog needs and none of the stuff that will make him sick. These treats don’t contain by-products, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, steroids, artificial flavors and preservatives, artificial colors, corn, or wheat. Available at Only Natural Pet Store.

Dr. Harvery’s Barkotti are crunchy snacks you can feel comfortable giving to your dog. Barkotti are baked with bee pollen, fruit, and vegetables to ensure your dog is eating yummy, nutrition-heavy foods. Other ingredients include Organic Honey, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Ginger, and Papaya. These treats are made 100% from ingredients that humans can also consume, without artificial colors or preservatives, corn, soy, or wheat. Get your Barkotti from Dr. Harvey’s.

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Original photo by Brian Snelson, used under Creative Commons license.)

Sources:

1. The Dog Food Project

2. HealthyPetNet.com