All pet parents know that a nutritious diet is a key factor in their pet’s growth as well as their teeth health. Your canine friend should have the chance to enjoy a healthy and delicious treat that provides them with everything their organism needs.
So, if you’re looking for the best treats without unhealthy additives for your pup, we’ve taken the time to put together our top picks for both your puppies and senior dogs.
Take a coffee break and dedicate the following couple of minutes to your pup’s dietary habits; it’ll be worth it!
Our Top Picks For Dog Biscuits:
Best Overall
Most Effective Choice
Milk-Bone Original Dog Treats for Medium Dogs
Rated by: Debbie
Dogs weighing over 20 pounds will love the Milk-Bone Original Dog Treats.
With this healthy and tasty food for your pup, you don’t have to worry about feeding your dog junk. Containing 12 vitamins and minerals, each bite of these biscuits will totally pay off.
These dog biscuits keep your dog’s teeth clean and free from decay, which makes their breath fresh.
Keep your dog rewarded and energized with Milk-Bone Original Dog Treats.
Old Mother Hubbard Bitz Natural Crunchy Dog Training Treats, Chicken, Liver & Veggies
Rated by: Debbie
Packed with real cheese goodness, your dog will surely adore the Old Mother Hubbard Bitz Natural Crunchy Dog Treats. Baked with real cheddar cheese, chicken, and dried rosemary, these dog biscuits will make the perfect snack for an afternoon delight. Made with only two calories per treat, these biscuits are suited well for training.
Oven-baked to preserve the flavor of the ingredients used, the Old Mother Hubbard Bitz Natural Crunchy Dog Treats do not contain artificial preservatives. These treats were made in the USA, so you are ensured that they are safe for your dog. All treats are bite-sized so your dog can easily munch on them. Read this article to learn, what makes dog treats safe.
Crunchy Classic Natural Dog Treats
Rated by: Debbie
Created by the renowned canine food company, the Old Mother Hubbard Crunchy Classic Natural Dog Treats is the next best dog biscuits to be found in your pantry.
Featuring best-selling flavors like Original, Chicken, and Char Tar, these dog biscuits are your dog’s go-to snack. These crunchy treats are perfect as a reward for training, too.
Made from all-natural ingredients with absolutely no artificial preservatives, these dog biscuits are a good way to keep your dog’s dental hygiene maintained. Proudly made in North America, your dog’s safety is guaranteed.
Nature’s Animals Gourmet Select Organic Biscuit Dog Treat Flavor: Hearty Grain & Honey
Rated by: Debbie
Considered one of the best dog biscuits available in the market, the Nature’s Animal Gourmet Organic Biscuits will be your dog’s favorite.
The Hearty Grain & Honey flavor is a crowd-pleaser, and surely, it will catch your dog’s heart. Purely made in the USA, these dog biscuits are guaranteed safe.
Perfect for dogs on his later years, these dog biscuits can be safely munched by dogs of 15-59 pounds. It’s about 4 inches long, which is a suitable food size for your dog. With 24 treats per pack, your dog is in for a lot of treat.
Triumph Dog Turkey, Pea, & Berry Grain Free Jerky
Rated by: Debbie
Another one from Triumph is Turkey, Pea & Berry Grain Free Jerky variation. Still an all-natural and healthy dog treat, the Triumph Turkey, Pea & Berry Dog Biscuits will be your dog’s favorite. Each bite of this treat will remind your dog with the real apple goodness.
With the right crunchiness, your dog’s teeth will be cleaned while giving him the nutrition he needs.
The Triumph Turkey, Pea & Berry Dog Biscuits serve as good source of vitamins and minerals, at the same time, entertaining him with tasty and flavorful treats. Each treat is perfect for dogs weighing around 20 pounds
Kirkland Signature Premium Dog Biscuits
Rated by: Debbie
This all-natural and healthy dog treat is a real delight among dog products. Although this is a pricier package, it’s worth the purchase, because it’s a 15-pound bag.
Packed with good flavor and taste, these dog biscuits are made from chicken and rice. This combo right here is extremely good for their teeth.
Pet parents can rest assured that this snack contains 0% artificial flavoring or colors. Dogs who are on a sensitive diet should not be munching on these.
Since this is a rather strong snack, pet parents are advised to follow a feeding guide, taking into account the current weight of your pup.
Hill’s Dog Treats Baked Light Dog Biscuits
Rated by: Debbie
If you’re on a tight budget, and you dont want to spend a fortune on premium dog food, but still want to give your pooch quality biscuits, you should check out Hill’s Dog Treats.
What advocates for the quality of this dog food is that its main ingredients are 100% natural. These biscuits are made from real chicken, and it’s actually a health booster in terms of protein and energy for your furry friend.
And even better, adult dogs can chew on this tasty snack at any time. Puppies and nursing dogs are not supposed to chew on this, as it may be too strong for them.
What’s important to stress about this treat is that it is 100% free from artificial ingredients. Dogs with sensitive stomachs will find these healthy and yummy at the same time.
As long as you give your pet this food in moderation, you wont’t have to fear about him gaining weight.
Factors To Consider When Buying Dog Biscuits
Before you start wandering the pet shop and start looking for the best dog biscuits for your dog, there are things to consider first. To ensure you get the best for your fluffy pal, here are some guidelines for you.
Your dog itself.
Who else would you think of when buying food for your canine friend, but your dog itself?
Before you start going on a hunt, your dog’s overall characteristics and health should be considered, above all. Depending on your dog or puppy, the appropriate dog biscuits vary. Your dog’s condition is a contributing factor.
His weight, day-to-day activities, and shape all contribute to what type of food your dog is supposed to eat.
Just like humans, puppies and lactating dogs need more calorie intake a day, while dogs in their later years need lesser. Accordingly, dogs with an active lifestyle need more than those who don’t move around much. How much nutrition your dog needs will shape them into better health.
Additionally, breeds also require a different type of treats and nutrition. Large breeds that weigh over 50 pounds have specific nutritional needs. Fortunately for dog owners, some dog food manufacturers produce biscuits based on breed.
If your pet came from animal shelters, you should take the matter of finding the best dog treats even more serious. There’s a high likelihoo0d that they’ve been malnourished.
Inspect the food packaging.
Did you know that there’s actually a “code” on some food for your furry friend packaging that tells you how much protein it has?
If you see phrases like, “Beef for Dogs” or “Chicken Dog Food”, this means that protein comprises 95% f the whole product excluding the water content. Moreover, packaging with “Chicken Stew Dinner” and “Salmon Dinner for Dogs” only contains 25% of the protein.
For more information on this matter, you can do research about the FDA analysis of food labels.
Check the ingredients thoroughly.
It is important to know that ingredients are ordered based on weight. This makes meat the first thing you’ll find on the list since they contain high water content. Since dogs are huge omnivores, opt for food with meat as the first ingredient listed.
The term “meat” means that the chosen food for your pup might contain animal muscle, heart tissue, esophagus, and fat content. While, “meat by-product” is the unprocessed part of the animal, like lungs, kidneys, blood, etc. Lastly, the term “meat meal” designates to any rendered product from tissues of animals.
Another thing, if you see corn being hailed as one of their ingredients, don’t be convinced quickly. Ground corn has low protein content and has no exceptional nutritional value. I’m not saying corn as an ingredient is a bad thing, it’s just that corn is no better than any carbohydrate. So, don’t fall for some packaging that exaggerates its health benefits.
Include these ingredients in their crunchy treats
When choosing the best dog treats, veterinary advise would be to seek these five ingredients, as they will increase the nutritional value of your pup’s diet:
- Carbohydrates: They are a close-second to meat sources on the recipe list. You’ll find high-quality carbs in pumpkin, squash, rice, etc. These are all instant-energy providers and both puppies and senior dogs love and need them!
- Wheat flour: You ought to be careful with this one. If your pup’s been eating food containing wheat flour, then it’s perfectly safe to include this ingredient in their diet. Most dogs are fine, however, some breeds with a sensitive stomach can develop an allergic reaction.
- Vitamins: Vitamins are inevitable – logically. Those that are of special importance for your fluffy pal are vitamin A, B, C, D, and E. Although they can be found in everyday snacks, their inclusion in your dog’s diet works as an additional booster.
- Fatty acids: In case you didn’t know, your pets can produce fatty acids they need, but they need two additional ones: omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Your pup will most commonly consume them through poultry, fish and flax seed.
- Minerals: The fifth ingredient on the list are minerals. Your puppy needs them, but in small amounts. Their purpose is to protect your pets from anemia, joint disorder, and poor immunity. Specific minerals your pet needs are calcium, magnesium, sodium, etc.
Know whether going for grain-free is a good choice.
If you suspect that your dog is developing certain allergies and switching to a grain-free dog food is the right option, check with your vet first. Before cashing out more than your usual dog treats, be sure if it’s the right thing to do.
A grain-free diet excludes the following ingredients:
- Rice
- Wheat flour
- Corn
- Barley
When converting to a grain-free diet, pet parents should be aware of the risks that comes with excluding the ingredients we’ve mentioned. The most note-worthy health issues have to with protein, fiber and essential amino acid deficiency.
Do background checks on your prospect brand.
Lastly, after all the considerations and careful decision-making, do some research on your prospect on what you think is the best dog biscuits for your dog. There’s nothing more important than thinking your dog will love it, but it’s better to do a background check first.
Doing your homework on the manufacturers of a certain brand allows you to have an insight on how the brand manufactures their product. After all, you only see and hear the good things on what they advertise. It’s your time to do some work and find out more about your prospect brand.
Store the treats properly.
Once you bring your groceries home; and by groceries, we mean treats for your furry friend, it is important that you stick to the storage rules. For the sake of their health, let’s just briefly go through a couple of tips that will help you maintain the freshness and nutritional value after you’ve served your dog the treats.
Before you reach the cash register, make sure to check the expiry date on the back of the package. It can easily happen that you overlook this and feed your pup expired treats. Know that frozen and raw treats are the ones with the shortest expiry date – keep that in mind!
If you’re used to storing treats in containers, let go of the plastic ones, and go for metal or glass. Plastic is prone to all kinds of bacteria, and in most cases, it’s not BPA free. Metal and glass, on the other hand, secure the flavor.
With wet and canned treats, it’s crucial not to leave them in your pup’s dish for more than a few hours. The storage rule that applies here is that you can keep them in the fridge for a maximum of 7 days, but no longer than that, if you don’t want stomach problems.
Doggy Treats and Dental Hygiene
Having mentioned a number of quality biscuit brands and energy foods that you should give your pet, now, it’s time to touch on the topic of health.
Your pup’s dental hygiene is closely related to their well being and quality nutrition. Regardless of whether we’re talking about small dogs or seniors, it’s crucial that we draw your attention to the importance of good dental hygiene and the risk of plaque and tartar buildup.
Since dogs don’t have the enzyme amylase, which helps break down the starch and carbohydrates in their saliva, the bacteria in their mouth feeds on these ingredients. This causes rapid plague and tartar buildup which further has a detrimental effect on their dental hygiene.
After this happens, your pet’s immune system tries to fight back these bacteria, unsuccessfully, which ultimately results in inflammation – the onset of a serious periodontal disease.
As pet parents, you shouldn’t neglect this recurring issue because your dog might start losing his teeth to this vicious bacteria. Naturally, the best way to prevent this from happening is to put together the best possible diet.
For example, raw diets are a natural medicine that helps with this problem. It’s safe to say that it acts the same way a toothbrush does. Raw canine diets include a home-made recipe. Chicken breast, and organic pumpkin fall under this category.
The Benefits of Healthy Dog Treats
Finally, we’re down to mentioning the specific benefits once you decide to get your pooch on a healthy and fresh diet.
First and foremost, there’s the improvement in the coat and skin of your dog. It is logical that a dog showing a shiny and thick coat is on a proper and nutritionally-balanced diet.
For instance, the smoothness of the coat is mostly thanks to the balanced intake of omega-3 acids that we mentioned a minute ago. Keeping your pet’s coat healthy automatically lowers the chances of inflammations and allergies occurring, especially during spring time.
Moreover, we have the digestive system. Carefully chosen treats that are rich in nutrients contribute to better digestion; this is especially important while your puppy is still growing.
One benefit that we must not forget to mention is your dog’s eye health. Vitamin A that is present in fish, egg yolk, carrots, cooked sweet potato and spinach is responsible for improving vision. Including this in your pup’s diet doesn’t just promote “night vision”, but bone-growth, and stronger immune response.
Including oven baked food without artificial flavors means that you’ll be looking at fewer trips to the vet, which is a plus for both you and your pooch. There’s no denying in the fact that sticking to a healthy dietary schedule keeps the vet away, at least in this case.
Finally, by relying on a verified dietary plan means peace of mind for the owner. You can be safe and sound knowing that your canine friend is not in danger of ingesting unhealthy and chemically loaded treats whose only benefit is taste.
All in all, as long as you feed your pooch the right ingredients and stick to the recipe, all of the benefits above are guaranteed!
Verdict
The best dog biscuits on this list is the Milk-Bone Original Dog Treats. If you are concerned about your dog or he just simply needs more nutrition, you should give this a go. With each treat, your dog is stuffed while being fed with vitamins and minerals, too. It contains 12 vitamins and minerals, which is exactly the highlight of this product.
Aside from feeding your dog with proper nutrition, their dental hygiene will be maintained, also. Available at a reasonable price, the Milk-Bone Original Dog Treats are also appropriately sized for medium-sized dogs.
However, it is important to store them properly to avoid it becoming stale. You might want to seal it properly too, as it might have an unpleasant smell.
Overall
Just like humans, dogs like tasty treats, too. With our reliable advice, learn to reward their good behavior with a dog biscuit specifically designed for both small dogs and adult dogs.
And as the wonderful owner of your puppy, giving him the premium ones is your main goal. A general rule states that the best dog treats are the ones that don’t just have appetizing flavors and mouth-watering taste, but also the ones that are packed with nutrients they need and well-maintained dental hygiene.
It’s not all about great taste, you need to keep their teeth healthy as well.
Finding the best dog treat is a major achievement as a dog owner, especially to the busy ones since most of dog foods can now be found online.
The moment you test it out on your pooch and find out they love it will certainly be a moment to remember. Plus, knowing you have a go-to snack for your dog saves a lot of time and effort, you don’t have to scan through every canine food anymore.
Picking out a snack that dogs love will energize them, which can last throughout the day. Just like how our pupils dilate whenever we see our favorite food coming our way, your furry friend will burst with excitement when they see their tasty rewards.
While picking out the perfect biscuit, bear in mind their dental hygiene. You should be aware of the dangers of tartar and plaque buildup.
With a proper diet, your pup will surely show a shinier and thicker coat, improved eye vision, bone health, and most importantly, a stronger immune system that will keep him healthy and smiling throughout the year.
Imagine having to eat your favorite snack every day, is it not something worthy to look forward to That’s exactly how your pets feel.
You may be looking for specific dog breed treats or for treats for boxer puppies as an example, read this article.