The hidden and harmful additives in dog treats

Why would companies actively choose to put additives and nasties into their dog treats? That's a good question. Here at Dog Street, we cannot imagine putting anything in our treats that could be even potentially harmful to our precious dogs. But some other dog treat and dog food companies use chemicals and additives for a variety of reasons. 

One reason is they are trying to keep their costs low, but their profits high. High-quality ingredients are obviously more expensive so the less they use of the good stuff and the more they use of the bad, cheap stuff means the more money they can make. 

Another reason is that some dog owners think dog treats look better when they have a certain colour to them, so companies will colour or bleach their treats with nasty chemicals. But as you probably know, dogs don't really care about what the treat looks like! They want a tasty treat that has no chemicals and will make sure they are around longer to get all the cuddles. 

Also, some dog owners turn their nose up at the smell of certain treats so some dog treat companies will use nasties instead of good-smelling, high-quality ingredients. But as we know, and as you probably know, when it comes to treats the smellier the better! Just ask your dog. 

Lastly, some companies add certain ingredients to make their treats weigh more. This is just another trick they use to make themselves more money and seems to us they don't care about their doggo customers at all, hey?

Below are just some of the additives you should avoid in your dog's treats and food. But don't worry, you can always get them some Dog Street treats which are all-natural. 

Sorbitol

Sorbitol in dog treats is usually prepared synthetically and used as a flavouring agent and a sugar substitute.

Sugar or sweetener is an absolutely unnecessary ingredient in pet treats. Dogs that eat sorbitol may struggle with hypoglycemia, obesity, nervousness, cataracts, tooth decay, arthritis and allergies. They can also get addicted to foods that contain sorbitol and sugars, so it can become difficult to make them eat something healthier.

Glycerin

Glycerin is a liquid that has no odour or colour but does add a sweet taste. Unfortunately, it is most commonly produced in soap manufacturing and is a biofuel byproduct. It is used to keep treats moist while stopping them from moulding or decomposing. 

There have not been enough studies to ensure glycerin is safe for dogs to consume, which means you should avoid it in their treats and food.