We all want to give our pets what we believe is best for them and their four-legged bodies. Pet treats pack a two-in-one punch, providing nourishment and an enjoyable snack for your furry pal to munch on.
That said, with an array of pet treats available in the market, pet owners may wonder: what pet treat should you get for your beloved furry pal?
There are two primary categories of pet treats you can choose from, namely, natural and processed pet treats. Each type has its own set of pros and cons, but if you value your pet’s long-term health, there’s no better option than natural pet treats.
Unsure why you should make the switch? Don’t worry—we’ll lay out why going natural is the superior option.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each type of pet treat. Let’s also take a look at the specific benefits of the natural variants of these pet treats.
Processed Pet Treats: Yay or Nay?
As previously mentioned, there are a wide variety of pet treats. Many of them fall under the “processed” category.
Most people hold a negative connotation to the word “processed”, especially when it comes to things we or our furry buddies ingest. But before you make any hasty judgments, there is some merit in opting for processed pet treats.
For one, processed pet treats are among the most widely available variants of pet treats out there. You don’t have to search beyond your local supermarket, or even a convenience store, to find one for your pet.
Secondly, a sizeable chunk of high-quality processed pet treats are also fortified with supplements and nutrients. These nutrients, such as glucosamine, have protective properties that help keep your pet’s bones and body healthy.
High-quality processed treats also have strict quality control regulations, making them fairly safe picks as long as it’s eaten in moderation.
For dogs or cats with sensitive stomachs, some processed pet treats also cater to their needs with specific dietary profiles formulated to provide them with enough nutrients without exacerbating health problems like arthritis and dental problems.
That being said, we can’t fully say that processed treats are good for your pup or cat.
As with human food, processed treats come with artificial additives and preservatives that may harm your dog’s health in the long run. They are also often injected with fillers like corn and wheat, which are indigestible to dogs in their raw form.
Furthermore, a lot of these processed treats are highly caloric, synthetic, and packed with saturated fats—which can contribute to uncontrolled canine weight gain.
In total, we believe that the downsides of processed pet treats outweigh the cons—and opting for natural treats is the more ethical option for pet owners who value their pet’s long-term health.
What Are Natural Pet Treats?
Natural pet treats have undergone minimal processing and are close to the rawest form of its food base. These types of treats are devoid of extra additives, preservatives, flavours, and colouring—making them a healthy, high-quality option for dogs and cats.
These natural pet treats are typically made from balanced foods such as pork, beef, fish, vegetables, and whole grains. They’re also specifically made without any allergens and fillers that may cause health problems to your pet down the line.
Some examples of natural pet treats include the following:
- Freeze-dried liver
- Dehydrated jerky
- Baked sweet potato
- Salmon balls
You can find many nutrient-packed high-quality dog and cat treats from Zach’s Pet Shop. These treats come with all the benefits to help your pet remain active and healthy for the long term.
Opting for natural pet treats, in a vast majority of cases, is the superior option in both keeping your dog well-nourished and minimising your pet’s risk of unknowingly ingesting additives that are bad for them.
But that’s not all there is to it. Let’s explore the pros (and cons) of opting for natural pet treats in greater depth.
6 Benefits of Natural Pet Treats
Let’s explore the benefits of natural pet treats in more detail.
- Helps Reduce the Risk of Sickness
Dogs and cats may show a greater immunity threshold than humans, but they’re not infallible to diseases. It’s very possible for dogs and cats to catch a viral or bacterial infection and show symptoms because of it, such as diarrhea, weight loss, and lethargy.
Many processed treats contain chemicals, artificial colouring, and additives that may cause reactions to your pets when taken in large enough doses. For instance, some rawhide-based products can be a major source of upset stomachs in dogs due to their indigestible nature.
One way to mitigate the risk of sickness is by opting for natural products instead. Going natural removes the harmful chemicals from the equation, making your dog and cat healthier overall.
- Improves Fur and Skin of Pets
We all want our pets to have a shiny coat (unless they’re naturally hairless, of course). With processed treats, however, achieving and maintaining a nice, thick coat of fur for your pet can be nothing but a pipe dream.
As previously mentioned, there are many allergens and irritants in processed dog treats that can alter the skin chemistry of your dog or cat. This can cause your pet’s soft and lustrous fur to fall out or take on a more rugged appearance.
By eating natural ingredients in pet treats, your dog and cat will be able to enjoy skin-healthy ingredients like fish and flaxseeds. These ingredients have components that are good for boosting your furry pal’s skin health, namely, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.
So if you want your dog or cat to take on a more glossy look, definitely consider switching to natural pet treats.
- Reduces Risk of Allergic Reaction
Processed pet treats naturally contain more ingredients than natural pet treats, and these ingredients are often incorporated with additives and preservatives to increase the shelf-life of the good.
These preservatives may cause allergic reactions in your dog or cat, causing symptoms like rashes, itchiness, and gastrointestinal problems. They can even take up more severe and life-threatening forms in some rare instances.
By choosing natural pet treats, you’re reducing your pet’s exposure to these harmful additives, which lowers the risk of them facing an adverse health risk that you definitely wouldn’t want for your pet.
- More Nutritious
Just like how we (as humans) naturally want to stay fit and healthy, we also want our pets to be in their most ideal form. Their diet plays a huge role in this, and in a vast majority of cases, opting for natural pet treats exposes your pet to a wider array of nutritious benefits.
For one, natural pet treats are minimally processed (or not processed at all), meaning that they have a higher natural source of nutrition.
Secondly, natural pet treats also tend to have higher-quality ingredients, which can help your pet become more likely to enjoy the benefits of good health like a shiner coat and a stronger build.
- Improves Gut Health
Natural treats have the benefit of providing dogs and cats with improved gut health thanks to their inherent deworming properties.
Treats like pumpkin seeds, carrots, and cucumbers make for some yummy treats for your dogs and cats while also simultaneously cleansing their digestive tract and improving their gut health at large.
One reason for this is that natural treats have a high fibre content. This makes it easier for them to pass stool, which can help keep their stomach less likely to harbour parasites and harmful bacteria.
- Improves Physical Capabilities
Pet treats are fantastic motivators, which you can harness to train them to perform tricks or follow commands. But beyond its utility as a training tool, the treats themselves are also packed with nutrients that can improve your pet’s physical prowess.
For one, meat-based, natural pet treats are packed with protein and low in bad fats. This can help strengthen your canine or feline’s bones, muscles, and joints, making them achieve higher levels of stamina and energy.
Furthermore, natural treats don’t contain lethargy-causing ingredients like fillers and additives. This allows your dog or cat to stay active and in peak condition even after they’ve had their meal.
5 Drawbacks of Natural Pet Treats
On the flip side, here are some mild cons of natural pet treats.
- Expires quicker
- Less accessible
- More expensive
- Limited flavour options
- Harder to store
That said, many of these cons are easy to overlook, especially with online retail shops being just one click away. Storing these natural pet treats is crucial though, as exposing them under the wrong conditions can cause a mould or bacterial outbreak that can ruin your pet’s health.
We hope that this article has thoroughly explained the benefits of natural pet treats to you. We hope to see you in the next one, furparents!
