Dog Treat Ratings From a Veterinary Nutritionist
Dr. Hillary Wolfe, a veterinarian and pet food therapist, reviews six popular dog treat brands to help pet owners make informed choices about what they're feeding their dogs. The video ranks treats from A to F based on ingredient quality, calorie content, and potential health impacts. Dr. Wolfe emphasizes that treats should contribute positively to a pet's health rather than add empty calories or harmful additives.
The treats examined include Greenies, Bocce's, Snausages, Crumps, Beggin' Strips, and Milkbones—all commonly found in pet stores and recommended by pet owners. Each review considers the ingredient list, calorie density relative to a dog's daily treat allowance, and any concerning additives like artificial preservatives or colorants that serve no nutritional purpose.
Key Moments
Key Findings on Popular Dog Treat Brands
- Greenies (D rating): While clinically proven to reduce plaque and tartar, a single treat exceeds the maximum daily treat calories for a 25-pound dog and has been associated with hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in some dogs.
- Bocce's (A rating): Low-calorie soft and chewy treats with clean ingredients like salmon, oat flour, and sweet potato; training treats are especially recommended at only 9 calories each.
- Snausages (F rating): Contains unidentified meat byproducts, added sugar, salt, artificial colors, and titanium dioxide—a possible carcinogen with no nutritional benefit.
- Crumps (B rating): Limited ingredient treat with only 3 calories per piece, though guar gum may cause gastrointestinal inflammation in sensitive dogs.
- Beggin' Strips (F rating): At 36 calories per piece, these exceed daily treat limits for small dogs and contain BHA (a possible carcinogen) plus artificial coloring.
- Milkbones (F rating): Despite widespread availability, these contain unidentified meat meal, multiple artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT, sodium metabisulfite), and added colors with no health benefit.
Why Healthy Treat Choices Matter for Your Pet
The treats we give our pets are equivalent to the snacks we eat—and just as with humans, feeding poor-quality treats daily over years can have serious consequences. Dr. Wolfe explains that low-quality treats may contribute to weight gain, increase oxidative stress, accelerate aging, and disrupt the gut microbiome, which affects many areas of health. Many pet owners unknowingly give problematic treats like Milkbones every single day without realizing the cumulative harm. Understanding ingredient labels and calorie counts helps prevent these unintended health impacts. The good news is that simple swaps—such as choosing healthier packaged treats or offering pet-safe fruits and vegetables like blueberries, raspberries, and squash—can make a meaningful difference in your dog's long-term health and vitality.
Common Questions About Dog Treat Safety
What is meat meal, and why should I avoid it?
Meat meal is an unspecified protein source—the label doesn't identify which animal it comes from. This raises red flags about sourcing and quality, and means you won't know what proteins your dog has been exposed to, which complicates any future dietary trials if your dog develops food sensitivities.
Why is titanium dioxide a problem in dog treats?
Titanium dioxide is listed as a possible carcinogen, can increase inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, disrupts the gut microbiome, and has zero nutritional value—it's added only to make treats look whiter or more appealing to consumers.
How many treat calories should my dog have per day?
A general rule is that treats should comprise no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories. For example, a 25-pound dog should get a maximum of 69 treat calories per day, and a 10-pound dog should get no more than 35 treat calories per day, assuming average activity and healthy weight.
Are dehydrated treats like Honest Kitchen Ocean Chews safe?
While highly nutritious and made from human-grade ingredients, dehydrated and freeze-dried treats carry a small risk of foodborne illness and bacterial contamination. They can also be calorie-dense, so monitor your dog's total treat intake. Otherwise, they are a solid nutritional choice.
What are the best healthy treat alternatives to packaged brands?
Pet-safe fruits and vegetables are ideal—blueberries, raspberries, spinach, kale, collard greens, squash, and bell peppers are all low in calories, high in fiber, rich in antioxidants, and genuinely support your dog's health without the risks of artificial additives.
