The Skinny on Organic Dog Treats
Michalis "BIG Mike" Kotzakolios
Kotzakoliou, SSA

Dog treats are available in a dizzying variety of flavors, sizes, colors, shapes, and ingredients. However, like human junk food, trying to read the ingredients list of most dog treats reads like a medical dictionary. Dog treats are loaded with artificial ingredients, flavorings, additives, and preservatives. Consumed in excessive quantities, these treats can be harmful to your pet.

More and more pet owners are turning to organic dog treats to reward their dogs. As humans become more conscious about the chemicals and foods they put into their own bodies, so too are we becoming more conscious about the chemicals we feed our pets. Organic dog treats are as close to being in a natural state as possible. Organic dog treats are free of pesticides, insecticides, and other toxins that are prevalent in many foods.

Food labels can be very confusing. Often, natural dog treats are confused with organic dog treats. Natural and organic are not synonymous. In fact, organic foods are held to a higher standard than natural. The USDA has to certify a food as organic, and the food can be labeled as such. Natural dog treats are less expensive than organic dog treats, but the reliability is suspect. For example, natural can only guarantee that the food does not contain any food coloring or additives, such as sodium metabisulfite or ethoxyquin. These additives have been known to cause allergies, brain damage, even cancer.

Organic pet food might seem pricier than ordinary commercial dog food at first. However, upon closer inspection of the food labels, organic food servings are about half that of regular dog food. This is because organic food contains healthy ingredients that help to satiate your pet more quickly. The cost-per-serving of organic food versus regular dog food is comparable.

Feeding your dog organic treats instead of additive-laden dog treats can help improve your dog's health. You might even save hundreds to thousands of dollars in veterinary bills since your dog will not be as prone to developing ailments such as cancer, diabetes, skin problems, allergies, etc. You can enjoy your pet in good health for a long time.