Dog treat preservative can be bad for your dog.  Who knew?

We seem to be hit by a barrage of chemicals to avoid in our human diet, that I think they rely on that to cause enough information fatigue that we don’t question what they throw into a dog treat bag.

But before I digress further, consider this.

Natural meat dog treats (even offal and bones) DON’T have preservatives. In fact that is what we based our whole dog chews business, Bruce’s Healthy Dog Treats on.

And in fact, oven dried dog treats (at a sufficient temperature) kill ALL bacteria in the oven.  While air dried and many freeze dried dog treats do NOT – because many bacteria still survive at below minus 50C temperatures  and any freezer that can go lower than this is very expensive and costly to run.

Spoiler –  here are some of the top dog food and dog treat preservatives that we will look at:  BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole), BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene), Ethoxyquin:, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Metabisulfite:

Be aware that not every one of these chemicals will have negative side effects on your dog.  But they are still worth looking at – because many additives seem to have a build up before they affect a dog.

Also be aware that our drier, in the small range of training treats they provide tend to use just one preservative. potassium sorbate. This is listed as one of the lowest reaction preservatives, and one of the simplest, chemically. For humans the very rare potential issues are mouth tingling, swelling, and itching.  But chances are that your dog will more likely get these from walking or playing on lawns than from this preservative.

Analysis of dog treat preservatives

BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole), BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene),

These two exciting BH* chemicals are wide spread  and both are known as synthetic antioxidant preservatives – to prevent the oxidation of fats and oils in pet foods and treats.  They keep the treats safe – ie increase the shelf life

The International Agency for Research on Cancer says that BHA is a possible human carcinogen.  Research has shown that concentrations of 0.75%, BHA and BHT are harmful to the blood and have negative affect on the circulatory system.

WHY would you risk using a dog treat that has to have this artificial preservative, to protect and artificial food like grain?

In dogs there is the risk of allergic reactions, skin irritations, and gastrointestinal issues. Even liver and kidney damage.

Ethoxyquin

This is a niche preservative used as an antioxidant preservative mainly in dog foods that need protection of spoilage of either fish meal or fats

Negative effects in dogs can include liver and kidney damage, immune system suppression, and reproductive problems.  it is recommended to avoid prolonged exposure.

Propylene Glycol:

synthetic compound used as a humectant to maintain moisture and texture in pet foods and treats.

absorb extra water and maintain moisture in certain medicines, cosmetics, or food products,  Even as a solvent for food colors and flavors (ie artificial colors and artificial flavors which both have a myriad of negative side effects), and in the paint and plastics industries.

It is considered “safe” in small doses, but in larger doses will cause gastrointestinal issues including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

CONCLUSION

Why would you add an artificial chemical (preservative) to a dog treat, to protect an artificial food (grains or plant matter).  If you have ever visited a vet with a dog with kidney or liver disease, you will find out the true negative effects to your wallet, and your dogs shortened life.

I would strongly recommend that you try to avoid ALL of these preservatives.

Some brands use natural preservatives like Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Vitamin E (tocopherols), natural oils, and herbs such as rosemary or cloves.

Here’s a fun fact.  While natural, actual healthy dog treats like ALL 100% meat single ingredient treats DON’T NEED any preservatives, the one thing that can go wrong when not properly stored is mould.  That is why we always include desiccant satchels in the treat bags.  NOTE the dogs DON’T eat the satchels so they don’t get any extra chemicals they don’t need into their body.

Propylene Glycol does the same thing as our satchels, it absorbs water.  But unlike our satchels, glycol is merged with the dog treat and has a wide range of negative side effects.

Choose wisely.