What's Really In Your Dog's Treats?

When it comes to choosing treats for your dog, the packaging might say “natural” or “healthy” – but do you know what’s actually inside? Many pet parents are surprised to learn that not all dog treats are created equal. Understanding how to read ingredient labels is one of the best ways to protect your dog’s health and make informed choices.

Don’t know what to look out for? No problem – I’m here to help you and your pets!

So, lets break it down -

Ingredients to beware of and why:

• Animal Derivatives – A vague and unclear term that doesn’t tell you what animal parts are being used or their quality. Because it can include low‑grade or inconsistent ingredients, it’s hard to know exactly what you’re feeding your dog, which makes it a poor choice for dogs with, sensitivities, existing health issues, or owners who want transparency.
• Potassium Sorbate – An artificial preservative used to extend the shelf life of a product, but is proven to cause skin and eye irritation as well as digestive issues. 
• Calcium Carbonate – A chemical compound made of inorganic tissue and not the same as calcium found in bones. Calcium carbonate is found in rocks and commonly used in kibble production. 
• Vegetable Oil – Highly inflammatory and high in bad fats. Feeding vegetable oils to dogs can cause pancreatitis, obesity and heart disease, or worsen these conditions if they are already existing.
• Glycerine - A sugar alcohol usually made from vegetable oils and has no nutritional benefit - purely used as a sweetener and preservative. Be extra careful when the label reads just "glycerine" as this is usually a by-product of processing diesel. 
• Pea Flour and Cereals - Dogs have ZERO nutritional requirement for highly refined carbohydrates and as facultative carnivores, they are unable to effectively digest them. Health issues are a likely result of feeding lots of carbohydrates. These issues include obesity, diabetes, behaviour changes, digestion issues and even an increased risk of cancer.
• Starch - Starches are proven to cause plaque buildup and tooth decay. They create bacteria in the mouth that erode tooth enamel. Ironically most "dental sticks" on the market are packed full of starches. 
• Rawhide - I think we all know how bad rawhide is by now. This is a byproduct of the leather industry and is just packed full of artificial colours and preservatives and contains bleach and glue to give them their colour and shape. Absolutely not suitable for our doggies. 

All of these ingredients are unfortunately not species appropriate and are usually included simply as cheap fillers, with no regard for your pet’s health or nutritional needs.

Here's a few examples of what we love to see:

• Single ingredient treats – Treats that contain only what it says on the packaging, with no hidden nasties.
• No grains or cheap fillers – Only ingredients that serve a purpose and are species appropriate. 
• No preservatives or only natural preservatives – Treats that are dehydrated, air dried or freeze dried do not usually require preservatives as they have been naturally preserved. However, natural preservatives like vitamin E or rosemary extract are much healthier than artificial alternatives like sulphur dioxide or potassium sorbate. 
• Brand Transparency – Companies that are open about ingredients and how/where they are sourced, and why certain ingredients are or aren’t used. 

How do we keep it simple at Embark?

We don’t believe in hiding behind fancy words or vague labels. When we say natural, wholesome, and healthy.. we mean it.
Just real, nourishing food your dog will love, and you’ll feel good about giving.

Find your dogs new favourite treats here!