You wouldn't eat a snack loaded with artificial dyes, mystery preservatives, and unidentifiable "meat products" — so why should your dog? Unfortunately, many of the most popular dog treats on store shelves contain ingredients that range from nutritionally worthless to potentially harmful. The pet food industry isn't always transparent, and flashy packaging can hide some genuinely concerning additives.
The good news is that once you know what to watch for, avoiding these ingredients becomes second nature. Here are the 5 ingredients to avoid in dog treats — and what to reach for instead.
1. BHA and BHT (Synthetic Preservatives)
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are synthetic chemical preservatives added to dog treats to extend shelf life. While they're effective at preventing fats from going rancid, their safety profile raises serious questions. The state of California lists BHA as a known carcinogen under Proposition 65, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a possible human carcinogen. The National Toxicology Program has reported that BHA causes tumors in laboratory animals.
BHT has a similar chemical structure and shares many of the same concerns. While the FDA still permits these preservatives in pet food at certain levels, many veterinary nutritionists recommend avoiding them entirely — especially when natural alternatives exist.
What to look for instead: Treats preserved with mixed tocopherols (natural vitamin E), rosemary extract, or ascorbic acid (vitamin C). These natural antioxidants keep treats fresh without the health concerns. Better yet, look for treats with short ingredient lists that don't need heavy preservation at all.
2. Artificial Colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2)
Here's a question every pet parent should ask: who are artificial colors in dog treats actually for? Your dog doesn't care what color their treat is — they experience treats primarily through smell and taste, not visual appearance. Artificial dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 2 exist solely to make treats look more appealing to human buyers on store shelves.
These synthetic dyes are derived from petroleum and have been linked to behavioral issues and hyperactivity in children. While direct studies on dogs are limited, the logic is straightforward: why expose your pet to unnecessary synthetic chemicals that serve zero nutritional purpose? Several European countries have already banned or restricted many of these dyes in human food.
What to look for instead: Treats that get their color from real ingredients — the golden hue of turmeric, the deep purple of blueberries, the orange of sweet potato. Natural ingredients provide color, flavor, and nutrition all at once.
3. Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is a synthetic liquid substance used in dog treats as a humectant — it keeps soft and chewy treats moist and prevents them from drying out. While the FDA considers it "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) for dogs, it's worth noting that it's banned from cat food because of its toxic effects on feline red blood cells. It's also a key ingredient in automotive antifreeze (though a less toxic variety than ethylene glycol).
While occasional small doses in dog treats are unlikely to cause acute harm, chronic daily exposure through treats and food raises legitimate concerns. Dogs with liver or kidney sensitivities may be particularly vulnerable. Given that safe, natural alternatives exist, there's simply no reason to accept propylene glycol in your dog's treats.
What to look for instead: Soft treats that maintain moisture through natural ingredients like glycerin derived from vegetable oils, coconut oil, or simply fresh whole-food ingredients. Our Organic Chicken & Sweet Potato Bites stay naturally moist through their whole-food sweet potato content — no synthetic humectants needed.
4. Corn Syrup and Excessive Sugar
Corn syrup appears in dog treats for the same reason it appears in human junk food — it's cheap, it's sweet, and it makes products taste irresistible (almost addictively so). But dogs have no nutritional need for added sugars, and regular consumption can lead to the same problems it causes in humans: obesity, dental decay, insulin resistance, and even diabetes.
Sugar and corn syrup create a cycle where your dog craves increasingly sweet treats, making it harder to transition to healthier options. Some manufacturers also use sugar to mask the taste of lower-quality ingredients — if the base ingredients were wholesome and flavorful on their own, they wouldn't need sweetening.
Watch for sugar hiding under other names on ingredient lists: sucrose, dextrose, fructose, cane molasses, and of course high-fructose corn syrup. If any form of added sugar appears in the first five ingredients, that treat is essentially candy for dogs.
What to look for instead: Treats sweetened naturally by their whole-food ingredients. Pumpkin, sweet potato, blueberries, and peanut butter provide natural sweetness that dogs love without blood sugar spikes. Our Organic Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Biscuits are naturally delicious with zero added sugars — just five simple organic ingredients.
5. Vague "Meat By-Products" and "Animal Digest"
When a treat label says "chicken" or "beef," you know what you're getting. But when it says "meat by-products," "poultry by-products," or "animal digest," that vagueness is a red flag. These umbrella terms can include a wide range of animal parts: organs, bones, blood, intestines, and other rendered materials that didn't make the cut for human food.
The issue isn't that organ meats are inherently bad — liver and heart are actually nutritious. The problem is that "by-products" and "digest" labels tell you nothing about quality, sourcing, or consistency. The composition can vary from batch to batch, and there's no way to know what your dog is actually eating. "Animal digest" is particularly concerning — it's a chemically hydrolyzed slurry of unspecified animal tissues used purely as a flavoring agent.
For dogs with food allergies or sensitivities, vague protein sources make it impossible to identify and avoid triggers. If a treat doesn't specify exactly which animal and which part, you're taking a gamble with your dog's diet.
What to look for instead: Named, specific protein sources: "organic chicken breast," "wild-caught salmon," "grass-fed beef liver." You should be able to identify exactly what animal and ideally what cut or form is in the treat. Our Grain-Free Salmon & Blueberry Treats use wild-caught salmon as the first ingredient — no mystery proteins, no vague by-products, just real fish.
The Simple Label Test
Next time you're shopping for dog treats, use this quick test: read the ingredient list out loud. If you stumble over chemical names, see colors identified by numbers, or encounter vague terms like "animal digest," put it back. The best dog treats have short ingredient lists (5-10 ingredients) filled with words you recognize — real foods that you could identify in a grocery store.
Your dog trusts you to make good choices for them. By avoiding these five harmful ingredients and choosing treats made with transparent, whole-food ingredients, you're giving them something they deserve: snacks that are as good for their body as they taste. Because treats should be a moment of joy — not a source of hidden chemicals.
Explore Healthier Treats
Every treat at Furrwell is made with named, recognizable ingredients — no BHA, no artificial colors, no corn syrup, no by-products. Just real, organic ingredients that you can feel good about giving your best friend.