Guide
What Additives Should I Avoid in Dog Treats?
In shortOn a dog treat label, check how many ingredients there are, whether any animal ingredients are hidden, and whether it contains preservatives, colorants or flavorings. The shorter the ingredient list, the more exactly you know what your dog is eating.
Three things to check
- Number of ingredients — starch, flour, glycerin or sugar added to the meat
- Hidden proteins — vague terms like "meat meal", "animal fat" or "poultry" don't tell you which animal
- Additives — artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin), synthetic colorants, artificial flavors
How do treats keep without additives?
When enough moisture is removed, microbes struggle to grow, so dried treats keep without preservatives. Belcher dries to 11% moisture or less and packs an oxygen absorber — not a preservative — in every bag. More in our dried treats guide.
Belcher's label
Every Belcher ingredient list is one line. Horse jerky, for example, is horse meat and nothing else — no gluten, colorants or artificial preservatives.
The back label is more reliable than "no additives" on the front. Always flip the pack over before you buy.