It is no secret that dogs like chewing. Actually, more like, dogs LOVE chewing. That’s why we spend dollar after dollar on chew toys and treats for them to gnaw on. After all, nothing is too much for our special canine companion, right? But what if the chew treat you were giving them isn’t actually good for them at all?

It can be hard to navigate through all of the choices out there. The pet store has aisles full of different brands and it can be hard determine what is the best. Luckily, we have some answers for you. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of top chews you should avoid.

Top 5 Unhealthy Chews For Dogs:

1. Rawhides

Once one of the most popular chews, the dangers of rawhides are still not as widely known as they should be. They are made from the inner layer of a hide, but they are made into a chew with a terribly chemical-laden process. All of these chemicals make sure that the rawhide doesn’t spoil. Other than the chemicals, they can also be a choking hazard. If your dog absolutely loves them, they can eat them in small doses under supervision, but they are certainly not the best.

2. Milk-Bone

Instead of being chocked full milk or meat for that matter, this treat is actually loaded with questionable ingredients and harmful chemicals.

3. MarroBone

It may be a top seller, but it’s not top in nutrition. It’s suspicious ingredients range from wheat to BHA preservatives.

4. IAMS Proactive Health Biscuits

Full of chicken by-product meal, wheat flour, and beet pulp (a sugar filler). This proactive healthy biscuit is anything but healthy.

5. Beggin’ Strips

Just reading the ingredients will tell you that this is not the best for your pet. Ground wheat, corn gluten meal, wheat flour, ground yellow corn, water, sugar, glycerin, meat, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate are just the first of a whole slew of alarming ingredients.

Alternatives to unhealthy chews:

Just because these treats are bad, it doesn’t meant that all treats are that way. There are plenty of great alternatives to unhealthy. Next time you to pick up chew treats for your dog try a few of these instead.

• Bully Sticks
• KONG Toys
• Nylabone
• SmartBones
• Honest Kitchen Beams
• DreamBones

We all want to save our furniture and shoes and that’s why we look for ways to redirect your dog’s natural tendency to chew by offering a tasty treats and chews. Just make sure you know how your chews are being processed. Always monitor your dog with any chew toy, and take and throw away the small pieces as he gets to the end of the chew to prevent choking.