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As you have most certainly learned by now, multiple brands, flavors, and styles of jerky-style dog treats imported from China have resulted in the deaths of nearly 600 dogs and the serious illness of thousands more.But, because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has yet to discover a contaminate, or the source of what’s making dogs sick, they are unable to force a recall and these products continue to fly off store shelves and into the mouths of our pets.
But, not all jerky treats are bad. Those made in the USA, from wholesome, healthy ingredients and real meat can be a wonderful, drool-worthy dog treat.
With all this buzz about chicken jerky treats imported from China, a lot of readers are asking us: What treats ARE safe for my dog?
So, here they are – 4 meaty treats we guarantee your dog will love, that are not just safe, but healthy and delicious, too!
1. Clear Conscience Pet’s Sliders®
Sliders are made in the USA in government inspected plants. Made with American Beef from humane-audited ranches, or vegetarian fed, hormone & antibiotic-free chicken recipes. These are the first tender moist pet treats with NO glycerin or “vegetable” glycerin, NO propylene glycol, and NO sugars or syrups. And, of course there are no grains, gluten meals, or other high carb fillers. Just delicious, healthy, real food.
I have yet to meet a dog that doesn’t LOVE Sliders, and even use them as a “high value reward” when training my own dogs. (And, yes, I’ve even eaten a Slider or two… they’re delicious, human grade, and all natural!)
Available in Beef & Cheddar and Chicken & Cheddar recipes, either sliced in 4 oz packages or in individually vacuum packed TenderStikz™.
To learn more, visit www.ClearConsciencePet.com.
2. Merrick Pet Care’s Real Cuts Jerky Strips
Just like Merrick’s premium dog food, their treats are made in the USA with absolutely no ingredients from China. These American-sourced, American-made real jerky cuts are rawhide-free and contain no artificial flavors or fillers. They’re a naturally delicious dog treat you can feel good about giving.
Available in 4 drool-worthy flavors: Chicken, Beef, Sausage, and Liver, these safe, healthy, protein-rich jerky treats will have your dog begging for more!
To learn more, visit www.MerrickPetCare.com.
3. Baked Earth Bison Love Bites Jerky
All of Baked Earth’s dog treats are made with love in the USA, with ONLY U.S. or Canadian sourced ingredients. The bakery goes above and beyond to ensure their treats do not contain added preservatives, artificial hormones or GMOs. Produce is grown with heirloom seeds or seeds that have not been artificially modified and all animals are pasture raised; free to graze and forage.
And, their newest product, Bison Love Bites are made with one single ingredient: pasture-raised bison heart. That’s it. Just pure, healthy meat, dehydrated to give it that perfect jerky texture dogs enjoy.
Baked Earth also makes an assortment of real meat protein barks in Chicken, Beef, Pork, and Lamb, for a crunchy jerky treat your dog will love. What’s more, Baked Earth’s meat is all sourced from farms within 10-miles of their Akron, Ohio kitchen! And, a portion of all sales is donated to animal rescue and welfare organizations.
To learn more, visit www.BakedEarthDog.com.
4. Castor & Pollux Good Buddy Jerky Sticks
Castor & Pollux, the folks most famous for their organic and all natural pet foods, created the Good Buddy Jerky Sticks for pet parents looking for a natural, healthy jerky-style treat. Made using rye flour instead of wheat, these treats are particularly good for pets with allergies.
Made with love in the USA, these treats are made with real, USA-sourced beef and all-natural ingredients, no fillers or preservatives.
To learn more, visit www.CastorPolluxPet.com.
For the health and safety of your dog, please, avoid any and all treats, foods, and supplements that are made in, imported from, or that use ingredients sourced from China. Look for brands, like those above, that value your dog’s life and well-being, that create wholesome, healthy products that dog’s love, and that only use locally sourced ingredients.
John Mark
Feb 2, 2015 at 5:02 am
Some Chinese dog foods are very causing serious health issue and death to lot of dogs. We should not buy made in China dog food and should always buy made in USA products. This blog tells us about the good and safe treats which is healthier for dogs.
Pippa Smith
Dec 4, 2014 at 7:03 am
Guys I want to give you an advice before purchasing the beefs of any of famous beef jerky brands. Please check the quality of it. Most of the brands are selling poor quality beefs. That’s why people are facing many problems because of it.
For More : youtube.com/watch?v=YhHyzM_oIMU
Leslie wine
Apr 29, 2014 at 11:19 pm
yes always heard Garlic was toxic. I would leave the garlic out of recipe
Esther
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:51 pm
I give my dogs carrots with a little peanut butter on them as their treats.
They love it.
Nancy
Apr 29, 2014 at 4:40 pm
EASY Turkey or Chicken Treats
1Lb. Ground turkey, low fat
1 cup Oatmeal
Dash or two of powdered garlic if you want
Mix
Spread onto cookie sheet until no more than 1/4″ thick
I prefer them to be on the thinner side
Score into 1 in. squares before baking
Bake 350 until golden brown, around 40-45 min
I will turn the oven off, flip them and return for 20-30
Minutes or so. I like them on the dryer side so that they are not
Greasy or gooey in my hands.
Freeze what you can’t use within a week, refrigerate what is left.
Darlene Ragsdale
Apr 29, 2014 at 8:15 pm
PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT ADD GARLIC. Garlic is deadly for dogs. Do some checking. It can quickly kill you pet.
aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/foods-are-hazardous-dogs
I love making homemade treats..but NEVER will use onion or garlic in anything my dog consumes.
Elaine Gloeckle
Apr 29, 2014 at 11:48 am
I buy American made tubs of jerky from Costco…beef and/or lamb. My dogs will do just about anything for them, and we’ve had no ill effects over the years. I can’t think of the brand name, but they’re in a square tub with blue plastic lid for lamb jerky, red plastic for beef jerky.
Susan Hinzman
Apr 29, 2014 at 1:14 pm
I have bought. Those too, they seem ok!
JodyH
May 2, 2014 at 12:38 pm
I have been buying these too at Costco for a while now. I recently opened up a new tub of the Beef treats and the same week my Chihuahua mix is having stomach and intestinal issues. Could be a coincidence, but I am not giving these to him for a while to see if it makes a difference.
Little L's (@littlelsnyc)
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:08 am
How about our chicken and turkey krak’ems? Delightfully crunchy and more flavorful all-meat all natural dog treats, better than regular jerky and chips! 🙂 get in touch with us on our site littlels.com and we will send you free samples (free shipping, too!)
Sherry
Dec 24, 2013 at 1:14 am
Very Helpful post. People should feed their pets properly! Really enjoyed the reading. Thanks!
Natalie
Dec 23, 2013 at 4:55 am
Before feeding your pets check it very careful.
David
Dec 23, 2013 at 12:41 am
I saw there are many people who gave the bones to their dogs after eating. Please don’t do this and be careful about your pets.
David
Dec 23, 2013 at 12:37 am
I didn’t prefer packed treats for my dogs, basically I used to buy meat from meat shops and my dog love it all the way. I got some more news things from all above post and comments. Thanks for sharing guys.
Jon@Mobile Dog Groomers Adelaide
Dec 17, 2013 at 10:09 pm
I don’t usually buy commercialize treats for my pets as I’m having second thoughts when it comes to the quality. I also do not to patronize treats from china as they are crap.
Pam
Dec 11, 2013 at 12:18 pm
I just do ground turkey no additives and dehydrate and freeze half and keep the other half in the frig-she loves them. But I also make what I call Dog Crack (your pup will do anything for these things). 1 lb. chicken livers undrained, two eggs, 16 oz Jiff Corn Mix (to lighten it up a bit I use 8 oz. which is one box and they come out fine). In a blender add liver and eggs including shell blend until smooth. Pour liver blend in to corn mix and stir completely. Cover jelly roll pan with parchment or waxed paper and spread liver mixture. Back 35 minutes until firm – I turn the oven off and leave overnight. Take a pizza cutter and cut treats any size you like. I get about 100 treats from a batch. I put them in small snack bags then put the bags in a gallon freezer bag. You can take them right out of the freezer and feed them no thawing needed. Must keep refrigerated I usually have a bag in the frig and the rest in the freezer. Bon Appetit!
Christy M
Oct 28, 2013 at 10:03 am
The whole tainted China treats thing scares me! I give my kids organic fruits and vegetables as treats with an occasional Blue Buffalo cookie thrown in for something different.
My 12 y/o GR is allergic to wheat so I’ve got to be really careful with what I give her. Homemade or God-grown are the best and safest!
Leslie wine
Apr 29, 2014 at 11:25 pm
try baby raw carrots my dogs like them..
Mary
Oct 26, 2013 at 12:40 pm
I feed Zukes; all natural, made in the US. No wheat, corn, soy, artificial color or artificial flavors. My dogs go crazy for them. My dogs go crazy for them.
ben
Oct 25, 2013 at 9:59 am
I use chicken or turkey breast. Boil and/or bake. 100% meat and much less expensive than treats made from who knows what. I also feed my dogs canned salmon. I also will give them Hormel oven roasted non-cured turkey breast. It is also easy to make the jerky treats in your oven. Recipes online.
Laura
Oct 25, 2013 at 9:27 am
What about Colorado Naturals? That’s what I changed to after the Dogswell recall.
Linda Johns
Apr 29, 2014 at 2:20 pm
I buy Colorado Naturals for my dogs, too. USA product, and my dogs love them.
Pamela
Oct 25, 2013 at 2:54 am
Beef liver is really cheap. I slice it, and make jerky in the oven, everyone loves it!
Amina
Oct 25, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Oh, that’s a really good idea. My foster dog is allergic to grain, so it makes more sense to use a cheap cut of beef. I bet the butcher at the grocery store would even slice it for me 🙂 Questions:
1.To make jerky in the oven, do you just bake it on a low setting for a long time? (Specs would be greatly appreciated.)
2.And then what, freezer? Or can you keep them in a Tupperware-like container on the counter?
3.Do you think stew beef could be sliced & jerkified, or would the fat content be to high for jerky? (If I go organic with this, stew beef would be cheapest.)
Thanks in advance!
KC Wood
Oct 24, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Home made treats are great but making them can be a mess. So I go to the next best thing with a company who prides herself on high quality ingredients and TLC when preparing these treats. Baked Earth dog treats came from a passion to give her own dogs healthy SAFE treats. It’s not just the “made in china ” to be aware but where the ingredients come from. Buy american ingredients and made here as well!
Suzanne
Oct 24, 2013 at 3:32 pm
Here is an easy recipe for dog jerky that you can make in your oven.
http://yipsonfoods.blogspot.com/2013/09/healthy-treats-for-your-pup.html
Darlene Ragsdale
Oct 24, 2013 at 2:55 pm
I became so leery of the treats made in China quite a while ago and started making my own treats using fresh ground turkey or chicken. It doesn’t take long and is much cheaper. Use one package of ground turkey or chicken, one egg, and then about 1/2 cup whole wheat flour to hold it together.
I just pinch small pieces, place them on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes. Let cool, and freeze in small snack bags to bring out as needed.
The dogs love this better than store bought treats.
Charity
Oct 24, 2013 at 3:17 pm
Thanks, Darlene. That’s the best, easiest, and cheapest way to provide our animal companions with delicious treats.
Actually, Merricks has even had recalls. Also bear in mind that there are treats made in China that are purchased and repurposed for sale as US made. Pet food is not always required to indicate the original source.
I don’t trust anything I haven’t made myself.
Darlene Ragsdale
Oct 24, 2013 at 3:30 pm
I totally agree Charity. I don’t trust the companies, even the US ones that repackage the treats. Milos treats were touted to be made in the USA when they started out (from what I remember-I may be wrong) but I thought they would be OK..then I quit buying them.
I also make some peanut butter biscuite or cheesy biscuits thatI got from Paula Deen. They are totally easy to make and you only use regular household foods.
Gwen
Oct 25, 2013 at 8:50 am
My Nicky also LOVED Milo’s…you are correct some of their chicken WAS traced back to China. It made me trust NONE of them. And Milo’s was not cheapp! Really made me mad that they were just lying!
Dora
Oct 25, 2013 at 9:00 am
Darlene, that is fantastic, thanks for the recipe! At what temperature do you bake them?
Amina
Oct 25, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Would you, by any chance, have a grain free/wheat free version?