The Ugly Truth About Dog Treats: What Most Brands Don’t Want You to Know

The Ugly Truth About Dog Treats: What Most Brands Don’t Want You to Know

When you see “chicken-flavored” treats or “vitamin-enriched” chews on store shelves, it’s easy to assume they’re healthy. After all, if it’s marketed for dogs, it must be safe… right?

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most dog treats on the market are made with cheap fillers, artificial flavors, and ingredients your dog’s body doesn’t even recognize – let alone benefit from.

At Tail, we set out to change that.

In this post, we’re pulling back the curtain on what really goes into pet treats – and why ours are built completely differently.

1. Most Dog Treats Are 90% Fillers – and 0% Functional

Flip the bag over. If the first ingredients are things like wheat flour, corn syrup, or “animal by-products,” you’re looking at filler-heavy junk.

These ingredients:

  • Offer little to no nutritional value

  • Can trigger allergies or sensitivities

  • Are cheap to produce – and that’s the point

Our treats? Made with real, functional ingredients. Every chew delivers real benefits – whether it’s joint support, immunity, or gut health.

2. “Natural Flavor” Isn’t What You Think It Is

You’ll see it everywhere: natural chicken flavor, natural beef taste.

But “natural flavor” is a loophole term. It can legally include:

  • Hydrolyzed animal tissue

  • Chemical solvents

  • Flavoring agents not found in nature

Tail uses real meat and herbal infusions – not mystery flavor dust.

3. Vitamins Don’t Work If They’re Low-Grade or Heat-Damaged

Many brands claim to add vitamins – but most are added as cheap isolates during high-heat processing. The result?

  • Poor absorption

  • Destroyed potency

  • Labels that sound healthy… but don’t deliver

Our vitamin blends are human-grade, added gently after baking, and chosen for maximum bioavailability. That means your dog actually absorbs what we put in.

4. Texture Matters – and Most Brands Fake It

Ever wonder why some treats are oddly rubbery or crumbly? It’s often due to:

  • Gums and thickeners (like xanthan or guar gum)

  • Glycerin (a sugary humectant that can irritate digestion)

  • Modified starches to mimic texture

We keep it clean. Tail treats are naturally soft and chewy because we use whole ingredients and balance moisture with care.

5. Most Treats Are Made for Profit – Not Pets

Let’s be real: most brands care more about margins than your pet’s health.

They:

  • Outsource to giant co-manufacturers

  • Use the cheapest bulk ingredients

  • Cut corners in quality control

Tail? We formulate, test, and produce in-house. We craft every batch like it’s going to our own dogs – because it is.

Conclusion: If It’s Not Built for Health, It’s Just Empty Calories

Your dog deserves better than mystery meat and filler-packed snacks. At Tail, every treat is a small but mighty tool for real wellness.

So the next time you reach for a bag of “fun-shaped” chews, ask yourself:

Is this doing something for my dog – or just to them?

👉 Want to see what real, functional treats can do?
Check out our science-backed, vitamin-powered chews – made for energy, balance, and wag-worthy wellness.
[Shop now]

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