Dried dog treats: what they're made of and which to choose
Advice · · Topstein
Beef heart, aorta, trachea or tendon: the names of dried treats sound like something from a butcher’s shop. That’s exactly the point. Each one is a single ingredient, so you know right away what you’re giving your dog. Topstein has 26 of them, plus 5 Stripes meat strips. Here’s an overview of what they’re made of and how to choose.
What they’re made of and where
Dried treats have just one item in their composition, for example “Beef heart 100%”. They contain no grains, preservatives, colourings or flavourings. They are made in Poland.
Stripes meat strips are made in Italy. They contain 99% fish or meat, in four of the five with by-products too, and 1% salmon oil. Turkey Stripes, for example, have 59% turkey meat, 40% turkey by-products (offal, cartilage, bones) and 1% salmon oil.
What’s what
The aorta is the main artery, the trachea carries air to the lungs, the gullet connects the throat to the stomach, and a tendon connects muscle to bone. The heart is a muscular organ, and tripe is the rumen, part of a cow’s stomach.
How to choose
| What you’re after | Treats |
|---|---|
| Very long chewing | Dried Beef Skin, Dried Beef Tendon |
| A harder treat for long chewing | Dried Beef Aorta, Dried Beef Cartilage, Dried Beef Gullet, Dried Pig Snouts, Dried Pork Ear Bases |
| Long chewing | Dried Beef Trachea, Dried Beef Ear, Dried Pig Ear |
| Something crunchy | Dried Beef Lung, Dried Beef Intestine, Dried Pork Intestine |
| A softer treat | Dried Beef Udder |
| A reward in training | Dried Beef Liver, Dried Beef, Beef Stripes, Fish Stripes |
| A strong taste and smell | Dried Beef Tripe |
| A smaller treat | Dried Rabbit Ears |
A beef ear is larger than a pig ear, so your dog chews it for longer. A Stripes strip is easy to break into smaller pieces, so it works well in training. Thanks to their size, rabbit ears suit small breeds and cats too.
Treats for cats
Ten of the 31 treats are for both dogs and cats: Dried Beef Liver, Dried Beef, Dried Beef Lung, Dried Beef Heart, Dried Lamb Skin, Dried Rabbit Skin, Dried Rabbit Ears, Dried Chicken Necks, Dried Sardines and Dried Herring. The rest are for dogs only.
How to give them
A treat is a reward, not a meal. All of them are complementary pet food, so they don’t replace daily food. With Stripes strips, stick to no more than 10–30 g a day. Always make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water.
Store dried treats in a dry, dark place and Stripes strips at room temperature.
If your vet has recommended a specific diet, stick to their advice.
You’ll find the full range here: treats for dogs and treats for cats.