Treat recommendations for allergies

[Southpaw]

This is probably a long shot because I don't think a commercial treat like this exists lol. BUT...

My dad gives the dogs a Beggin Strip every day. Every single day. And they so look forward to it and go cuckoo bananas when he gets home from work. I've always been okay with this even though I hate his choice of treat, but it's once a day so whatever. HOWEVER with Juno's allergy problems I am starting to crack down on her food, I don't even know if her issue is food related but why not address that aspect? This weekend I switched her kibble over to Nutrisca - low-glycemic, grain free, potato free. I want a treat that matches.

In case we need a refresher on the yuck that is Beggin Strips, these are the ingredients:

Ground wheat, corn gluten meal, wheat flour, ground yellow corn, sugar, water, glycerin, dried cheese powder, meat, soybean meal, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, bacon fat preserved with BHA, salt, sorbic acid (a preservative), artificial flavor, calcium propionate (a preservative), glyceryl monostearate, phosphoric acid, choline chloride, added color (red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 2).

I need a commercial treat because, well... this is my dad we're talking about. He just wants to go into the Dog Cabinet, grab a treat and toss it to her. No refrigeration and I don't really want to have to "prepare" something for him to give her. I don't think the protein source matters. I really want like, as few ingredients as possible.... no grains. No potatoes. But I don't want to spend $20 on a small bag, either (because of course, even though he has always bought the Beggin Strips, he is not going to enable my craziness by buying extra treats haha).

Oh yeah my dad's other criteria is that it be something "substantial" in size ie, nothing the size of a Zukes Mini.

I ended up running and buying some Plato Salmon Strips just so he had something to give. They seem awesome other than the fact that they contain brown rice, which maybe she tolerates just fine, but I don't know that so I'd rather cut out grain completely.

Salmon, brown rice, salt, zinc propionate, mixed tocopherols (a natural preservative), citric acid, rosemary extract, vitamin E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2phosphate (a source of vitamin C)

Any other suggestions?? See, it doesn't exist.

 

[Lyzelle]

What about dehydrated stuff? Like the chicken jerky and PureBites stuff?

I give PureBites to Zander all the time, and they have nothing in them except the meat or cheese or whatever the flavor is.. They have a Chicken one, a Beef Liver one, Cheese etc, etc. You can get them at Petco, too.

http://www.petco.com/product/109506/PureBites-Natural-Freeze-Dried-Dog-Treats.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

Zander goes banana's for the Beef Liver. And it's a pretty decent size.

 

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

Do they need to be soft? Or can they be a biscuit-like treat?

The Nature's Variety Instinct biscuits are decent-sized, and they're grain-free. If you're looking for something tastier...the Diggin Your Dog treats, or the True Chews treats.

 

[Southpaw]

Softer is better. I have a stash of biscuits that I give them at bedtime but he doesn't want to use those I am not the picky one in this scenario lol.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll have to make note of them and check them out

 

[MisssAshby]

I like the Pure Bites as well as the Whole Life treats, but they can be pricey.

Do you have a dehydrator? If so, what about just dehydrating your own chicken/beef, etc? We have a dehydrator, but I think the dogs use it more than we do, so easy to make stuff.

 

[Saeleofu]

Something freeze dried or jerkified sounds like the best option.

Menards has bacon jerky for humans. I'm not sure what the ingredients are or just how terrible it is. I'm not above giving human jerky to my dogs on occasion.

 

[Southpaw]

I like the Pure Bites as well as the Whole Life treats, but they can be pricey.

Do you have a dehydrator? If so, what about just dehydrating your own chicken/beef, etc? We have a dehydrator, but I think the dogs use it more than we do, so easy to make stuff.

I don't.... but I am pretty sure one of my friends does so maybe I can just mooch off her lol. But that would be nice and maybe more economical. And maybe it would mean we could get rid of the Beggin Strips altogether - I mean, surely my dad would feel way more awesome giving them REAL beef or chicken?? lol.

Menards has bacon jerky for humans. I'm not sure what the ingredients are or just how terrible it is. I'm not above giving human jerky to my dogs on occasion.

Hahaha that's actually clever. I wouldn't be above that either buuuuuut something tells me the ingredient list is not going to fit the needs of my allergy butthead.