Organic Pet Treats

From time to time we have the privilege of trying and testing pet products. The folks at Organic Pet Boutique asked us to sample their Blueberry Energy Snaps dog treats on our pets.

Since the FDA has been saturated with recalls for not only pet food but also pet treats. It has made pet owners all the more concerned on what we are feeding out furry friends. We were more than willing to test a treat that would eliminate the threat of salmonella.

Salmonella is quite unsettling not only for all pets but also for us humans. Pets with salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. Humans exposed can experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.

Organic Pet Boutique did their research to offer an alternative to the majority of pet foods subject to toxic chemicals added by Chinese companies. Finding sites that offered natural products was not really a problem but they were unable to find a site that offered organic food.

Their inspiration to find a good organic product was two-fold. Let me introduce you to Ceasar and Milo.

Ceasar
At the age of five, Ceasar, our black and white male Shih Tzu, was rescued. When he was adopted he had an upper respiratory infection, chronic cough, and he was underweight. After weeks of nursing him back to health he turned into the cutest, happiest and most adorable puppy! He is now a very loving and caring doggie.

Milo
When we first laid eyes on Milo, a three year old tan and white male Shih Tzu, we knew at first sight how he would be a perfect addition to the family and a great playmate for Ceasar. Fortunately he was happy and healthy from day one. However, he enjoyed digging through walls, eating cords, shoes and destroying everything he could reach. After lots of patience and persistence, he turned into a wonderful adult with lots of spunk.

Being a family that understood the benefits of eating organic food, they decided it would be beneficial to feed their pets organic food, too. Organic Pet Boutique was created to offer a wonderful alternative to ‘store bought’ foods and treats that are loaded with additives we are unaware of and can be harmful to our pets.

What is organic food? “Plant ingredients in pet food must be grown without pesticides, artificial fertilizers, genetic modification, irradiation or sewage sludge. Animal ingredients must come from animals raised on organic feed, given access to the outdoors and not treated with antibiotics or hormones.”

If a dog food contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients, the label can say, “Made with Organic Ingredients.” The blueberry treats we received, however, do not seem to meet the requirements to carry the coveted “USDA Organic” label. This category is useful for manufacturers who want to bring a safe, healthy product to market while avoiding the high price of some organic meats and vegetables.

We asked Organic Pet Boutique if they have the “USDA Organic” certification for their pet food and pet treats. Since we didn’t receive a reply, we can only assume they do not?! Or, at the very least, we don’t feel confident saying they do.

That said, we actually adore the treats and feel certain they’re a better choice than some of the mass-produced commercial products out there on the market. With the holidays right around the corner, take the plunge and try getting these treats for your pup’s stocking.

Bottom line . . .
All of the dogs we offered the blueberry energy snaps to came back for seconds. The treats we received were rather small and a bit crumbly, but they really were great for small and medium sized dogs. Our rottweilers were not as thrilled, due to the size of the treats, but they gobbled them up as well.

For larger dogs they’d make great training treats, and we’re guessing that even though they’re a bit crumbly your dog won’t leave a crumb anywhere. Overall, the consensus was unanimous, two thumbs up. Wish we could also give a two thumbs up for the USDA Organic certification. Maybe that’s coming just around the corner for the Organic Pet Boutique!