Pet owners are beginning to pay more attention to the ingredients in their dog's food and dog treats. One of the most controversial ingredients found in almost all dog food products is grain. Some experts say it's beneficial for canine nutrition, while others say that all dogs should eat a grain-free diet. Whether your dog needs to eat grain-free for medical reasons or you just prefer to feed him the best grain-free dog treats, here's something you need to know about it.
I think we can all agree that holistic, human-grade, organic dog foods are best for our pets in most cases. Not only that but there's also research saying that grain-free dog treats are healthier for your dog than doggy snacks that include a lot of grains.
Usually, you shouldn't make the decision about which diet is best for your dog on your own and instead ask the experts. Your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist can help you select a dog food diet that will give Fido the nutrients he needs while catering to any health conditions that he may have. This is especially true when picking out things like grain.
We'll be covering the advantages and disadvantages of seven of the best grain-free dog treats to see which ones are most appropriate for most canines. Below you can see our and other buyers' reviews for these seven treat brands:
| Grain-Free Dog Treats | Price | Quality | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Honest Kitchen Beams | $$ | A+ | 4.4/5 |
| Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dog Treats | $ | B | 4.4/5 |
| Buddy Biscuits Grain-Free Treats | $ | B+ | 4.4/5 |
| Wilderness Blue Buffalo Dog Treats | $ | B | 4.6/5 |
| Wellness Puppy Bites Natural Grain-Free Treats | $ | A | 4.5/5 |
| Hill's Science Diet Grain-Free Dog Treats | $ | A+ | 4.6/5 |
| Wellness Core Marrow Roasts Natural Grain-Free Treats | $ | B+ | 4.4/5 |
* Click on the best grain-free dog treats for more information, prices and details. Scroll below to read reviews
Before switching your dog to a grain-free diet or just grain-free treats for dogs, you need to discuss the transition with your veterinarian to avoid complications. Normally, if you're not interested in switching your dog's food and full diet, the best grain-free dog treats are a great way to add nutritional benefits to your pet's diet without switching his kibble.
One thing that's important to note is that grains and gluten are not the same things. Oftentimes people interchange the two, but if avoiding gluten is important to you, then remember that not all grain-free dog treats will be gluten-free. However, grain sensitivity is much more common in dogs than gluten sensitivity (which is very rare) but be sure to distinguish between the two when gathering information from your vet.
What are the Best Grain-Free Dog Treats?
top 7 nutritious grain-free treats for dogs
1 The Honest Kitchen Beams
The Honest Kitchen Beams grain-free treats for dogs have a single ingredient, and that is 100% human-grade wild-caught catfish skins from Iceland’s Atlantic waters. It is processed using a slow dehydrating process to retain its natural goodness and nutrients, and packaged by a US manufacturer for distribution.
It’s an excellent source of lean protein and Omega 3 essential fatty acids. It is low on fat and grain-free. The Beams are packaged in four different sizes from 3.25 ounces to 7 ounces.
- Grain-free dog treat reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
These delicious catfish skin treats are thin and crunchy, which makes them a perfect alternative to thick rawhide dog treats. They can be cut into smaller pieces easily to ensure that pups don’t choke on a large one accidentally. Many prefer The Honest Kitchen Beams for their smaller breed dogs and puppies and for senior dogs that might be too old to vigorously chew on tougher types of treats.
This also turns out to be gentler on queasy tummies since there’s a single ingredient in there and that should make it easier to digest. Some pet owners find the smell too fishy for comfort; their dogs, however, don’t seem to mind it. They eagerly chomp on their fish chews as their life depended on it. Their humans concede and admit that, indeed, their pets look happier and healthier with their treat.
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Most helpful review about these grain free dog treats: “I have two dogs – one with severe allergies who only tolerates fish protein. I purchased these chews so she could have some treats as she can't have Greenies anymore. Well, the dog I bought the treats for isn't fond of them (hence one star off), but my other..…”
2 Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Treats
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dog Treats (LIT) promise an enjoyable chewing experience for your furry friend. The treats come in the form of small tasty and crispy biscuits. They are easy to chew and will not cause choking or teeth fragmentation because of excessively tough treats. These are also some of the best grain-free dog treats for pups with allergies, indigestion, and skin problems.
These grain-free doggy biscuits come in 8-oz, 14-oz, and 28-oz packs of the Sweet Potato & Fish recipe. Other variants include Sweet Potato & Chicken, Sweet Potato & Duck, Sweet Potato & Venison, and Brown Rice & Lamb Meal.
- Grain-free dog treat reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Many pet owners have been buying this for their pets as a treat and as an addition to their diet. Their dogs love this high-protein treat, and Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dog Treats have not caused the usual maladies they have experienced from other treats. Indigestion, allergies, flatulence, and loose stool were quite common in previous treat types and brands, so they find no reason to go back to their old treats or find other treats.
Since this brand offers several variants, they’re able to switch to the other flavors every now and then. The dogs seem to like the variation, and their humans are assured of the same great quality in the biscuits and of the retained enthusiasm in their pets.
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3Buddy Biscuits Grain-Free Treats
If your dog is experiencing stomach upset, skin allergies, or any other symptom of grain intolerance, you may want to switch to Buddy Biscuits Grain-Free Treats. These are oven-baked biscuits, made from real peanut butter and other natural ingredients. These biscuits are fairly low on calories and fats and are perfect for dogs with weight problems or skin problems.
- Grain-free dog treat reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Small pups and older dogs are avid fans of the Buddy Biscuits Grain-Free Treats, and they enjoy chomping on these soft and chewy delights. It could be that these are gentler on their gums and teeth than their previous treats were. Pets also seem to find the peanut butter taste so irresistible. Pet owners who dislike the smell of some fishy or meaty treats they used to give their pets are now doubly happy that their pooches are taking well to these tasty-smelling chews instead.
Better still, these are made in the good old USA, and dog owners would always opt for foodstuff that’s made by reliable manufacturers. More than anything else, they have observed that irritations and tummy problems on their dogs have been remarkably reduced after only a few weeks on these treats.
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4 Wilderness Blue Buffalo Treats
Now here’s one of the best grain-free dog treats for those picky meat-loving dogs. They have this innate love for meat, just like their ancestors did. Wilderness treats from Blue Buffalo feed on this natural craving. The company has come up with a dog treat that’s mainly meat.
These grain-free treats for dogs are made from healthy and protein-rich ingredients like chicken, duck, turkey, or salmon. It also contains flaxseed which is a great source of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. No grains or other fillers were used to bulk up these treats, hence, they are more suitable for dogs allergic to gluten and grains.
- Grain-free dog treat reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Wilderness Blue Buffalo dog treats are a proud product of the USA and are available in four sizes. Buyers say the salmon biscuit trail variant especially gets their dogs’ tails wagging, even for the pickiest eaters. They say that this alone gives them all the more reason to buy Wilderness Blue Buffalo Dog Treats.
Some complain that these biscuits are too crumbly and that they turn to dust at the bottom of the bag, but others have a creative way of this. Instead of throwing crumbs away and wasting premium food, they pour it on top of their dog’s meal and get an instant yummy food topper instead.
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5 Wellness Puppy Bites Natural Grain Free Puppy Training Treats
These are actually two of the best grain-free dog treats. Wellness Natural Pet Food makes these treats in Soft Lamb & Salmon and Crunchy Chicken & Carrots recipes. These are bite-sized treats that are perfect snacks between meals or rewards for good behavior during training.
These popular grain-free pet treats are made from high quality, premium salmon, lamb meat, and chicken, superfoods like blueberries and sweet potatoes, and omega-rich flaxseed. The chicken and carrot variant is crispy, while the lamb and salmon variant is soft and chewy. This is a product of the USA and is covered by a guarantee.
- Grain-free dog treat reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Puppies below 1-year-old need to chew, but they’d need something that will not hurt their gums or damage their teeth. Pet owners found Wellness Puppy Bites Natural Grain Free Puppy Training Treats to be the perfect treat for their pets. These turned out to be just the right size, softness, texture, taste, and digestibility.
These are so naturally wholesome that dogs given these treats did not experience irritation or any stomach issue, did not gain unnecessary pounds, and had a healthy-looking coat. Pet owners attribute this to the treat’s nourishing benefits and the fact that it does not contain grains and filler, meat byproducts, and other dubious ingredients.
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6 Hill's Science Diet Grain-Free Treats
These treats look so mouth-watering you’d think they were for humans. Hill’s believes that dogs deserve only wholesome food and treats, and there’s no reason why dogs should be deprived of healthy and top-quality food that is processed to the highest standards.
The main ingredient in these best grain-free dog treats is premium chicken meat, and they also contain apples. It does not contain grains, gluten, or artificial ingredients. These X-shaped and textured treats are suitable as chews and as an added source of protein.
- Grain-free dog treat reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
The treats are made in small sizes so dispensing is very controllable. This is definitely a prudent choice for pet owners who are watching their dog’s weight or feeding this to smaller types of dogs. There’s no need to cut the treat because one piece is perfect for a small dog. Bigger dogs could be given several pieces. Thus, a household with multiple pet dogs need not buy a different treat for each one – Hill's Science Diet Grain-Free Dog Treats are perfect for all of them.
Unlike some treats, this doesn’t have a stinky smell, is not greasy, and does not cause allergies or stomach upset. It’s a winner among dogs, and even the most finicky pooches find this hard to resist. There’s another recipe, the Turkey variant, which contains real turkey meat and cranberries. It’s a great alternative if you want to keep your dog guessing about his or her next treat. It makes things more interesting but still adheres to the same quality and reliability.
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7 Wellness Core Marrow Roasts Natural Treats
These treats look like short and plump cylindrical biscuits, stuffed with real beef marrow in the middle. This protein-packed treat is baked to crunchy goodness and satisfying fullness that makes it enjoyable to the last bit. There are two recipes available – Hearty Beef and Savory Turkey.
The ingredients in these natural best grain-free treats for dogs include quality ingredients like beef, bone marrow, chicken fat, sweet potatoes, ground peas, flaxseed, and herb extracts. It does not contain wheat, gluten, corn, soy, and artificial flavor or color.
- Grain-free dog treat reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
They are made in the USA and are covered by quality assurance and satisfaction guarantee. Pet owners noticed that it’s not greasy, which is good. No one wants oily marks on carpets or a greasy feel left on the hand after dispensing. Wellness Core Marrow Roasts Natural Grain Free Dog Treats go through baking or roasting, so the process sort of dries it's outer part. It has ingeniously combined two textures that keep pets wagging their tail – it’s crispy on the outside, yet softy and deep-flavored on the inside.
Picky dogs and those chronically reacting to a lot of things and ingredients do very well on these treats, so their owners are keeping extra bags of these in the dog pantry. The portions are just the right size and not so crumbly. When a piece does crumble into pieces on the floor, the dog cleans it up in a blink of an eye. So it’s safe to say that either the dog realizes the crumb is so delicious to let it go to waste, or the biscuit’s not messy at all.
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