It doesn’t get any simpler than a single ingredient in dog treats. What you see is what you get. With only one ingredient, your dog can get human-grade, grain-free treats in a variety of forms and food types. These natural options can be made of common meats like chicken breast, turkey, beef, pork, and lamb, or more exotic meats like rabbit, duck, alligator, venison, bison, and even kangaroo.

Vegetable and fruit options can include things like sweet potatoes, bananas, apples, carrots, and pumpkins. There are also fish options that can be a great natural source
of omega-6 fatty acids.

Single-ingredient treats can come in various forms. Many meats and fish are dehydrated into a jerky treat that gives dogs both a great flavor and a fun texture for chewing, so the treat lasts a little longer. Fruits and vegetables can also be dehydrated into a stable, delicious dog treat.

Any ingredient can also be freeze-dried to make treats. Freeze drying involves quickly freezing food, allowing the water to be removed by first converting ice into vapor and removing the moisture from the processing environment. A significant advantage of this process is that treats can be made from raw ingredients, including meats.
The World of Limited-Ingredient Treats

While there are no set regulations about how many ingredients can be in dog food or treats to be considered “limited,” it’s generally accepted that food or treats with just a handful of ingredients, as opposed to a long list of ingredients that reads like a novel, is considered a limited ingredient product.

Limited-ingredient treats tend to come in either crunchy or soft varieties. They can contain any of the same simple ingredients as single-ingredient dog treats, but of course, there are more of them. They often come with a single protein, sometimes a single carbohydrate, and many are grain-free.

Limited-ingredient dog treats, like single-ingredient treats, are designed to be a more healthy and nutritionally transparent treat for dogs than some of the more traditional, highly processed treats from the past when it was rare for anyone to check the ingredient label on anything they were buying for their pets.
Single vs. Limited Ingredient Treats: A Nutritional Showdown

While simplicity is important when it comes to dog treats, another big takeaway is that every ingredient matters. One could argue that single-ingredient treats are healthier because they don’t have any bad stuff like fillers or artificial flavors, but nutrition is nutrition. You can also find limited-ingredient dog treats that only have healthy ingredients.

It’s all about knowing what to look for and what to avoid. It’s crucial to avoid preservatives like butylated hydroxyanisole, as well as corn syrup, white flour, rendered fat, and nitrates. Seek out treats with only meats, fruits, vegetables, and healthy carbohydrates.

Whether you choose a single- or limited-ingredient treat, your dog will be better off than if you feed them treats with a ton of ingredients. It’s also important to remember that dog treats are usually not meant to be nutritional supplements. Your dog should be getting their daily allowance of nutrition from their normal diet, so treats should just be made from things that can be a bonus for your pup without throwing off the balance of their diet.