Common Pet Treat Myths: What Every Pet Parent Should Actually Know

August 13, 2026

Go ahead. Walk into any pet store and you will find shelves lined with treats promising to be natural, healthy, premium, wholesome, functional and everything good under the sun.

The word overwhelming is an understatement.

But how much of that actually tells you whether a treat is a good choice for your dog or cat?

The category of pet treats has evolved into a much larger slice of the pet food industry, and with that has come a ton of new information, misinformation and misleading marketing language.

At Naked Beasts, we believe choosing a treat should start with understanding what is actually in it and knowing the people (or corporations) behind the brand.

So instead of focusing on hot marketing buzzwords, let’s take a closer look at six common pet treat myths and what you should actually consider when choosing treats for your dog or cat.

Photo Credits: @ab.curlybrothers 2026

Myth 1: Natural automatically means healthy

The word natural sounds reassuring. But natural is not a nutritional category.

A treat can hold some natural components as well as some unnatural ones, alongside being very calorie dense, containing a significant amount of fat and carbohydrates or simply not be appropriate for every pet.

This does not mean that naturally labelled treats are bad. It only means that the word itself does not tell you enough.

The better question is what is actually natural about the product and what ingredients are you getting?

Consider a single ingredient treat comprised of an individual whole fish. You can identify this food immediately. You know the animal source and you can innately understand what you are giving to your pet.

Compare that with a product where the word natural is prominently displayed on the package but the ingredient list contains a long combination of meats, starches, flavorings and other ingredients.

The marketing claim may sound similar, but the two products in question couldn't be any further from one another.

What actually matters

Look beyond the flashy front advertising of the package.

Go to the fine print ingredients list.

Identify the protein source. Is it a meal or byproduct? That matters.

Consider the processing method. Is it freeze dried, dehydrated, smoked, or baked at scorching high heats?

Think about whether the treat makes sense for your individual pet. Could this pose as a nondigestible choking hazard?

There is nothing wrong with choosing natural treats. We simply believe you should know exactly what natural means in the context of the product you are buying.

Myth 2: Freeze dried is always healthier than dehydrated (and Vice Versa)

Freeze dried and dehydrated treats are often placed into a simple hierarchy, with freeze dried automatically being considered the better option.

The reality is more nuanced.

Freeze drying and dehydration are two different ways of removing moisture from food.

Freeze drying starts with frozen food. Under controlled conditions, moisture is removed through sublimation.

Dehydration uses controlled heat and airflow to remove moisture.

Both methods can create shelf stable convenient treats from quality ingredients.

While the processing method is important, it is not the only thing that determines the quality of the finished treat.

Again, visualize yourself comparing two treats.

One is dehydrated made from a high quality animal protein with a simple ingredient list.

The other is freeze dried but begins with a highly processed mixture containing numerous ingredients.

Simply seeing the words freeze dried on the second package does not automatically make it the better choice.

For us, the ingredients always comes first.

Another important detail

Removing water concentrates food. With dehydration, it also visibly shrinks it.

That means a small amount of dried treats can represent considerably more mass of the original food than its current size suggests.

These nutritious treats may contribute meaningful calories, vitamins and minerals and might pack way more of a nutrient dense punch than you might expect.

Keep in mind that a little bit can go a very long way with both freeze dried and dehydrated treats.

So instead of asking whether freeze dried is healthier than dehydrated or vice versa, ask yourself a better question.

What total ingredients are being preserved, how is it being processed and how does it fit into my pet’s overall diet?

That is a much more useful way to evaluate your treat selections.

Myth 3: Exotic proteins are just a marketing gimmick

When people see proteins like venison, rabbit, bison, elk, wild boar or camel, you might be tempted to assume that they exist simply to make a product seem more exciting.

We all know by now, there is definitely no shortage of creative marketing within the pet industry.

BUT alternative proteins do carry a legitimate place in pet nutrition.

Dogs and cats do not need to limit themselves to the same two or three proteins for their entire lives. Different animal proteins have different nutritional characteristics, flavors and textures.

Protein variety can also give pet parents more options when trying to find treats that work particularly well for an individual animal, especially those suffering with specific food allergies.

There is another benefit that is often overlooked. Novel proteins can also make your pet's otherwise monotonous life more interesting and exciting! And yes, that absolutely matters too.

Dogs and cats experience the world and their food through smell, taste and texture. Offering different proteins can provide some sensory variety without requiring you to change much of your pet’s everyday routine or diet.

Consider it an easy built in enrichment characteristic!

But rare and uncommon does not automatically mean better

This is also important.

We do not believe any single protein source is better simply because it is novel or exotic.

Camel is not better than beef.

Rabbit is not better than turkey.

Venison is not better than chicken.

The value is in having choices and variety.

The best protein is one that is appropriate for your individual pet, fits into their overall diet, your budget and is something they enjoy.

That is why we value having the widest range of animal proteins (+ fruits and veggies) at your treat giving disposal.

Myth 4: All animal parts are more or less the same

Protein is not simply protein.

Muscle meat, liver, heart, cartilage, bone and other organs are not interchangeable.

Just as different animals provide different nutritional profiles, different tissues from the same animal can also be very nutritionally different.

This is especially true when it comes to organ meats.

Organ meats are naturally rich in vitamins and minerals and will present a far denser nutritional profile than that of any typical muscle meat.

This is why we believe foods from each individual animal part should be treated uniquely as its own apart from one another.

The portioning should be minded as well depending on its type.

Rotation is key

Rotating proteins and parts can give your pet the best chance at exploring and balancing different smells, flavors, textures and nutritional profiles.

Your dog might enjoy beef one day and mahi mahi another.

Your cat that loves fish might enjoy different varieties of fish rather than eating the same exact species every single time.

Understanding your full arsenal of choices allows you to make more thoughtful decisions.

Myth 5: Fish is only useful if your pet has a skin or coat problem

Fish treats are often associated with a desire for shiny coats and healthy skin.

While there is truth behind that association, it is an incomplete picture.

Certain marine fish are naturally rich in omega 3 fatty acids, including EPA and DHA.

These fatty acids carry out several important roles throughout the entire body, not solely for the job of making a coat look soft and shiny.

It can bring down inflammation and itch while also relieving joint pain and stiffness commonly linked to arthritis.

That said, supplementing with fish should not be expected to replace a complete and balanced diet or serve as a substitute for veterinary care when a pet has a medical condition.

Fish is also about protein variety

Different fish also have different nutritional profiles.

Sardines, mackerel, smelt, pollock and other fish are not identical foods.

Their size, species, fat content and nutritional composition can differ.

Just another reason why we think varying marine proteins is an important consideration to any pet treat rotation. What they offer is unlike that of any land or air/flight based proteins.

Myth 6: A treat is just a reward and should not really matter nutritionally

This might be the most important myth of all.

Treats are often mentally separated from food. We tend to think of meals as nutrition and treats as something extra.

At Naked Beasts, we don't make that distinction, and neither does your pet.

We focus exclusively on whole food ingredients where our treats may in fact be the healthiest and nutrient dense thing your animal eats all week.

If your dog receives several treats throughout each day, those treats are ultimately a portion of your dog's daily diet.

The same is true for cats.

That means the ingredients in those treats should definitely matter as well as portion size.

A small indulgent treat may seem insignificant, but several heavy calorie, low nutrient treats every day can add up.

This is why we offer foods that ultimately support the health of your pet, rather than compromise it.

Treats can still be fun

Understanding the nutritional role of treats does not mean treats have to become boring or joyless.

Quite the opposite.

Treats CAN be a part of training, enrichment, dental care, bonding and everyday life with your pet.

We want it to be something special you reach for when your dog does something amazing.

An alluring sound that makes your cat sprint into the kitchen.

They can also simply be a small moment of connection between you and your animal.

The point is not to stop giving treats.

It's to make sure the treats you choose are mindful and count for something.

Photo Credits: @thehandicapablepack 2026

So what should you actually look for?

There is no single ingredient or processing method that makes a treat perfect for every dog or cat.

Instead, look at the bigger picture.

Start with the ingredient.

Ask yourself whether you can identify the primary protein.

Consider how the ingredient was processed.

Think about the size of the treat and how many you are giving.

Consider whether different proteins or types could provide useful variety.

And most importantly, consider your individual pet.

A large, young and active dog has completely different needs from a small senior dog.

Cats have different nutritional requirements from dogs.

An animal with a known food sensitivity will require a very different approach from an animal that happily tolerates a wide range of proteins.

As with almost all things in pet ownership, there is no one size fits all answer.

Why we keep things simple at Naked Beasts

We believe pet parents deserve to know what they are feeding.

That sounds simple, but it is surprisingly easy to lose sight of when there are so many products competing for your attention. You do not need to chase every new trend or assume that the most expensive package is automatically the best.

We would rather start with the ingredient than start with the marketing.

Real animal proteins.

Recognizable ingredients.

Thoughtful processing.

A variety of proteins and textures.

And enough transparency that you can make your own decision about what belongs in your pet’s treat rotation.

We do not believe every treat needs to make a complicated promise.

It is the one you understand, the one that makes sense for your pet and the one you feel good about giving.

Because our pets deserve more than a treat that simply looks good on a shelf.

They deserve pure ingredients worth getting excited about.

And that simplicity is exactly what we love about real food.