Let’s be real, most of us would do almost anything to see that tail-wagging excitement when we pull out a treat for our furry companions. Those puppy dog eyes are nearly impossible to resist. Treats help with training, strengthen bonds, and honestly, they make us feel like great pet parents.
Here’s the thing though. Not every treat sitting on those colorful store shelves deserves a spot in your shopping cart. Some of the most popular options that dogs absolutely go crazy for can actually land them in the emergency vet’s office. I’m talking about treats that cause choking, intestinal blockages, contamination scares, and a whole lot of distress for both pets and their humans. The statistics from recent years are genuinely sobering when you start looking at recalls and reported incidents.
So what should you actually watch out for?
Rawhide Chews
Rawhide chews pose two main concerns: potential for choking or intestinal tract blockage, and contamination with chemicals or bacteria, according to veterinary experts. These treats have been household staples for decades, but the risks are becoming harder to ignore. Strong chewers may be able to break off large chunks that can pose a choking hazard or cause an intestinal blockage if swallowed, and both scenarios are potentially life-threatening.
The digestibility issue is particularly worrying. Digestive enzymes of the stomach are unable to break down this material successfully, and often rawhide will travel through the gastrointestinal system intact or in large undigested pieces, which may result in obstruction, choking, or digestive upset. Some rawhide treats contain chemicals like hydrogen peroxide, bleach or artificial flavorings, which can be harmful to dogs if ingested in large quantities. The manufacturing process matters enormously, yet consumers rarely know the full story behind what they’re purchasing.
Most veterinarians recommend avoiding rawhide or pressed chews altogether. Still, if you do decide to offer them, supervision becomes absolutely critical every single time.
Pig Ear Treats
Pig ears might look harmless and dogs seem to adore them, yet these treats have caused some truly alarming public health crises. 154 people infected with outbreak strains of Salmonella were reported from 34 states, and of 133 ill people with available information, 35 (26%) were hospitalized during a 2019 outbreak linked directly to pig ear treats. That wasn’t a small isolated incident either.
Testing of pig ear treats identified the outbreak strains of Salmonella in 135 samples, and some of the pig ear treats were imported from Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia. What makes this particularly disturbing is that humans got sick simply from handling these treats or living in homes where dogs consumed them. High-fat foods can cause gastrointestinal upset, as well as pancreatitis (which can be fatal for some dogs), adding another layer of danger beyond contamination concerns.
Even in 2025, recalls continue. Supercan Bulk of Miami, Florida recalled one lot of pig ear slivers in April 2025 after samples collected in March 2025 tested positive for Salmonella. The pattern keeps repeating itself across multiple suppliers and countries.
Greenies and Dental Chews
Dental chews like Greenies market themselves as the responsible choice for oral health. They’re vet-approved by certain councils and seem like a no-brainer for concerned pet owners. The controversy began in the early 2000s when several reports emerged indicating that dogs had suffered from intestinal blockages, choking, and digestive issues after consuming Greenies. The company reformulated their product after those incidents, making them supposedly more digestible.
Yet problems haven’t disappeared entirely. Greenies can cause intestinal blockages, especially if large pieces are swallowed whole instead of being chewed properly, and the product is designed to break down during chewing, but if it’s ingested in large chunks, it may become lodged in the intestines. Some dogs simply don’t follow instructions. They’re excited, they gulp, and suddenly you’re facing a veterinary emergency.
Veterinarians and pet owners are alarmed by reports of gastrointestinal obstructions and choking concerns, as dogs have occasionally ingested big pieces without properly chewing them. The improved formula helps, certainly, but supervision and knowing your individual dog’s eating habits matters more than any reformulation ever could.
Cooked Bones
This one surprises absolutely no one who’s spoken to a vet, yet cooked bones remain shockingly common in households. The image of a dog happily gnawing on a bone feels timeless and natural. Dogs should never have chicken bones of any kind, and cooked chicken bones are especially dangerous as they splinter easily into sharp fragments that can cause serious internal injuries. That leftover chicken carcass or turkey bone from dinner? It’s genuinely hazardous.
The cooking process makes bones more brittle, increasing the likelihood they might splinter and cause internal injury. Think about the physics here. Heat changes the bone’s structure completely, turning what might have been somewhat pliable into something that shatters into dagger-like shards. Chicken bones become brittle when cooked, easily breaking into dangerous fragments, and these sharp pieces can tear tissues in the mouth, throat, stomach, or intestines.
The FDA issued warnings specifically addressing this. A veterinarian in the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine stated that bones are unsafe no matter what their size, and giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for emergency surgery, or even death. Pretty definitive language from an official source.
Treats with Artificial Additives and Meat By-Products
Walk down any pet store aisle and you’ll spot brightly colored treats loaded with vague ingredient lists. Some brands market treats as containing colors from natural ingredients only, yet artificial dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 are listed right on the ingredient label. Many pet nutrition experts specifically warn against these synthetic additives, yet they remain prevalent in popular brands.
Studies show that four out of five owners give their dogs treats regularly, with biscuits, chews, and dental snacks being among the most popular. When you’re buying in bulk or grabbing what’s convenient, ingredient scrutiny often falls by the wayside. Treats can lead to digestive upset, allergies, weight gain, or even contribute to long-term health issues if they’re not chosen carefully or given in excess.
The real concern comes from cumulative exposure. One treat with questionable additives probably won’t cause immediate harm. But years of daily consumption? That’s a different story entirely. Reading labels becomes non-negotiable when you’re thinking long-term health rather than just immediate satisfaction.
What’s your take on these common treats? Have you experienced issues with any of them, or do you stick to alternatives? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
