THE REFERENCE SHELF
Label notes
A treat is not automatically a complete and balanced meal
Read the product’s intended purpose and nutritional-adequacy wording. A bag labeled treat or snack should not be assumed to replace a complete and balanced dog or cat food.
Freeze-dried does not mean you can skip handling instructions
Freeze drying describes a process, not a universal safety certificate. Read the exact product, handling and storage directions, and check current notices independently.
Single-ingredient treats: a simpler label is still a label to read
A single-ingredient claim can make a comparison easier, but it does not prove a product is allergy-proof, nutritionally complete or appropriate for every pet.
kcal/kg and kcal per treat are different label measurements
A calorie-density figure describes energy for a mass of food; a per-treat figure describes a stated or average piece. Neither number alone tells you an individual pet’s recommended allowance.