If you’ve ever flipped a bag of Old Roy dog treats over to scan the fine print, you already know why so many pet parents are rethinking the biscuit jar. That familiar price tag often comes with a lineup of fillers, artificial dyes, and preservatives that even the most lenient vet side-eyes. The good news? The pet-food aisle has quietly leveled-up since 2020, and today’s healthier alternatives deliver clinically proven benefits without premium-brand sticker shock.
Before you swap treats willy-nilly, though, it helps to understand what “healthy” actually means for your unique dog. Age, weight, allergies, activity level, and even breed-specific metabolic quirks all shape the ideal reward. In this guide you’ll learn how veterinarians evaluate treats in 2025, which label terms translate to real nutrition, and why the smartest upgrade may not be a biscuit at all.
Top 10 Old Roy Dog Treats
Detailed Product Reviews
1. Good ‘n’ Fun Triple Flavor Kabobs Chews for All Dogs, 24 Ounces, Treat Your Dog to Chews Made from Beef Hide, Real Chicken, Pork Hide, Duck and Chicken Liver
Overview: Good ‘n’ Fun Triple Flavor Kabobs deliver a carnival-on-a-stick for carnivorous canines. The 24-ounce resealable pouch contains roughly 30 six-inch chews threaded with three bite-sized “kabobs” of rawhide, pork hide, and real chicken, duck, or chicken liver.
What Makes It Stand Out: The five-layer flavor stack—beef hide core, pork hide middle, and triple-meat wrapper—creates an aromatic “rotisserie” effect that keeps dogs gnawing longer than single-flavor chews. The skewer shape also forces pups to rotate the treat, scraping more tartar off back molars.
Value for Money: At about 53¢ per kabob, you’re paying less than a dollar for 15–20 minutes of high-value chewing that rivals dental sticks costing twice as much.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros: irresistible scent, visible meat sheets, low price per chew. Cons: rawhide can soften into gummy chunks—supervise aggressive chewers; calorie-dense, so adjust meals on treat days.
Bottom Line: A crowd-pleasing, budget-friendly dental chew for moderate chewers. Just monitor gulpers and limit to one kabob per day.
2. Ol’ Roy Beefhide Chicken Coated Munchy Sticks 40 Count Dog Treats, 16.9 Ounce Bag
Overview: Ol’ Roy Beefhide Chicken Coated Munchy Sticks are Walmart’s answer to the classic rawhide twist. The 40-count, 16.9-ounce bag offers pencil-thin sticks coated in a chicken-breast slurry and oven-dried into a crunchy sheath.
What Makes It Stand Out: Chicken is the first ingredient, not just a flavor dusting, so even finicky dogs scent the protein immediately. The slim profile (¼-inch thick) lets small mouths tackle them without wrestling a thick roll.
Value for Money: 58¢ per stick is mid-pack pricing, but you get portion control—no guessing where to cut a 12-inch rawhide roll.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros: resealable bag keeps sticks dry, no staining dye, safe for puppies over 5 lbs. Cons: aggressive chewers finish in under two minutes; coating flakes can leave a light residue on light-colored carpets.
Bottom Line: A convenient, low-mess training reward or quick chew for light to medium chewers—not a marathon bone.
3. Munchy Bone Dog Treats, Variety Pack, 21 Count, 60 oz | Long-Lasting Chews for All Dog Sizes | Assorted Flavors: Chicken, Liver, Peanut Butter
Overview: Munchy Bone’s Variety Pack ships 21 hefty 2.8-ounce bones in chicken, liver, and peanut butter flavors—totaling 3.75 lbs of chewing power.
What Makes It Stand Out: Each bone is extruded from a bake-hardened blend of wheat protein, rice, and chicken meal, then wrapped in a second flavored layer, creating a dual-texture that softens slowly instead of splintering like rawhide.
Value for Money: $1.86 per bone looks steep until you clock 30–45 minutes of chew time for a 50-lb dog—cheaper than a comparable bully stick.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros: grain-based core digests more safely than rawhide, vitamin-fortified, three flavors prevent boredom. Cons: wheat-sensitive dogs need to pass; packaging isn’t resealable—transfer to a bin.
Bottom Line: A long-lasting, digestible alternative for power chewers or allergy-light households. Store in an airtight container and you’ve got weeks of quiet-time bliss.
4. Ol’ Roy Bark’n Bac’n Dog Treats, (Bark’n Bac’n, 50-Ounce)
Overview: Ol’ Roy Bark’n Bac’n is a bacon-bit style kibble topper/stand-alone treat sold in a value-packed 50-ounce jug. The nuggets are soy-based strips sprayed with hickory smoke flavor and finished with a touch of molasses for sweetness.
What Makes It Stand Out: The crumbly texture lets you sprinkle a “bacon explosion” over boring kibble, instantly transforming any meal. Dogs taste real smoke, not just salt, so a little goes a long way.
Value for Money: 36¢ per ounce is rock-bottom pricing—cheaper than many grocery-store biscuits.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros: jug reseals airtight, low-fat (3%), breaks easily for training chips. Cons: soy is first ingredient—not for protein-sensitive pups; strong smoky smell can linger on hands.
Bottom Line: A pantry staple for picky eaters or a high-value training sprinkle. Not a chew, but unbeatable for enticement on a budget.
5. Ol’ Roy Rawhide 2.5″ Roll with Chicken Dog Treats 36 Count Per Bag
Overview: Ol’ Roy Rawhide 2.5″ Rolls combine a tight 2-inch rawhide core with an outer chicken slurry, yielding 36 nickel-thick coins per bag.
What Makes It Stand Out: The pre-portioned 2.5-inch diameter eliminates knife work—grab and serve. Thin rolls soften faster than bulky knotted bones, making them safer for small dogs who typically can’t handle jumbo rawhide.
Value for Money: 68¢ per roll lands on the cheap side of rawhide, yet each still delivers 5–10 minutes of focused chewing.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros: uniform size equals calorie consistency, no artificial colors, chicken scent masks rawhide odor. Cons: aggressive chewers may swallow the final inch—remove when reduced to a ping-pong ball; not for Giant breeds who could inhale.
Bottom Line: A convenient, takeaway-sized rawhide for small to medium dogs. Just supervise the finale and you’ve got a low-cost tooth-brushing session.
6. Pork Chomps Dog Chews, 5-inch Munchy Sticks, Assorted Flavors, 50 Count (Pack of 1)
Overview: Pork Chomps Munchy Sticks are oven-baked pork skin chews designed to keep your pup occupied while satisfying their chomping desires. Each 50-count value pack contains 5-inch flavored chews in three varieties: roasted pork, chicken, and bacon. With a patented fat-reduction process, these treats promise a lower-fat alternative to traditional rawhide chews.
What Makes It Stand Out: The patent-protected fat removal process removes 70% of pork fat, resulting in cleaner, healthier chews that won’t mess up your floors. The natural pork skin creates a safer, easier-to-digest option compared to rawhide, while still providing the long-lasting chewing experience dogs seek. The assorted flavor trio keeps dogs interested longer, preventing treat boredom during training or quiet-time sessions.
Value for Money: At roughly $4.26 for fifty sticks, these treats cost about $0.085 per piece. Considering their longevity compared to cheaper biscuit bones that disappear in seconds, Pork Chomps deliver solid entertainment value for your dollar. Limited-ingredient shoppers also avoid the premium pricing of specialty chews while gaining a high-protein reward suitable for daily use.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros include high protein, digestible pork skin, low odor, variety of flavors, resealable count bags, and visible fat trimming. Cons: smaller dogs occasionally struggle to chew through them quickly, making supervision essential; some pets will only favor one of the flavors, leaving stacks of the other two.
Bottom Line: Pork Chomps Munchy Sticks are a cost-effective, less-messy replacement for rawhide that keeps most dogs happily chewing, making them worthwhile in calming routines, crating, or reward moments.
7. Purina Busy Bone Adult Dog Chew Bone Treats, Peanut Butter – 10 ct. Pouch
Overview: Purina Busy Bone Peanut Butter chews are dual-textured, two-in-one treats crafted for adult dogs who love to gnaw. The rigid outer shell delivers a satisfying crunch, while a soft peanut-buttery center spills out during chewing to reignite interest. Sold in 10-count pouches, these bones promise extended chew sessions without rawhide and come from a household-name brand.
What Makes It Stand Out: Unlike usual crunchy biscuits, Busy Bones feature a surprise center that forces dogs to “work” for the reward, stretching snack time up to several minutes for moderate chewers. The unmistakable peanut-butter scent drives most dogs wild. Purina also stresses formula transparency—no artificial flavors, allowing owners focused on simple ingredient lists to shop with confidence.
Value for Money: Busy Bones ring in around $1.10 per chew, higher than basic milk bones but reasonable for treat-plus-activity days. The texture generally prevents gulping, so each bone feels weightier in utility than a quick inhalable treat.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros include low odor, long chew duration for average chewers, dual texture enrichment, well-sealed packaging, and clever portion sizing. Cons apply to power chewers who may crunch the shell quickly. Also, wheat and soy presence cause problems for allergy-prone dogs.
Bottom Line: If your adult dog enjoys peanut butter and needs a moderate-duration chew before bedtime or when guests arrive, Purina Busy Bones are easy to grab, clean to handle, and worth keeping in the pantry rotation.
8. Milk-Bone MaroSnacks Small Dog Treats With Bone Marrow, 40 Ounce Container
Overview: Milk-Bone MaroSnacks blend a crunchy biscuit exterior with a real bone-marrow center, providing two textures in every bite. Housed in a generous 40-ounce plastic tub, these coin-sized rounds suit small mouths but remain attractive to medium and large dogs when handed out in multiples.
What Makes It Stand Out: Bone marrow supplies natural calcium and extra flavoring, marketing this snack as both indulgent and beneficial. Made in Buffalo, NY, since 1908, Milk-Bone underlines familiarity, safety testing, and U.S. production while relying on naturally sourced colors.
Value for Money: Around 11 cents per treat (about 100 treats per tub), MaroSnacks straddle price points just above bulk biscuits but below refrigerated treats. A single tub can last small breeds the better part of a month even with daily use.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros include calcium enrichment, fun crunch-to-creamy combo, resealable tub, availability at most large retailers, and picky-eater acceptance. Cons involve sodium and added sugar for flavor, so portion control counts. Fragile interior can crumble if the bucket receives rough shipping.
Bottom Line: If you appreciate trusted American-made treats that add textural stimulation and some digestible calcium to your dog’s diet without breaking the bank, Milk-Bone MaroSnacks earn a spot on the shelf.
9. Ol’~Roy Jerky Stick Dog Treats with Real Beef Chews ~ 25 Oz Box ~ (2 Pack)
Overview: Ol’ Roy Jerky Sticks are budget strips marketed around real beef as the first ingredient. Packaged in a twin-box set (two 25-oz pouches), they deliver 50 oz of chewy jerky designed to promote dental action through abrasion. Produced by Walmart’s value brand, each stick can be broken into training morsels or fed whole for longer engagement.
What Makes It Stand Out: Their jerky-style texture strikes middle ground between soft training treats and rock-hard chews. Real beef leads the ingredient list, followed by recognizable fillers rather than obscure animal by-products, granting owners peace of mind at an entry price.
Value for Money: At about $6.47/lb, these ribs of meaty chew undercut national jerky competitors while mimicking the same manual deseeding of plaque that stiffer treats provide; the twin bulk pack minimizes repeat trips.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros include genuine beef flavor, semi-soft chew suitable for seniors, tear-friendly strips for portion control, low price per ounce. Cons line up around added sugars and preservatives; odor reminds some owners of canned dog food, and sticks can harden when pouches remain open. Check for allergy triggers such as chicken meal.
Bottom Line: For households juggling multiple large dogs or anyone seeking a wallet-friendly jerky chew that smells like meat and lasts a few minutes, Ol’ Roy Jerky Sticks fulfill the need respectably without emptying the treat fund.
10. Ol’ Roy 50-Ounce Bark’n Bac’n Treats, Twin Pack, Two 25oz. Stay Fresh Pouches
Overview: Ol’ Roy Bark’n Bac’n offers bacon-esque strips flavored to attract dogs while remaining wallet-friendly. The twin pack totals 50 oz, with two resealable 25-oz stay-fresh pouches. Marketed as a texture-balanced treat, each strip looks and bends like thick bacon but is formulated for canine consumption rather than human breakfast tables.
What Makes It Stand Out: Bark’n Bac’n focuses on visual familiarity—dogs react to smoky strips because they smell like diner bacon. The treat’s pillowy hardness level places it between crunchy and soft, giving senior dogs and puppies alike something to gnaw without risking broken teeth. The resealable twin pouch keeps pouches fresh across weeks of nightly rewards.
Value for Money: Roughly $6.24/lb positions these among the least expensive nationally distributed bacon-style treats. Situations demanding bulk provisioning—training classes, group day-camp—fit the package size and price with minimal guilt over extra calories.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros consist of broad-dog appeal, satisfying scent, easy-to-break rectangles, and generous quantity at bargain pricing. Cons stem from artificial bacon flavoring and colorants that stain light carpets if carried away. High sodium levels mean owners monitor intake for cardiac or renal dogs.
Bottom Line: When smoky aroma and palatability count more than a pristine ingredient deck, Bark’n Bac’n delivers strong flavor and soft chew at mass-market affordability—perfect as an occasional show-piece treat, not a nutritional pillar.
Why Vets Urge a Second Look at Conventional Bargain Treats
Bargain treats have kept their spot on shelves by meeting only the most basic AAFCO “complete & balanced” minimums. That standard was written for whole diets, not 10-calorie training nibs, so it ignores cumulative sugar, glycemic load, and synthetic dyes repeatedly flagged in peer-reviewed dermatology journals. In 2025, boarded nutritionists look beyond minimums to the long-term metabolic impact—exactly why many recommend phasing out ultra-processed rewards.
What “Healthy” Really Means in 2025 Canine Nutrition
The definition now centers on three pillars: bioavailable protein, micro-nutrient density, and functional additives (think omega-3s or post-biotics) that support joints, cognition, or gut flora. Macronutrient ratios are adjusted to the treat’s intended use—high-protein for sport dogs and lower-calorie, higher-fiber bites for couch cuddlers.
How to Read a Treat Label Like a Veterinary Nutritionist
Start at the “Guaranteed Analysis,” but don’t stop there. Note the ingredient split: whole-food items appear before the first fat or sweetener. Check for an 800-number or website promising a full nutrient profile; transparency in 2025 is a quality marker. Finally, scan the calorie count per piece and do quick math against your dog’s daily allowance (generally 10 % for treats).
Key Nutrients Dogs Miss When Fed Low-Quality Snacks
Cheap fillers displace lysine, methionine, DHA, magnesium, and polyphenols—nutrients frequently under-delivered in kibble-heavy diets. Chronic shortages can stall wound healing, dull coat pigment, and accelerate cognitive aging. Upgrading treats is often the easiest way to close those gaps because snacks usually deliver higher palatability, which means better compliance.
Red-Flag Ingredients Hiding in Yesterday’s Biscuits
Look out for BHA/BHT, tertiary-butylhydroquinone, Red 40, Blue 2, corn syrup, propylene glycol, and un specified “animal digest.” These compounds are grandfathered into FDA guidelines but carry documented risks from skin hypersensitivity to gut dysbiosis.
Functional Ingredient Trends You’ll See on Modern Bags
From hydrolyzed hemp protein to krill-derived chondroitin, functional ingredients are migrating from supplements to treats. Post-biotic代谢产物, colostrum peptides, and L-theanine are now shelf-stable thanks to micro-encapsulation technology perfected in 2023. Expect to see “earth-friendly” sourcing claims backed by lifecycle assessments.
Matching Treat Texture to Dental Health Goals
Crunchy versus chewy is no longer about preference—it’s preventive dentistry. Studies at UC Davis show VOHC-approved* crunchy fibers reduce tartar by up to 19% when fed daily. Yet senior dogs with worn enamel benefit from softer treats fortified with hexametaphosphate to chemically block calculus formation.
Calorie Density: Keeping Daily Totals in Check Without Guilt
Treat calories add up fast: a 25-lb dog needs only 625 kcal daily; give three standard 50-kcal biscuits and you’ve fed almost a quarter of their ration. Look for sub-5 kcal “training minis” or bake-your-own recipes using pumpkin purée to add volume without energy.
Allergen-Free Formulations: Novel Proteins & Hydrolyzation
Chicken and beef top the 2025 food-allergy charts. Alternatives—kangaroo, aller-genic-grade insect protein, or hydrolyzed fish—short-circuit the immune response by cleaving proteins into fragments too small for antibodies to recognize. Always run an 8-week elimination diet before declaring victory.
Human-Grade vs. Feed-Grade: Marketing Hype or True Safety Edge?
Human-grade facilities must comply with 21 CFR 110 (good manufacturing practices for human food), which mandates pest-control logs, personnel hygiene plans, and pathogen testing at every batch. Feed-grade plants follow 21 CFR 507—less stringent and allows condemned meats. The safest treats in 2025 carry dual GMP audits or SQF certification.
Sustainability Factors Ethical Pet Parents Are Weighing
Look for life-cycle carbon scores, responsibly sourced palm-oil-free glycerin, and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) logos on fish-based rewards. Insect protein wins big here: black soldier fly larvae produce 92% less greenhouse gas per kilo of protein than poultry.
Budget-Friendly Ways to Upgrade Without Inflating Your Grocery Bill
Buying in bulk, setting up auto-ship discounts, or baking simple two-ingredient biscuits once a month can drop the per-treat cost below generic grocery brands. Use silicone ice-cube trays for portion control and cut carbs by swapping oat flour with canned green-bean mash.
Homemade Options: Vet-Approved Recipes & Safety Protocols
Use a 4:1 ratio of lean protein (canned salmon in water) to low-glycemic veg (mashed zucchini). Add 1 tsp chia seed per cup for omega-3s, bake at 325 °F until center hits 165 °F to kill Salmonella, then freeze individual portions. Consult a board-certified nutritionist to confirm macro balance for your dog’s weight goal.
Transition Tips: Avoiding GI Upset When Switching Treats
Introduce over seven days: start with 25% new, 75% old, and step-up every two days. If stools loosen, return to the last successful ratio for 48 hrs. Pair transitions with a canine-specific probiotic containing Enterococcus faecium SF68 to minimize dysbiosis.
Monitoring Health Outcomes After You Switch
Keep a “treat diary” logging stool quality, itch score (1–10), and coat sheen weekly. Photograph teeth under consistent light each month to track plaque reduction. After 90 days, ask your vet to compare pre/post bloodwork for fasting triglycerides and omega-3 index—objective proof the upgrade is working.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many treats can my dog have per day without gaining weight?
2. Are grain-free treats automatically healthier than those with whole grains?
3. Is it safe to give my puppy adult-formulated functional treats?
4. What’s the best way to store homemade treats to prevent mold?
5. Can healthy treats still cause allergies, and how quickly would symptoms show?
6. Do plant-based rewards supply enough taurine for large-breed dogs?
7. How can I verify “sustainably sourced” claims on treat packaging?
8. Are air-dried or freeze-dried options better for dogs with chronic pancreatitis?
9. Should I brush my dog’s teeth if I’m already giving VOHC-approved dental chews?
10. When is the right time to reassess and possibly rotate to a new treat type?