As pet parents, navigating feeding guidance and health advice can often feel overwhelming. At Mars, a leading pet care company serving almost half a billion pets each year, through our iconic brands and services, we want to replace that anxiety with confidence(Opens a new window).
Through a 3-part series, “The Confident Pet Parent”, we will explore some of the most frequently asked questions by pet parents, debunk some of the myths and mysteries surrounding how best to care for your pet, and provide you with some interesting science-backed trivia that you can share with others.
In this first installment, we turn our scientific lens toward one of the most exciting parts of a pet's day: treats. Backed by decades expertise and research from our Waltham Petcare Science Institute, the scientific heart of brands like Pedigree®(Opens a new window), Sheba and WHISKAS®(Opens a new window), we are answering the top questions pet parents ask about treat safety, quality, and responsible feeding to help you reward your pets with absolute peace of mind.
You can confidently choose safe and healthy treats by relying on scientific, evidence-based guidance rather than online myths or clever marketing claims.
Think of treats as functional tools designed to enrich your pet's life and support their daily health. At Mars, we believe using trusted, scientific-based information(Opens a new window) helps you look past common anxieties about digestive upset or low-quality ingredients, allowing you to focus on high-quality products that deliver nutritional benefits.1
You can help reduce the risk of painful broken teeth by avoiding rock-hard chews like raw bones, hooves, and antlers. Instead, choose flexible dental treats designed to bend and deform under pressure. For example, Mars Petcare designs all its chews to stay safely below a "tooth fracture limit" developed alongside veterinary dental specialists, helping support your dog's oral hygiene while reducing the risks associated with excessively harm chews.2
You don't have to sacrifice those happy, bonding moments or training rewards! The secret to healthy weight management(Opens a new window) is not by cutting out treats entirely, it can be as simple as following the "10% Rule”. The general guide that treats take no more than 10% of your pet's daily calorie allowance, with the remaining 90% coming from their balanced main meal. Another option is to look for lower calorie "light" treats(Opens a new window) and slightly adjust their dinner portion to match.
While "natural" may sound appealing, treats like raw bones, antlers, or pig's ears can carry risks including tooth fractures or splintering, and may present microbiological risks. In contrast, commercially manufactured treats like Pedigree® Dentastix™ undergo controlled manufacturing processes, like cooking and pasteurization, which helps ensure they are microbiologically safe.3
In a world full of advice, understanding the facts is the best way forward. We encourage all pet parents to consult their veterinarians to find the best diet for their pet.
Read Part 2: 5 expert tips for caring for your dog's teeth
References:
- FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation). (2025). Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs. Brussels: FEDIAF.
- Soltero-Rivera, M. M., et al. (2019). "Fracture Limits of Maxillary Fourth Premolar Teeth in Domestic Dogs Under Applied Forces." Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 5, 339
- Finley, R. L., et al. (2008). "The Occurrence and Anti-microbial Susceptibility of Salmonellae Isolated from Commercially Available Pig Ear Pet Treats." Zoonoses and Public Health, 55(8-10), 455-461.
