Full MoonTurkey Cranberry Sausage Dog Treat

A poultry protein, similar to chicken in nutrition and usually a little leaner. Fresh or deboned turkey is mostly water and ranks higher on the label than its dry contribution; turkey meal is the concentrated form. Turkey is often used as an alternative for pets that react to chicken, but the two are related birds and some pets react to both, so it is not a guaranteed swap.

A small fruit added mostly for its association with urinary health. Cranberry compounds can make it harder for some bacteria to cling to the bladder wall in laboratory studies, but there is no good evidence that the amount in a pet food prevents or treats urinary infections. At label levels, a small amount well down the list, treat it as a minor fruit that adds a little fiber and antioxidants.

A root vegetable used as a carbohydrate source, especially in grain-free foods. It supplies energy, fiber and beta carotene and is well digested by dogs. There is no good evidence it beats rice or oats nutritionally, though it is a reasonable choice for pets that do poorly on grains. Like any starch, a food that lists it high is a starch-heavy food.

Starch from the cassava root, used to bind kibble and as a carbohydrate source, especially in grain-free foods. It is nearly pure starch with little protein, fiber or micronutrients, and it is one of the least likely ingredients to trigger an allergy. A food that leans on tapioca for carbohydrate is getting easy digestibility and little else from it, which is fine as long as the rest of the recipe carries the nutrition.

A vegetable added in small amounts for fiber and a little flavor, and in fresh or raw recipes for its water content. It is safe for dogs and cats and appears well down the list, often alongside other vegetables in a blend. It brings almost no calories and only trace nutrients at these levels, so it changes nothing about the food either way.

Almost always rosemary extract, used as a natural antioxidant to keep fats fresh, usually alongside mixed tocopherols. The amounts are tiny. A persistent internet claim links rosemary to seizures in dogs; there is no published evidence for it at food levels. If your dog has epilepsy, ask your neurologist rather than avoiding foods on this basis alone.