Review: zuke’s genuine jerky steaks for dogs

Dog owners are on the hunt for healthier dog treats that provide their pet with the nutrients that he needs, not just fillers and artificial ingredients. There has been a push for dog treat manufacturers to use healthier real foods in their recipes. Dog owners have made it clear that chemicals, artificial preservatives and by-products are not acceptable.

Video: Beef and Chicken Jerky - easy DIY Dog Food tutorial - a Cooking for Dogs tutorial

Zuke’s is a company that has always been known for their healthy, safe dog treats. Their natural dog treats have been a favorite with pet owners for years, and they were one of my top picks for our best dog treats review.

Now, they’ve released Zuke’s Genuine Jerky Steaks, a new twist with the same healthy ingredients that pet parents have come to expect from Zuke’s.

Video: How to Make Beef Jerky by Chef Dog.mp4

Zuke’s Genuine Jerky Steaks for Dogs Review

I was generously sent an entire line of Zuke’s Genuine Jerky Steaks to test with my dogs. The line includes three flavors: Beef and Potato, Beef and Carrot, and Beef and Sweet Potato. I was sent these dog treats in exchange for my honest review.

The first thing that I noticed about these treats was their smell. They smell exactly like human grade beef jerky. I also noticed their size. These treats are about 4 inches long and 3 inches wide. They are much bigger than any other dog treat that we have tried.

I didn’t think the size would be an issue at first, but after giving them to our older dog, a 5-year-old boxer, I realized I was wrong. She doesn’t have many teeth and her dental health is poor, so she had a hard time chewing these treats.

Although they are tender enough to rip apart with your fingers, Chloe wasn’t able to chew them and tried to swallow them whole. As you can see in my video review, I took about 5 minutes to cut the rest of the steaks into small, bite-sized pieces with kitchen sheers. You can rip them with your fingers, but since I had 3 bags of treats to cut, I decided it would be easier to use the sheers.

Video: Review: Zuke's Genuine Jerky Steaks for Dogs

Our 7-month-old chocolate lab had no trouble at all eating these steaks whole. If your dog likes to chew and has good dental health, you probably won’t need to cut them up, but better safe than sorry. Plus, cutting them into smaller pieces means the bag of treats will last you much longer.

There are about 8-10 steaks per 7-ounce bag. Zuke’s Genuine Jerky Steaks are made with grass-fed New Zealand beef. The company uses natural preservatives, meaning there are no added nitrates or nitrites in these dog treats. I loved that in each jerky steak I could visibly see the vegetables used to make them.

Slices of potatoes, sweet potatoes and carrots were noticeable in every steak in the bag. That was impressive! These treats are also grain-free, which means they would be ideal for dogs with allergies or sensitivities. Our dogs don’t need to be grain-free, but jerky treats are definitely the go-to in our home.

Both of our girls love these treats and get excited as soon as I take the package out of the cupboard. Our lab will eat anything, but our boxer is a very picky eater and she gobbles these up. We will definitely be recommending these treats to family and friends.

I know a lot pet owners are on a budget, and Zuke’s treats are all very affordable. You can purchase a 7 ounce bag of Genuine Jerky Steaks on the company’s website for $12.99. Most treats of this quality cost more than $20 for a bag this size. Also, unlike many other high quality treats, you can find Zuke’s products on the shelves of many pet food retailers.

Summary of Zuke’s Genuine Jerky Steaks for Dogs Review

PROS: Zuke’s Genuine Jerky Steaks have a strong odor and delicious taste that will entice your dog. The texture is tender enough to rip with your fingers, and the treats are made from top quality ingredients. Grass-fed New Zealand beef is the first ingredient in every blend, and they are also made with fresh vegetables including potatoes, sweet potatoes and carrots. Genuine Jerky Steaks are also an ideal healthy treat for pet parents on a budget.

CONS: The size of these treats is my only complaint. The steaks are about 4 inches long by three inches wide. They were okay for our 7-month-old puppy, but our older dog has poor dental health and couldn’t chew these treats. She tried to swallow one whole and I had to remove it from the back of her mouth. I solved this problem easily by using kitchen sheers to quickly cut the steaks into smaller pieces.

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