Open Range pet treats do not contain antibiotics, steroids, hormones, or preservatives. In stark contrast to this, many treats on the market contain artificial preservatives like BHA, BHT, potassium sorbate, sodium nitrate (used for preservative and colouring), calcium propionate, and especially ethoxyquin. They can also contain artificial colours. Some like red dye #40 are linked to cancer in dogs. Propylene glycol (antifreeze ingredient), is used in some pet foods to keep them moist and chewy.
Some non-natural treats include artificial or low-quality palatability (taste) enhancers. Treats should taste better or different than the dog’s regular food, but they shouldn’t contain anything bad for your dog. Avoid treats that have sweeteners such as corn syrup, sucrose, and ammoniated glycyrrhizin and artificial flavoring (such as barbecue flavor or artificial smoke flavor).