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Why include a selection of meat cuts as dog treats?

10 Nov, 2025 23
Why include a selection of meat cuts as dog treats?

Just like their humans, dogs aren’t meant to live on a diet of heavily processed food.

A whole-prey diet is important for dogs because it closely mirrors their ancestral eating habits, providing a balanced supply of nutrients from real meat, organs, bone and skin. This approach supports dogs' overall health and well-being far more effectively than grain-heavy commercial diets.

However it can be a massive undertaking to feed an entirely raw, whole-prey diet to your dog. It takes a lot of knowledge and planning and should always be done with close guidance from an experienced vet. That’s why choosing ‘whole prey’ treats lets you add valuable micronutrients to your dog’s diet without the burden of intensive meal-planning.

More than a tasty reward

By using a variety of cuts from lean muscle to nutrient-rich organs and even bone and skin, Hound treats are more than just a drool-inducing reward. They deliver the more natural, whole-body nutrition that dogs were built to thrive on. Each different cut we use has its own benefits, flavour, and texture, giving your dog a natural-as nutrient boost. Let’s break it down, part by part.

Pile of Topflite Hound Freeze-dried meat
Muscle meat

This would be the backbone of a biologically appropriate raw diet for dogs. Muscle meat cuts are rich in high-quality protein, which your dog needs for strong muscles, a healthy immune system, and energy. Muscle meat is also highly digestible, which means even dogs with more sensitive tummies usually do well on it.

Muscle meat provides easy-to-absorb protein and minerals to keep joints happy, coats glossy, and energy levels high for all-day play.

For muscle meat treats, try our Beef Steak Bites, Beef Chips, Chicken Chips, Whole Mackerel, Salmon Steaks,Wolf Pack.

Organ meat

Organs are like nature’s multivitamin. They deliver highly digestible protein alongside a wide spectrum of vitamins and minerals rarely found in muscle meat alone. Beef liver supports skin health, vision, immune function, bone growth, energy, and red blood cell production. Tripe bridges the gap between muscle and organ by providing protein and gut health support in a single, clean ingredient.

The key here is balance: a little goes a long way. Dogs love the rich, savoury taste of organs, and you’ll love knowing their treats pack some serious nutritional value. Keep in mind though, organ meat is rich and requires a careful eye for portion control.

For an organ treat, try our Liver Lot, Tripe Slice or Wolf Pack.

Cartilage

Cartilage nutrition is often overlooked in pet foods, but it’s incredibly valuable. Cartilage supports joint comfort and mobility, especially in older or active dogs. By including cartilage, you’re providing your dog with a tasty treat that supports long-term wellbeing, keeping tails wagging well into their golden years.

For a cartilage treat, try our Chicken Chips or Pork Snouts.

Tripe

Tripe does not sound glamorous, but your dog’s digestive system will love this organ meat. Our Tripe Slice is made from 100% green tripe – a superfood for dogs that helps balance gut bacteria. Full of live cultures, digestive enzymes, and partially digested greens from the cow, tripe helps with nutrient absorption while keeping dogs with sensitive tummies happy. Fun fact: this is often the scarcest cut to source as green tripe is in hot demand by exporters.

For a tripe treat, try our Tripe Slice.

Topflite Tripe

Soft bone

These are the bits that give structure, strength, and bounce. Small amounts of soft bone supply key nutrients for joint and bone health. They’re nature’s way of keeping your dog’s frame strong and flexible without any added supplements. While freeze-drying keeps the bones crunchy rather than brittle, they remain safe for chewing and support dental health.

For a soft bone treat, try our Whole Mackerel, Salmon Crumble, Chicken Chips and Beef Chips.

Skin and connective tissue

Skin and connective tissue add omega-3 and collagen, which support skin, coat and joint health. These essential fatty acids also help support skin barrier function, cardiovascular health, and healthy immune responses. Connective tissue contains nutrients that help support mobility and musculoskeletal resilience, especially for active or senior dogs.

For a treat rich in skin and tissue, try our Chicken Chips, Whole Mackerel, Salmon Skins and Salmon Crumble.

Whole fish

Our fish treats are a catch – muscle meat, skin, and soft bone included. This means your dog gets balanced nutrition straight from the source. Whole fish help support healthy skin, shiny coats and joint mobility, while soft bone adds gentle calcium for strong teeth and bones.

For a fish treat, try our Whole Mackerel, Salmon Steaks and Salmon Crumble.

Meella with Topflite Whole Mackerel

Whole pork snouts

A natural, single-ingredient chew, pork snouts are a great way to reward good behaviour or show your dog some love. Rich in natural protein and nutrients that help keep dogs healthy and satisfied, the chewy texture encourages natural chewing behaviour, helping to clean teeth and keep boredom at bay.

For a natural chew treat, try our Pork Snouts.

The nitty gritty

Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories, with the other 90% coming from a complete, balanced diet. Start with a small portion over a few days and watch how your dog responds. If all looks well, you can gradually increase. Always supervise during treat time and make sure there’s plenty of fresh water on hand for your four-legged friend.

Hound treats are made from 100% New Zealand meat with no additives or preservatives. Gently freeze-dried to lock in flavour and nutrients, they offer a drool-worthy reward that nourishes your dog the whole-prey way.