Vanguard Awards: Rawhide Alternatives

Safety remains one of the key factors in pet parents seeking out rawhide alternative options. Most rawhide alternative chews are free from harsh ingredients and chemicals that are not easily digested or beneficial to dogs. Producers within the category have helped lead pet owners to safer, more effective chews to keep their pets happy.

“What led us to consider an alternative to rawhide was a veterinarian oath that Dr. Bob took,” said Susan Goldstein, Co-Founder of Earth Animal. “At the time, we were in the industry, I had a very small little store, but we also had a veterinary practice, it was integrated with holistic practice. All veterinarians take a cause no harm oath and we were trying to honor that, we were looking around and first thing was, we were trying to make the crooked way straight when it came to flea and tick prevention, so we were working with alternatives to chemicals and at the same time we were noticing all sorts of things going on with rawhide in our practice. We noticed animals were having reactions, they were vomiting and choking. We had to do emergency surgeries, on and on. That planted the seed for us to keep on this mission.”

“When we set out to do this, we understood that the dangers of rawhide—as we began to experience it and do our due diligence—were huge,” Goldstein said. “We decided that if we could create a product that would enhance quality of life, have health benefits, help with boredom, help the mind and clean the teeth, that would be a really good thing. So, that’s basically what we did. I don’t know if people realize it, but rawhide and other chews don’t have nutritional benefits and No Hide not only serves the bill for cleaning teeth, taking care of boredom but also has nutritional benefits. It’s made with brown rice, egg and olive oil.”

“At Scott Pet we know better nutrition starts with healthy, nutrient-rich recipes, which is why we’re proud to have relaunched our Because It’s Better line of complete and balanced food for dogs over the past year,” said Nathan Peters, President of Scott Pet. “This ultra-premium line includes both dry and wet options including three air-dried recipes, which start with high-quality, premium proteins like beef, chicken and salmon as the No. 1 ingredient, and wholesome superfoods like pumpkin to support healthy digestion and blueberries to support healthy immunity. Unlike harsher processes that strip nutrients, our gentle air-drying method safely preserves the nutritional integrity and natural taste of our ingredients for a meal pet parents and their pups can both get excited about.

“In addition to our air-dried recipes, we also entered the wet dog food category with the launch of our Because It’s Better Entrée recipes. These delicious, homestyle recipes are human grade and thoughtfully prepared with real beef, chicken or lamb as the No. 1 ingredient, and veggies like carrots, peas and spinach for maximum nutrition and a drool-worthy taste your pup will crave. Every Because It’s Better Entrée recipe is prepared in the USA in USDA inspected facilities and ready to eat straight from the pantry, no thawing or preparation required,” said Peters.

The rising popularity in and demand for collagen-based products was one of the key factors that incentivized CollaChews to enter the category. 

“One of the most significant trends in the market today is the growing demand for collagen-supplemented products in human food and beverages,” said Sales Manager Zachary San Roman with CollaChews. “The US collagen market for human products is valued at $2.5 billion and is expected to grow at an impressive rate of 13 percent annually. As with many human health trends, this demand has started to extend into the pet industry. CollaChews was the first dog treat brand to harness the benefits of activated collagen, creating healthy, long-lasting and natural chews. This innovation has been a key driver of our explosive growth. In fact, I’m proud to share that CollaChews was the fastest-growing pet specialty dog treat brand last year.”