My Dog’s Food Confessions: The Day I Realized “Cute Packaging” Wasn’t A Nutrient–
A dog mom’s journey from blind buying to creating a brand with ingredients you can actually pronounce (and see!)
I was always one of those dog moms who, if I'm being honest, would just see the cute packaging with a happy dog smiling, and toss a bag of treats into my cart without even reading the label carefully. My pups, Silver and Quinn, would gobble anything down, so I figured, what’s the harm?
But then, Silver started getting these weird little stomach upsets. Nothing major, just… off. And his coat, which used to shine like a freshly polished penny, started looking dull. I started to get worried because of Silver's constant stomach upsets that we decided to take him to the vet.
So, when I brought Silver in, concerned about his tummy and his lackluster coat, the first thing the doctor asked me was,
‘What has Silver been eating?’
I sheepishly rattled off a few brand names, thinking, ‘Since it’s in the store, it must’ve passed all tests and it should be fine if I do portion control.’ Boy, was I wrong. Especially since Quinn, who ate the same kibble and treats, was perfectly fine. Silver, on the other hand, was throwing up a couple of times, especially after eating.
Before I even started researching treats, I decided to switch their daily meals to cooked food – real meat, vegetables, the works. And the changes were incredible! I noticed less tear staining, less scratching and licking, and their fur became incredibly soft and shiny. It made me realize just how much diet impacts their overall well-being.
That’s when I started to really dig into what was in those treats. I realized there were a lot of things on those ingredient lists that just… didn’t sound right. Vague terms, things I couldn’t even pronounce. It was like a lightbulb moment. I started to realize that those cheap treats I was grabbing were basically the canine equivalent of fast food – quick, tasty, but definitely not good for you in the long run.
That’s when I started looking for single-ingredient treats. You know, the kind where you can actually see what you’re feeding your dog. Like, ‘Oh, that’s a piece of chicken. Cool.’ Or ‘Hey, that’s just a little fish.’ It was a revelation. It felt like I was finally giving Silver something real, something natural.
And honestly? The difference was amazing. His stomach issues cleared up, his coat got that shine back, and he seemed… happier! Like he knew he was getting the good stuff. It's amazing what you learn when you really start to look at the ingredients. I started to notice that when I bought treats that just go through simple processes, they held so much more of the nutrients. That's why I really like the single ingredient treats that are just air-dried or freeze-dried, or even just fresh. It's like I'm giving Silver and Quinn the simplest, but the best that I can.
This whole experience is actually why I started BorknChew. I wanted to create treats and food toppers with only natural ingredients, ingredients that people can actually understand. I wanted to give other dog owners the peace of mind of knowing exactly what they’re feeling their furry friends.
And well, if I’m being honest (again)… I decided to create a brand with cute packaging itself for people who were like me before - judging solely on the cute packaging. To ensure that even if there’s someone out there who buys BorknChew because of its adorable packaging, their dogs get the absolute best, healthiest treats too!
It’s not about being a perfect dog mom. It’s about being an informed one. About understanding that what we put into our dogs directly affects their health and happiness.
So, here’s my little piece of advice to all you fellow dog lovers: read those labels. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. And remember, sometimes, the simplest ingredients are the best.
Because at the end of the day, our furry friends deserve the very best, right?
