Bow Wow Jerky Snack Beef Steak, 80 g is a dog treat in the form of soft beef-flavoured steak snacks. The manufacturer has added chicory inulin (0.5%) for digestion, glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid for joints, plus green tea and L-carnitine. According to the manufacturer, the treat suits dogs of all breeds and ages, from puppies to seniors, and works for training, rewards between meals or simply spoiling your pet.
What soft snacks are
Soft snacks are treats with around 20% moisture: they're pliable, tear easily into pieces and don't crumble in your pocket. They're easy to give in small portions during training, and seniors and puppies find them easier to chew than hard sticks. On choosing training treats, see training treats for dogs.
Key specs
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | soft steak snacks |
| Flavour | beef |
| Additives | inulin, glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, green tea, L-carnitine |
| Protein / fat | 11.1% / 4.2% |
| Moisture | 19.3% |
| Weight | 80 g |
| Brand | Bow Wow |
Pros
- Soft. Easy to split for training.
- Low in fat. 4.2%.
- Inulin. A prebiotic for the gut.
- Joint additives. Glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid.
- For all ages. According to the manufacturer.
- A resealable pack. The snacks don't dry out.
Cons
- Cereals come first. There's less meat than cereal.
- Contains colourings and flavourings. Despite the description saying otherwise.
- Small amounts of additives. Glucosamine at 80 mg/kg is a token amount.
- Wheat and whey. Not for dogs with intolerances.
The ingredients without the marketing
Cereals, meat and animal derivatives, vegetable glycerine, whey protein derivative, wheat starch, rice, chicory inulin (0.5%), oils and fats, minerals, glucosamine (80 mg/kg), hyaluronic acid (20 mg/kg), chondroitin (20 mg/kg), green tea (80 mg/kg), L-carnitine (80 mg/kg), natural preservative, flavourings and colourings. Ingredients are listed in descending order, so the treat is mainly cereal, with meat second. The joint additives and L-carnitine are present in very small amounts, so don't expect any noticeable effect from the treat. On reading labels, see how to read pet food ingredients.
Analysis
Crude protein 11.1%, fat 4.2%, fibre 1.4%, ash 4.1%, moisture 19.3%. The low fat is a plus for dogs prone to weight gain, but all treats still count towards daily calories.
How to give them
Give the snacks as rewards between meals, with water available. For training, tear a steak into small pieces so one pack lasts several sessions. A guideline for any treats is no more than 10% of the daily ration. More in overweight cats and dogs.
Storage
Keep in the original pack at room temperature and reseal it after each use so the snacks don't dry out.
Alternatives
If a meat-rich recipe matters to you, try the soft MERA Snacker with salmon or the low-calorie Brit Functional Snack Light. All treats are in the dog treats section.
For puppies and senior dogs
The soft texture suits teething puppies and older dogs with sensitive gums. Give puppies very small pieces and watch their stools, as wheat and whey don't suit everyone. Overweight senior dogs should have the treat less often.
Who it suits
Owners who need an affordable soft treat for training and walks, and dogs without food intolerances. If your dog has allergies or you choose treats by their ingredients, pick one with meat listed first.
Verdict
Bow Wow Jerky Snack Beef Steak are soft steak snacks for dogs with low fat, inulin and token joint additives — handy for training and rewards. The downsides are more cereal than meat, colourings and flavourings, and too little of the beneficial additives to expect any effect.
FAQ
How much does the pack weigh?
80 g.
What's the treat based on?
Cereals and meat with animal derivatives.
Does it contain colourings?
Yes, colourings and flavourings are listed.
Do the snacks help joints?
They contain glucosamine and chondroitin, but only in small amounts.
Can puppies have them?
According to the manufacturer, yes — dogs of all ages.
How much fat?
4.2%.
How should I store them?
In the closed original pack at room temperature.
