Original Article: https://www.dogster.com/dog-nutrition/can-dogs-eat-scooby-snacks

When it comes to your dog eating Scooby Snacks, finding healthy snack alternatives is a wise plan, given that we can’t say for sure if the original product still exists. While there were once dog treats marketed as such, today, you will likely see several companies calling snacks for kids “Scooby Snacks,” with varying degrees of nutritional value.

One source listed Del Monte Pet Products as the official manufacturer of Scooby Snacks, which has since rebranded itself as Big Heart Pet Brands. However, the company’s website doesn’t list this product among its offerings, leaving us scratching our heads about the treat. Below, we’ll discuss the information we found about products calling themselves Scooby Snacks.

The Various Types of “Scooby Snacks” and Why Dogs Should or Shouldn’t Eat Them

Mutt of Course

Mutt of Course is an India-based company, billing itself as the country’s “first fashion brand for pets.” They make four flavors of Scooby Snacks:

The chew sticks contain 20% protein and 8% fat. The first ingredients are chicken, chicken liver, and cereals. The goat milk biscuits contain 6% protein and 5% fat. The final product has 7% protein and 5% fat. These percentages seem reasonable when compared to popular treats produced stateside. However, the lack of transparency with ingredients like cereals and edible flavors concerned us.

Snausages

Snausages sold another product called Scooby Snacks, marketed as a crunchie treat. The label listed the web address for the Del Monte website. We use the past tense writing about these treats since the rebranding we mentioned occurred in 2014. Meat was third on the ingredients list. The other curious addition was artificial pizza flavor. Perhaps it’s just as well that it’s not currently available.

Blue Buffalo Scooby Snacks

We also found Blue Buffalo Scooby Snacks on a third-party seller site out of California. Unlike the other products, this one was branded with the cartoon character’s image. It has 17% protein and 7% fat. The ingredient list is straightforward, but meat doesn’t appear until fifth on the list. However, it has three protein sources and omega-3 fatty acids.

However, the treat isn’t on the manufacturer’s website. We didn’t find it on any major pet store site, with one listing it as discontinued. Given the online store’s location, we suspect it is a local promotion with limited availability.

Homemade Scooby Snacks

We found several social media posts and blogs with homemade Scooby Snacks recipes. Peanut butter is a frequent ingredient, which is a decent choice for dogs as long as you limit the number of treats your pup gets. However, we generally prefer commercially produced products formulated for our canine companions.

Scooby Snacks for Humans

We also want to touch on the Scooby-Doo-inspired snacks that are created for humans. Two of the most popular are Scooby-Doo graham crackers made by Kellogg’s, as well as the Scooby-Doo fruit snacks, which are now discontinued. With that said, when talking about Scooby Snacks, you’re likely referring to the graham crackers for kids, which look very similar to a dog treat. These are essentially just bone-shaped graham crackers. While your dog sneaking one or two typically isn’t a cause for concern, they can be more problematic if offered regularly.

Things to Consider About Feeding Scooby Snacks to Dogs

Treats can be an excellent addition to your pup’s diet if they make up no more than 10% of your pet’s daily caloric intake. That advice stands for two reasons. First, these foods aren’t nutritionally complete. The manufacturers don’t produce them as meal substitutes. You’ll likely see verbiage to this effect on the product’s label with words like ”treat” or “snack”.

Second, it’s easy to tip the scales the wrong way with treats. A 10-pound dog should only get 275 calories daily. Giving them to your dog freely can lead to weight gain and its complications. Therefore, we recommend reserving any treat as training aids. They’ll make a potent impression on food-motivated dogs. It’s also worth noting that the term “Scooby Snacks” has become synonymous with “treats.”

We recommend reading the package label for the calorie count per piece and feeding guidelines. Manufacturers often offer the 10% recommendation without stating how many you can give your dog. It’s up to you to do the math and ensure your pup isn’t getting too much of a good thing.

Conclusion

Our research revealed several facts. Scooby Snacks appeared only as a one-off product in the United States with limited availability. Other treats exist overseas, but we can’t recommend them for various reasons, including a lack of transparency about the ingredients. These products can be part of your pup’s balanced diet as long as you limit how much your pet gets. However, the true Scooby Snacks for dogs seem to be discontinued permanently.

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Featured Image Credit: pets and foods, Shutterstock

Source: Dogster