How Processed Treats Affect Skin, Coat, and Digestion

Most dog owners don’t connect their dog’s itching, dull coat, or inconsistent digestion to the treats they’re feeding. But the truth is simple:
What you put into your dog’s body shows up on the outside — fast.

Highly processed dog treats might be convenient, but the long-term effects on skin, coat, and digestion are hard to ignore.
Here’s what every pet owner needs to know.

1. Processed Treats Trigger Inflammation From the Inside Out

Most commercial dog treats are made using high heat, fillers, and artificial additives.
This combination creates low-grade inflammation throughout the body.

Inflammation leads to:

  • Redness or hot spots

  • Itching and licking

  • Dandruff and flaky skin

  • Excess shedding

  • Ear infections

  • Gas, bloating, and inconsistent stools

Many dogs aren’t “sensitive” — they’re reacting to what’s in the treat bag, not the environment.

2. Hidden Ingredients Wreck the Gut (and the Coat)

Dog treats labeled as “natural” or “healthy” can still contain:

  • Glycerin

  • Sugar or molasses

  • Seed oils

  • Processed grains and starches

  • By-products

  • “Natural flavor” (a chemical extract)

These ingredients disrupt gut bacteria and cause inflammation.
And since gut health controls skin health, the cycle becomes obvious:

Bad gut → bad skin → bad coat.

Freeze-dried single-ingredient treats break this cycle instantly by removing junk and going back to the basics: real food.

3. High Heat Destroys Nutrients Dogs Need for Skin & Coat

Baked, extruded, and dehydrated treats are exposed to high temperatures.
Heat destroys:

  • Omega-3 fatty acids

  • Amino acids that support the coat

  • Enzymes that aid digestion

  • Natural vitamins

This leaves the treat looking “normal” — but nutritionally empty.

Freeze-drying, on the other hand, uses low temperatures and vacuum pressure, preserving nearly all nutrients and keeping the food biologically intact.

4. Seed Oils and Cheap Fats Cause Dull Coat + Itchiness

Many treats contain seed oils to improve texture or shelf life.
These oils create an imbalanced omega profile — too much omega-6, not enough omega-3.

This imbalance directly causes:

  • Dry skin

  • Frequent itching

  • Dull coat

  • Excess shedding

Real wild-caught salmon or grass-fed meats naturally contain anti-inflammatory omega-3s that restore skin and coat health.

5. Fillers Make Digestion Worse (Not Better)

Processed dog treats often rely on fillers like:

  • Corn

  • Wheat

  • Pea protein

  • Potato starch

  • Soy

These ingredients bulk up the product but do nothing for your dog’s body.
They ferment in the gut, feeding bad bacteria and leading to:

  • Loose stools

  • Gas

  • Smelly breath

  • Belly discomfort

Clean, single-ingredient treats digest smoothly because dogs’ bodies are designed for real meat and whole foods, not processed fillers.

6. How You Can See the Difference in Just Weeks

When switching from processed treats to clean, freeze-dried options, most owners see improvements like:

  • Shinier coat

  • Softer fur

  • Less itching

  • More consistent stools

  • Reduced ear issues

  • Better breath

  • Improved energy and mood

This isn’t magic — it’s biology.
Real food supports real health.

7. What to Choose Instead

Look for treats that are:

  • Single-ingredient

  • Freeze-dried, not cooked

  • Wild-caught or pasture-raised

  • Free of fillers, sugars, oils, and preservatives

  • Transparent in their sourcing

Your dog’s skin, coat, and digestion depend on what goes into their bowl.

At PrimalTreats, we freeze-dry real, whole ingredients to preserve natural nutrients — nothing fake, nothing processed, nothing hidden.

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