Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
about White Bites™ treats
Are White Bites effected by the recent Canadian pet food recall?
How are White Bites treats more digestible than other major brands of the similar product?
Veterinarians generally feel that in order for any dental treat to be ‘digestible and safe’ in a dog’s body, it must be chewed down to a small size. White Bites treats are designed to be safer than other dog chews in two ways: 1) ingredient selection, and 2) ingredient processing. White Bites treats are made principally with a combination of wheat gluten and sodium caseinate, whereas other company’s treats are made primarily with an extruded wheat gluten. When this extruded wheat gluten of competitor products is molded and cured, it becomes very hard and resilient. For White Bites treats, on the other hand, the unprocessed wheat gluten (combined with sodium caseinate) makes for a slightly softer chew. Upon chewing, the White Bites treat has a greater chance to be reduced down to a size suitable for swallowing.
Are there any harmful ingredients in White Bites treats that would cause my dog to become ill?
NO. All ingredients in White Bites treats are common to either pet or human food ingredients, and they are rigorously evaluated for their quality and consistency upon receipt. There are no harmful ingredients in White Bites treats to cause a healthy dog to become ill.
Would something cause my dog to become ill after eating a White Bites treat?
Illness can occur if you allow your dog to eat chunks of the White Bites treats, as White Bites treats must be adequately chewed. Vomiting or diarrhea can be caused by many things, and we recommend that you not assume it was the White Bites treats that caused your dog to vomit or have diarrhea. Illness can occur if your dog has an underlying condition, food allergy, food intolerance, pancreatic problem, motility disorder, gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, or a metabolic disease. We recommend that you consult with and have your pet examined by your veterinarian if your dog has current medical problems or if your dog has other medical problems of which you may not already be aware of.
How are White Bites treats different than any other name brand treat?
White Bites treats differ from many other treats/chews on the market by the selection of ingredients and the processes to which these ingredients are subjected. In short, the principal components of White Bites treats are singly processed wheat gluten and sodium caseinate. Wheat gluten is a special protein fraction of the wheat seed that acts like a glue to hold the chew together. Sodium caseinate is just the technical name for one of the major proteins found in milk – casein. The other compelling difference between White Bites treats and other treats on the market is that White Bites treats have added agents that aid in tooth brightening and dental health through their abrasive action. Specifically, White Bites treats contain baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and calcium carbonate which, when combined with the chewiness of the protein complex described previously, scrape the teeth and thereby help remove tartar and plaque from the tooth surface.
What is the ingredient that makes White Bites treats safer for my pet? How are White Bites treats safer for my pet?
The problem with some dental chews on the market is that if they are swallowed before being completely chewed, this could lead to impactions because these large unchewed chunks don’t soften in the esophagus, stomach or intestine. The resilience of these chews resists hydration, softening, and degradation from normal motility, salivary, and enzymatic processes. White Bites treats, on the other hand, soften more rapidly, primarily due to the less extensive processing applied to the wheat gluten and its dilution with the milk protein, sodium caseinate.
Can I feed my dog a larger treat so they don’t swallow it whole?
Your dog must be supervised so as to not allow the treat to be swallowed whole, as the goal is for the dog to chew on it. You, the dog’s caretaker, must decide which treats are appropriate for your dog based on your dog’s size and package instructions. If you are unsure about the proper size of treat to give your dog, always select the next size larger. It is safer to feed your dog a bigger treat. For those gulpers in the bunch, they will be less likely to swallow the whole thing, and the goal is to have the dog chew on the treat.
Will feeding my dog a larger treat prevent the treat from getting stuck in the intestine like other brands have been reported to do?
You should feed your dog only the treat size recommended for your dog’s weight. Chewing adequately will help prevent the treat from getting stuck in the intestine. The chew is designed to be completely degraded in the small intestine when chewed thoroughly and combined with a dog’s digestive enzymes.
Why are my pet’s paws (or face) white after eating the White Bites treats?
White Bites treats contain baking soda, calcium carbonate, and a white food coloring. These compounds may rub off of the chew while being handled by your dog, and it may be especially noticeable for dark haired dogs that like to manipulate their treats with their paws. When this occurs, the white that rubs off is safe and is not likely to stain. If the white is a concern, simply wipe the area with a damp cloth.
Why is my dog’s stool white? Is this harmful?
Several of the components of White Bites treats are white in color, including Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate), Calcium carbonate, and the white food coloring Titanium Dioxide. Other ingredients in the White Bites treats (such as Wheat Gluten and Sodium Caseinate) are light colored. All of these combined can lighten the color of your dog’s stools. This is perfectly natural and safe, however, as all of the ingredients used in White Bites treats are considered safe for humans and animals.
Titanium dioxide is a food additive used to whiten many human and pet foods and oral personal care products. Unlike synthetic colorants, it is exempt from certification by the FDA under the Food Drug and Cosmetic act, Section 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR 73 & 74), and the EEC (E171). The maximum permissible amount is 1% by weight.