LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Dogs

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Hi Erica, thanks for the suggestion. :)

For anyone who isn't familiar with tocopherol, it contains vitamin E, an excellent natural preservative. Most of the better dog foods use it instead of chemical preservatives like BHA BHT or ethoxyquin.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

The best way to presever would be with a natural preservative called Tocopherol. You can find it online to buy and it is what a lot of all natural dog treats use. It has no ill effects on pets. I use it and it works great.

-- Contributed by: Erica

Hi Yvonne,

Thanks for the tip!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi! I make my own dog treats for sale also, and I do bake my treats dry, but something you might want to try is cinnamon. It is a natural preservative. My treats are sometimes good for a couple of months from baking. This should be good for treats that are not meant to be savory. Good luck and I wish you well.

-- Contributed by: Yvonne

Hi Candi,

How exciting. This could be the start of something big for you!

I did an Internet search for you, but I couldn't find the type of info you need. However, I have a few suggestions. First, you could still go with the dry baking method, but make a "gentle dental" variety that is thinner and easier for dogs with dental issues to chew. Second, you might try to contact the chemistry department of a nearby university to see if you can get any advise about the correct amount of vitamin E oil to add to your recipe. Finally, you could experiment by adding a small amount of vitamin E to your recipe and then track how long the resulting batch lasts before molding begins. You can adjust the amount of E up a little with each batch until you achieve the right proportion. When the proper amount is used, most foods have at least a six month shelf life.

Thanks for your question. Sorry I don't have a more conclusive answer for you, but I hope this advice helps put you on the right track. Good luck with your venture!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a follow up question. A few stores want to sell my homemade dog biscuits. As mentioned earlier, they mold within 10 days on the shelf. The recipe is not meant to bake them totally dry and hard, in fact because of them not being bone hard, older dogs with dental issues really enjoy them. I know that any moisture in baked goods will eventually cause mold, but I think the vitamin e would give them an extended shelf life. Do you know where I can find reliable information on how to use vitamin e as a preservative in baking?

-- Contributed by: Candi
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