About this site and how we work
MorselHug is a home cook’s notebook for occasional pet treats — written by someone who lives with a dog and three cats and reads every ingredient label.
Our rules
- Treats only. We do not publish complete homemade diets or main-meal formulas. A dog’s or cat’s main food should be complete and balanced, chosen with a vet.
- Adapted from public expert guidance. Our treat ideas are based on guidance published by veterinary schools, veterinary associations and animal-welfare organizations. We describe ideas in our own words and link to the originals instead of copying recipes.
- Labels checked by hand. We look for xylitol and its other names, added salt and sugar, onion and garlic powders, and anything on our foods to skip list.
- Calories counted. Each idea relates back to the roughly 10% treat budget from our calculator.
- Dogs and cats separately. We never assume one treat suits both.
- Our observations are not diagnoses. When we write about how our own pets reacted, that’s one household’s experience, not veterinary advice.
- Products are examples, not guarantees. Labels change; we tell you what to check rather than promising a brand is safe.
Affiliate links
Some shopping links may become affiliate links. If you buy through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend or our label rules.
Main sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals
- WSAVA – Feeding treats to your dog (PDF handout)
- WSAVA – Global Nutrition Guidelines
- AAHA – 2021 Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines
- UC Davis Veterinary Medicine – Treat guidelines for dogs (PDF)
- VCA Animal Hospitals – Dog Treats
- NC State Veterinary Hospital – Healthy Human Food Treats for Pets
- ASPCA – People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- FDA – Paws Off Xylitol; It’s Dangerous for Dogs
- USDA FSIS – Jerky and Food Safety