Sniffed out and reviewed by BorkBites: Where labels get decoded and tails stay wagging.
Let’s talk about Petstory treats—Those soft-colored, Instagram-ready pouches that look like they were designed by a dog mom with a graphic design degree. Despite my snark, I do think the packaging is adorable, ok?
Specifically, we’re digging into two of their popular offerings from the Carnitas line:
- Duck Recipe Tenders (a.k.a. duck filets)
- Beef Recipe Shaped Bites (a.k.a. little heart-shaped beefy bois)
Both say “Made with real meat” on the front. But you know the drill—we turn that bag around. Let’s see what’s really inside.
1. The Good Stuff
First off, both varieties have actual named meats up front. Big win.
- Duck Filets start with: Duck, turkey, chicken, meat meal…
- Beef Bites start with: Beef, turkey, chicken, meat meal…
So that’s three named meats before anything sketchy, which earns some claps from us. Duck as the first ingredient? We love to see it. Turkey and chicken are common add-ins, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing—just worth noting if your pup has poultry allergies.
2. That “Meat Meal” Moment
Here’s where we pause.
Both treats list “meat meal” as the fourth ingredient—but it’s unnamed. That means we don’t know what animal it came from. And in the world of pet food, unnamed meat meals are kind of the mystery meat of the kibble world. Could be beef, could be pork, could be… something else entirely.
In contrast, a higher-quality label would say something like “duck meal” or “chicken meal.” This matters because:
- Transparency is everything.
- Allergies are real.
- And it’s just plain respectful to tell us what’s in the bowl.
So while the real meats up front are a strong start, this ingredient knocks things down a notch for me.
3. Additives, Preservatives & “No Corn, Wheat or Soy”
Here’s what else we’re working with:
- Powdered cellulose (fibre source, but a filler)
- Guar gum, lactic acid, calcium propionate, potassium sorbate, tocopherols (preservatives)
- No artificial colors or flavors
- No corn, wheat or soy
That last one is great to see. They’re clearly trying to steer toward the “clean treat” aisle without going fully premium or single-ingredient. These are functional, soft treats meant for training or small snaccs—not the kind you brag about at the dog park.
4. Texture, Size & Dog-Approved?
I tested these on my in-house treat consultants (aka the dogs), and they were very interested, especially in the duck filets. The filets are easy to break apart and chewy, and the hearts are soft and cute enough to toss during a training session without needing to break them. But since Gus and Chuck are both missing some teefs, I like to break things up to prevent any choking hazards.
Bonus: They smell OK. They don’t make my mouth water, anyway.
5. Final BorkBites Breakdown
| Category | Duck Filets | Beef Hearts |
|---|---|---|
| First Ingredient | Duck | Beef |
| Meat Meal | Yes, unnamed | Yes, unnamed |
| Texture | Soft filet, chewy | Soft, small hearts |
| Transparency | Mixed (great start, murky finish) | |
| Dogs’ Reaction | Tail wags all around | Chucky loves them |
| Would I rebuy? | Considering how much these 3 love them, I may consider it. | Yes, in moderation |
BorkScore™:
- Duck Filets: 3.5/5 Borks
- Beef Hearts: 3.5/5 Borks
Points deducted for that sneaky “meat meal” that’s still refusing to reveal its true identity.
But if you’re looking for a mid-tier, affordable soft treat that skips the corn and dyes, these will do the trick—just keep an eye on sensitivities and rotate in some single-ingredient options now and then.
A story: Truth be told, if my husband had not brought these home, I would not have picked them up. Despite the pastel packaging and cute marketing, they would not have made it to the checkout with me simply because of their “meat meal”. I did do some intense research on the brand, it looks like they’re actual diets and most treats do not contain meat meal. The Carnitas-line of treats do not seem to be even listed on their product list on their site, which I find a bit weird. Whatever – the treat testers really like them so I will decide if it will be a regular in our treat rotation. I’ve got some other goodies that are going under the magnifying glass so stay tuned!
Have a treat you want us to decode? Send it our way. Your dog’s stomach deserves answers.
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