Baked Dog Biscuit
Definition
Baked dog biscuits are dry biscuits that are made from flour (wheat or rice), animal protein, fats and binders. These are baked at high temperature (160-200°C) until the moisture content is reduced to 12% or less. These are stable on shelf life up to 12-18 months and are given to dogs to remove dental plaque mechanically while being chewed. All the baked dog biscuits in India are regulated by FSSAI Standard 2.2.10 i.e. ‘Processed Animal Food’ since January 2021.
Expanded Body
We define Baked biscuits in the competition as dry-heat-cooked products and they are distinguishable from both kibble (cooked with steam and pressure) and freeze-dried products (sublimated). Given the high temperature (160–200°C) at which Baked biscuits are cooked free moisture is dried down to below 12%. They are hard and crunchy and act as mechanical cleaners during mastication. A study in 2022 published in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry (Vol. 39, Issue 1, p. 18–25) gave daily Baked biscuits to dogs in the trial and showed an 18–20% reduction in supragingival plaque for biscuits treated dogs after 8 weeks as opposed to dogs not given any dental chews.
Quick Facts
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Moisture | <12% |
| Shelf Life | 12–18 months |
| Bake Temp | 160–200°C |
| Plaque Reduction | 18–20% |
| FSSAI Category | 2.2 |
COMPARISON: BAKED VS EXTRUDED VS FREEZE-DRIED
| Format | Process | Moisture | Shelf Life | Dental Benefit | Avg Price/100g (India) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baked Biscuit | Oven baking 160–200°C | < 12% | 12–18 months | High (plaque removal) | ₹18–₹36 |
| Extruded Kibble | Steam + pressure extrusion | 8–10% | 12–18 months | Moderate | ₹20–₹130 |
| Freeze-Dried Treat | Sublimation drying | < 5% | 24 months | Low | ₹180–₹600 |
| Soft Chew Treat | Soft-bake / moulded | 15–35% | 6–9 months | Low | ₹60–₹200 |
Related Terms
Faq
Q: Are baked dog biscuits safe for daily feeding?
Giving your dog FSSAI-certified baked biscuits every day can be a good idea, as long as you don’t provide them over their daily calorie limit. For a 10 kg dog that needs 400 kcal per day to stay healthy, you can give them up to 40 kcal from biscuits – that’s about 8-10 biscuits, depending on their size. The good thing about giving your dog biscuits every day is that it can help keep their teeth clean by removing plaque. This is because the biscuits help break up the plaque mechanically, which is good for their dental hygiene. Just remember to while purchasing biscuits make sure that are certified by FSSAI certificate and to not overfeed your puppy, as this can lead to other health problems.
Key Takeaways
- Baked dog biscuits use 160–200°C dry-heat baking, dropping moisture below 12% for shelf stability.
- Using it every day can help cut down on the plaque above the gum line by 18-20% in just 8 weeks, according to a study in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry from 2022.
- FSSAI Standard 2.2.10 (January 2021) governs all baked dog biscuits sold in Indian grocery retail.
- Indian manufacturers: Drools (Hyderabad), Mars Petcare India (Pedigree, Pune), Himalaya Drug Company.
