Whether you like to have treats on hand to encourage your dog to learn new tricks, or you’re looking to secure a tasty surprise, we’re here to guide you. Pet treats can be a great way to brighten your furry companion’s day. However, it’s important to note what types of treats to steer clear of and how often to treat your pet to avoid allergies, digestive issues, and other health concerns.
When to Reach For The Treats
If you can’t help but spoil your pet, we understand. However, it’s important to hold back from overdoing it when it comes to giving your pet treats. While these fun snacks are safe in moderation, too many treats too often can lead to obesity. Keep your pet’s treat intake at approximately 5% of their daily food intake.
Read The Ingredients
The ingredients list on the back of a bag or box of treats is your new best friend. It’s essential to always review what is in a treat before giving it to your dog. Just because it’s on the shelf at the pet store doesn’t mean it’s safe. Always steer clear of treats that are high in unhealthy fats and sugar, as these items can lead to obesity, heart disease, and other harmful health complications.
Be Mindful of Homemade Treats
We recommend avoiding getting into the habit of feeding your dog table scraps. Not only can this habit trigger behavioral problems, but it can also lead to negative health effects. Certain foods, including those with artificial sweeteners, onions, garlic, chocolate, grapes, and raisins are extremely toxic to dogs and can lead to severe and fast-paced illness. To avoid an unpleasant trip to the emergency veterinarian, always stick to safe homemade treats, such as unseasoned white turkey meat, carrots, apples, or organic peanut butter (check the label to make sure there’s no added sodium or xylitol).
When your pet has consumed an unsafe treat or experienced an allergic reaction, head to your emergency veterinary clinic right away for immediate treatment.
