Don't Let Treats Become Trouble
Dogs and
cats love treats, and people love giving their pets treats. It’s a
way to bond with your pet, and that’s a good thing! They are one of
the best ways to build trust and train your new companion. Treats can
aid oral hygiene and if used for games, they can help sharpen your
dog’s natural intelligence.
Your pet
probably already has a favourite treat, but here are a few guidelines
to make sure it is as good for them as you think.
Make sure that
you give only good quality snacks that form part of a balanced diet.
Some people choose to reward their pets with “people food”, which
is fine in certain instances. You can give them a small piece of
bland meat (the same flavours you would give a toddler), just
remember to discuss it with your vet. Don’t give anything that is
fatty, spicy and completely foreign to their digestive systems. Rich
foods can cause inflammation of the pancreas in addition to other
serious conditions, especially if they have food allergies or a
special diet. Your dog’s treats should be easy on their teeth. Skip
anything that’s hard, like bones, antlers, or hooves.
What should I
look for in a treat?
Just like you do
with your pet’s everyday food, you may want to consider providing
your cat or dog with treats which are “complete and balanced.”
These treats will have the combination of nutrients and vitamins your
pet needs to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. You can look at
the ingredient list to determine how healthy it is. Treats that
aren’t complete and balanced should not make up a significant
portion of your pet’s diet, as these will dilute your pet’s daily
nutrient intake. You should also be wary of treats with high amounts
of salt and sodium, as they may cause trouble for your pet.
Sometimes dogs
will start urinating in the home or drinking way too much water
because they’re being given very salty treats. The appropriate
amount of sodium depends on the dog or cat, but watch out for treats
with salt and check to see if your pet is drinking too much water.
If your dog or
cat is on a therapeutic food or follows a special diet, it’s
important to make sure that their treats follow the same dietary
guidelines as their dry or wet foods. Pets with allergies will also
need their treats to be monitored in the same ways their food is,
particularly those who have severe skin or gastrointestinal reactions
to certain foods.
Treats &
Training
Treats can be
used when training your pet, so make sure it is something that they
really enjoy and would want to earn! Experiment with and learn about
the treats your pet goes crazy over and keep them handy for getting
your pet’s attention and rewarding their training successes. You’ll
also need to make sure your treat-giving happens at the same time as
the behaviour, as a time delay will cause them to lose the
association between the treat and good behaviour.
Don’t Overdo
It
Just like we do,
cats and dogs love food treats. And just like us, they sometimes get
too many calories from their treats. Overfeeding our pets with too
many treats is the number one mistake owners make, and can lead to
obesity. If you’re not careful, treats can add a substantial amount
of calories to your dog’s otherwise normal, healthy diet.
It can be easy to
lose track of how many treats you’re feeding your pet. Keep track
of the number of treats you give your pet by setting aside a certain
number of treats per day and talk to your vet about the amount of
treats your pet should have on a daily basis and stick to that
amount. The 10% rule is a good one to go with when it comes to
treats. Treats and snacks should only make up 10% of a dog’s daily
calories. You can still give your dog treats. Just give them one at a
time.
A Fresh Idea
You can skip the
store-bought snacks that are high in fat, sugar and often
preservatives, and try offering your dog some vegetables. Give them a
baby carrot, a green bean, or some broccoli. These have virtually no
calories, and dogs don’t care if you’re not giving them something
meaty and fatty.
They just want
you to give them something. Dogs are open to all foods, potentially.
So vegetables can be a great snack option for your dog. Try fruits,
too. Banana slices, berries, watermelon and apple slices (with no
seeds, of course). Steer clear of grapes, raisins, onions, garlic,
chocolate and anything with caffeine. These can be toxic to dogs.
Cats, on the other hand, can also get some vegetables. Although cats
are mainly carnivores, a veggie snack can add extra minerals,
vitamins and magnesium to their diets, but do not give them more than
one or two a day. A few things that are good for them, are cooked
carrots, peas, and steamed broccoli.
Do It Yourself
If you do not
trust the commercial treats and snacks, why not make your own? There
are tons of recipes available online, and you can choose depending on
what you know your pet likes and needs.
There’s
another way to look at treats:
Treats are
things that bring joy; they don’t have to be food. If you want to
provide your dog with a good treat, take him for a walk or teach him
a new trick. Your dog wants your attention and time far more than he
wants a snack.
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