Every pet owner knows how important a healthy diet is for their dogs’ health. However,
some pet owners forget that their selection of dog treats is just as important.
This is because it is easier to train dogs when you have treats ready or simply as a reward to reinforce their positive behaviour.
With dog treats being used this way, you will want to have healthy treats which will not harm their health in the long run.
All dog owners want to take the best care possible of their beloved pet. There are several online resources, such as VitaPet, that offer advice on treats, food, and other important information that you can trust.
Below, we discuss several ways that you can find healthy dog treats for your beloved pet.
Choose Low-Calorie Dog Treats
Most dog treats that you can purchase from pet stores are extremely high in calorie content.
As pet owners, we often do not realize how much treats we give our dogs in a typical day, hence upping their calorie intake without us even intending to.
Stick to low-calorie dog treats or break larger treats into smaller portions to feed them over a longer duration instead.
Read the Labels
As a rule of thumb, treats with artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, and sugar content are not suitable for your dog or puppy.
There are also some low-quality ingredients that you will need to avoid for your dogs, such as meat by-products.
You should always avoid treats containing additional flavourings such as syrups, molasses, or salt as well..
Understand What Healthy Treats Are
Healthy dog treat options should include ingredients such as whole meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables.
One of the best snacks you can give your dog would include banana slices and carrots. They are low in calories and make great snacks.
Need something a little more enriching? Look for pet treats containing Omega fatty acids. These treats could be considered more towards the premium range and may thus be a little more costly, but they are good options to keep your dog happy and healthy.
Check for Pet Allergies
The dog treats you purchase for your pet should not contain anything they are allergic to. If you adopt a puppy or an older dog from the pet shelter, you will want to check if they have any allergies.
You will need to pay extra attention to check the ingredient list of the dog food and treats that you purchase to avoid any health complications for them.
Make Your Own Healthy Treats
If you are just not sure about what treats are suitable for your pet, how about making your own healthy treats instead?
This would eliminate any worries that the company you purchase from prepared the food or treats with unsafe ingredients or processes.
Not sure how to start? You can always use some organic meat and prepare the meat by
dehydrating it, baking it, or just cooking it with recipes your dog will enjoy.[1]
Care for their Teeth
Dog treats with a hard texture can fracture their teeth, causing them unnecessary pain. This is why you should avoid treats such as bones, hooves, antlers, or other similarly hard treats.
Not sure if the treat you have is too hard for your dog? Try pushing your nail into the treat with your thumb.
If you can leave a mark on that treat, it is safe for your dog. Otherwise, stay away from it.
Treat Your Pet in Other Ways
Need to stay away from treats overall to help your pet lose some excess weight? Treat them with a walk, a new trick, or other forms of physical affection.
Your dog loves having your attention, so this form of treats would work just as well as you might expect from typical biscuit treats.
Just remember to reward them with whichever treat you choose immediately so that your dog can associate their behaviour with the reward!
Please can we remove this. We don’t endorse home made at all because the ingredients and methods aren’t based on what is good for pets.
